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Nutrition

Pet Nutrition Resources for Pet Owners, Grain-Free

In July of 2018, the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced an investigation of grain-free, dog food diets and a common type of canine heart disease  –dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). 

V
iew the links below for additional information and review questions and answers from the FDA here.
 At this point in time, we are not certain of the exact causal relationship between grain-free and/or high legume diets in atypical dog breeds with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).  Taurine deficiency of these pet foods does not appear to be the primary issue in these DCM patients as we have found normal taurine levels in many of these pets with DCM.  However, in some breeds such as the Cocker Spaniel and Golden Retriever, we have found low plasma taurine levels.   

At this time, if there is not a clinical reason (i.e. food allergies or gastrointestinal upset) for use of a limited ingredient, unique protein source (kangaroo, alligator, bison, etc.) diet, we would suggest using alternative diets.  Consultation with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist should be considered.  Another possible consideration is to use two/three pet foods from different manufacturers including a diet that is not full of legumes (lentils, chickpeas, peas) and has some grain in the product.  As we continue to investigate the link between the increased incidence of dilated cardiomyopathy in atypical canine breeds with grain-free diets, we hope to ultimately determine the definitive issue but, for now, we currently do not have that answer.

Your Dog’s Diet 

Reconsider your dog’s diet. If you’re feeding a boutique, grain-free, or exotic ingredient diets, we would reassess whether you could change to a diet with more typical ingredients made by a company with a long track record of producing good quality diets.  And do yourself a favor –  stop reading the ingredient list.  Although this is the most common way owners select their pets’ food, it is the least reliable way to do so.  And be careful about currently available pet food rating websites that rank pet foods either based on opinion or based on myths and subjective information. It’s important to use more objective criteria (e.g., research, nutritional expertise, quality control in judging a pet food). The best way to select what is really the best food for your pet is to ensure the manufacturer has excellent nutritional expertise and rigorous quality control standards (see our “Questions you should be asking about your pet’s food” post).
Change your dog’s diet to one made by a well-known reputable company and containing standard ingredients (e.g., chicken, beef, rice, corn, wheat).

Changing to a raw or home-cooked diet will not protect your dog from this issue (and may increase the risk for other nutritional deficiencies).  If your dog requires a home-cooked diet or has other medical conditions that require special considerations, be sure to talk to a veterinarian or a veterinary nutritionist (acvn.org) before making a dietary change. 

You can contact the Cummings Nutrition Service to schedule an appointment (vetnutrition@tufts.edu)

To find many of the questions and answers submitted to to this live feed via Facebook, please visit the Q&A page of CVCA Veterinary Cardiologists.

[NEW as of 6-27-19] — FDA Investigation into Potential Link between Certain Diets and Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy
WMAR News Channel 2 – ABC Baltimore Interviews with Veterinaary Cardiologist Dr. Steven Rosenthal
  • Dog diagnosed with heart disease after being fed grain-free diet.
FDA Investigation into Potential Link between Certain Diets and Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy
  • FDA issues update on a possible tie between grain-free diets and heart disease. 
AVMA – Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA)
  • ​Pertinent Pet Owner Information:  Review the Recommendation Paragraph.​
    • Diet-associated dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs: what do we know?
Cummings Veterinary Medical Center at Tufts University 
  • A Broken Heart: Risk of Heart Disease in Boutique or Grain-Free Diets and Exotic Ingredients 
  • Important Nutrients for Pets with Heart Disease
  • Questions You Should be Asking About Your Pet’s Food 
American College of Veterinary Nutrition (ACVN)
  • How to find an ACVN Diplomate – American College of Veterinary Medicine 
The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA)
  • The Savvy Dog Owners Guide: Nutrition on the Internet 
  • Recommendations on Selecting Pet Foods
  • Nutritional Assessment Checklist
Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO)
  • Feed Regulatory Information for Pet Owners
  • The Role of AAFCO in Pet Food Regulation
  • Selecting the Right Pet Food
  • Recalls & Withdrawals (FDA)
  WHAT OUR CLIENTS ARE SAYING
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  • Home
  • Who We Are
  • Services
  • Tour
  • New Puppies and Kittens
  • Client and Patient Forms
  • What To Expect
    • COHAT Dental Procedure
    • Cranial Cruciate Rupture - TPLO Surgery
    • Orchiectomy - Feline Neuter
    • Orchiectomy - Canine Neuter
    • Ovariohysterectomy - Canine and Feline Spay
  • Newsletters
    • July 2021
    • August 2021
    • Fall 2021
    • Holiday Newsletter 2021
    • Dental Month 2022
    • Farley Foundation Announcement
    • January 2022 Newsletter
    • February 2022 Newsletter
    • March 2022 Newsletter
    • April 2022 Newsletter
    • May 2022 Newsletter
    • July 2022 Newsletter
    • August 2022 Newsletter
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    • Glendale Fall Newsletter
    • Glendale November Newsletter 2022
    • Glendale January Newsletter 2023
  • Pet Insurance
  • Careers at Glendale
    • Glendale Culture
  • National Wildlife Centre
  • Pet Health Education Articles
  • A Final Note