A new report from the Food and Drug Administration makes navigating the pet food aisle more complicated for dog owners. As the New York Times reports, the FDA has linked 16 popular brands of dog food with canine heart disease, many of which are promoted as healthier options.
The FDA has tracked unwanted cardiovascular symptoms in dogs to many grain-free pet foods that replace ingredients such as wheat and corn with peas, lentils, legumes, or potatoes. The brands included in the study, listed in descending order of most cases of related heart disease, included Acana, Zignature, Taste of the Wild, 4Health, Earthborn Holistic, Blue Buffalo, Nature's Domain, Fromm, Merrick, California Natural, Natural Balance, Orijen, Nature's Variety, NutriSource, Nutro and Rachael Ray Nutrish.
Products of these brands are often marketed as "healthy", "protein-rich" and "all-natural" alternatives to conventional dog foods. But the new FDA report shows that a grain-free diet can be potentially harmful to a dog's health. Between January 1, 2014 and April 30, 2019, the FDA received 560 reports of canine dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition that is commonly seen in large dog breeds and can cause heart failure. Of these cases, 119 were fatal. It is believed that canine dilated cardiomyopathy is partly genetic, but according to the administration, many dogs they studied were not genetically predisposed to the disease. The likely culprit of his diagnosis was diet.
"We understand the priority of pet owners about these reports: diseases are often serious or maybe fatal, and in many cases it is reported to eat foods labeled" without grains, "the FDA said in the report. . "The FDA uses a spread of science-based research tools because it strives to find out more about this occurrence of DCM [dilated cardiomyopathy] and its possible link to certain diets or ingredients."
Does grain free food cause heart problems in dogs?
Manufacturers of grain-free animal feed claim that corn and wheat croquettes do not reflect the diet of wild dog ancestors and, therefore, are bad for them. Canine health experts say this is a myth: wild canines such as wolves ingest grains in the stomachs of the herbivores they hunt. In addition, cereals contain vitamins, minerals and fiber from which dogs can benefit.
Regardless of a dog's diet, pet owners should know the symptoms of canine dilated cardiomyopathy. A dog with decreased energy, cough, shortness of breath and episodes of collapse should be taken to the veterinarian as soon as possible.
