[NAGDU] FW: [GDUI Chat] 16 Dog Foods Causing Heart Failure Concerns

Mon Jul 1 17:03:38 UTC 2019

One of my dogs also has a chicken allergy, sensitivity to fish as the main protein, and always had softer poop on grain inclusive.
Farmina and Nature's Logic both have chicken free options. I feed Farmina ancestral grain to two of my dogs currently. Thai doesn't react to chicken fat and eggs which is very helpful. 
The other two dogs simply can't eat too much grain. One eats raw and the other grain free commercial food. So clearly, I do what works for each dog. 
Good luck, 
danielle   

Sent from my iPhone

> On Jul 1, 2019, at 12:32 PM, Tracy Carcione via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Thanks Danielle for your thoughtful analysis.
> I suspect that the big brands are not only the ones educating the vets,
> but are also educating the FDA. There's a big revolving door between the
> FDA and the companies it's supposed to regulate.
> I may check out some of the brands you mention as alternatives, although,
> as my dog has a chicken allergy, and hasn't done well with food switches,
> I'll be very careful before making any changes.  Actually, grain-inclusive
> is one of the things he doesn't do very well with, despite being raised on
> the stuff.
> Tracy
> 
>> Tracy,
>> 
>> I tend to agree with you. The link between taurine and DCM is still
>> being investigated. The FDA presents the issue as "grain free diets
>> cause heart failure', but I would be willing to bet it is more like
>> "diets high in legumes increase the risk of DCM for those dogs already
>> predisposed."
>> There are also some misconceptions popular among both pet owners and
>> veterinarians. For example, it is not a lack of grain that is the
>> problem, it is something popular in grain free diets that is causing
>> the uptake of taurine to be inhibited. Because of this, simply adding
>> grain or a taurine supplement to the dog's current diet isn't going to
>> solve anything.
>> 
>> The FDA article states that vets recommend feeding Purina, Iams,
>> Hills, Royal Canin, and Eukanuba. This just seems a little too
>> convenient to me, considering these are the exact five brands with the
>> most influence over vet schools. I'm not saying vets receive any
>> financial gain for recommending these brands, but simply that these
>> brands are often affiliated with what little nutrition training is
>> required in vet school.
>> 
>> I've already had this conversation on social media, and the only
>> things I will say are:
>> 
>> 1. Of the brands listed with reported cases of DCM, many include both
>> grain free and grain inclusive options. I don't think it is entirely
>> fair to lump them together for this reason.
>> 
>> 2. Many of the five "recommended" brands still produce grain free
>> formulas. It's a bit perplexing to me how these are supposedly the
>> safest brands, but they are no different than some other brands--they
>> have some formulas with suspected problem ingredients, and some
>> formulas with no suspected ingredients.
>> 
>> 3. Some breeds are genetically predisposed to DCM independent of diet,
>> and Goldens are one such breed. Responsible breeding won't eliminate
>> this risk entirely, but it will certainly decrease it.
>> 
>> 4. Some grain inclusive formulas also contain legumes or potato. Just
>> because it has grain, doesn't mean it doesn't have non-grain
>> carbohydrate sources too.
>> 
>> 5. DCM is certainly a very important issue and it may be a good choice
>> to be safe than sorry, but it is not the only factor you should look
>> at when choosing a dog food. The quality of ingredients and sourcing
>> of ingredients don't automatically not matter anymore just because a
>> new concern has developed.
>> 
>> **most important of all IMO** 6. There are brands aside from the
>> recommended ones that both have no legumes/potato/sweet potato with no
>> reported DCM cases, but also have better quality ingredients. It
>> doesn't have to be an either or situation, and it's interesting that
>> the FDA doesn't make this clear. Farmina, Nature's Logic, Victor, and
>> Nature's Select come to mind as other brands offering formulas that
>> meet this criteria.
>> 
>> All this to say that people should try to be educated about pet food
>> and not just blindly switch from grain free to grain inclusive without
>> doing some research about the formula/brand. Likewise, just because it
>> is AAFCO approved, doesn't mean it is the best choice. If that means
>> feeding Farmina after careful research, awesome. If that means ProPlan
>> after careful research, great.
>> 
>> Danielle
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>> On 7/1/19, Tracy Carcione via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> I don't know what to make of this.  I feed Taste of the Wild, and my dog
>>> is doing well on it.  The other foods are premium foods as well.  I
>>> wonder
>>> if the FDA examined bigger brands, like Purina.  I'd bet not.
>>> The problem they talk about is hereditary, the article says first off.
>>> So
>>> I guess I'm going to bet that TSE has monitored their breeding program
>>> to
>>> minimize or eliminate hereditary heart problems, and feed the food I
>>> think
>>> is good for my dog.
>>> Tracy
>>> 
>>> 
>>>>    Hi all,
>>>> Not sure if any of you feed your guides any of these brands, but I
>>>> thought
>>>> that I'd pass this along.
>>>> Madison
>>>> 
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: Sarah Calhoun [mailto:sc-tico at att.net]
>>>> Sent: June-29-19 11:25 AM
>>>> To: GDUI Chat <chat at guidedogusersinc.org>
>>>> Subject: [GDUI Chat] 16 Dog Foods Causing Heart Failure Concerns
>>>> 
>>>> Article from UPI News Unspecified Section 2019 06 28
>>>> 
>>>> FDA names 16 dog food brands most linked to cases of heart failure.
>>>> June
>>>> 28
>>>> (UPI) --. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it has expanded a
>>>> year-long investigation into links between certain dog foods and
>>>> congestive heart failure, and has named more than a dozen brands most
>>>> often associated with reported cases. The agency, which began
>>>> investigating potential connections a year ago, on Thursday pointed to
>>>> 16
>>>> brands it said are most frequently identified with more than 500 cases
>>>> of
>>>> dilated cardiomyopathy
>>>> (DCM) in dogs. While the underlying cause of DCM is unknown, it is
>>>> believed to be a genetic component. Large and giant dog breeds are most
>>>> typically affected. Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Great Danes
>>>> and Pit Bulls are the most common dogs that acquire the disease, the
>>>> FDA
>>>> said, and dogs were fed dry food in nearly all of the reported cases.
>>>> Canine DCM is a disease that effects dogs' heart muscles, which can
>>>> often
>>>> result in congestive failure. We know it can be devastating to suddenly
>>>> learn that your previously healthy pet has a potentially
>>>> life-threatening
>>>> disease like DCM, Steven M. Solomon, director of the FDA's Center for
>>>> Veterinary Medicine, said in a statement. That's why the FDA is
>>>> committed
>>>> to continuing our collaborative scientific investigation into the
>>>> possible
>>>> link. The brands identified by the FDA are: Acana (67 cases), Zignature
>>>> (64), Taste of the Wild (53), 4Health (32), Earthborn Holistic (32),
>>>> Blue
>>>> Buffalo (31), Nature's Domain (29), Fromm (24), Merrick (16
>>>> ), California Natural (15), Natural Balance (15), Orijen (12),
>>>> Nature's
>>>> Variety (11), Nutri Source(10), Nutro (10) and Rachael Ray Nutrish
>>>> (10).
>>>> 
>>>> Best,
>>>> Sarah
>>>> 
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>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
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