DCM and Grain-Free Diets for Dogs
DCM, and grain-free diet has been a discussion since 2018 that was blown up causing mass hysteria nationwide. The FDA was doing research on the 325 dogs reported to them having DCM in 2018. That is 325 dogs out of the 27.8 million dogs in the United States of America.
So, how did such a low number of cases turn into a nationwide frenzy?
Without naming names, there are many dog food companies that sell prescription type diets that had lower sales due to other grain-free brands having better nutrition. We all know quality ingredience means better absorption and much better nutrition. These companies have been linked to “leaking” the FDA’s studies.
Why would they do this?
The leak of these unfinished studies caused a nationwide panic of both dog owners and the veterinary board. People ran away from the grain-free foods that were actually helping their dog allergies, medical conditions and grain sensitivities, out of fear the media had spread. The veterinary board had no choice than to instruct veterinarians to advise clients of the study and recommend switching foods at least until the study was completed. The problem is, the study is completed yet still ongoing. The last findings stated legumes have been in dog foods for many years without issues. They believe legumes are now being put into foods at a higher level and causing an issue. Legumes are also in grained dog food. Again, no real findings at this point on the 325 dogs first put into this study.
I am not a veterinarian. I do have over 55 years’ experience in the dog world including breed health studies, and certifications in dog and cat nutrition. I have been successfully advising people, including veterinarians in my area, on proper nutrition for their pets for over 25 years. I specialize in allergies, skin and coat issues and helping people find better nutrition that meets their veterinarians’ recommendations. I always recommend to notify your veterinarian of any diet changes. My advice is my opinion and is meant to be used for your education, for discussion, and to form your own opinion.
Now that we have covered all of the reasons I am writing and you are reading, lets move on.
What is DCM?
Dr. Dana Brown DVM wrote: “Dilated Cardiomyopathy in dogs, or DCM, is one type of heart diseases that affects a dog’s heart muscle. The heart muscle becomes weak and decreases its ability to effectively oxygenate and pump blood through the dog’s body. Additionally, the heart muscle enlarges and causes fluid buildup in the lungs.
Dilated Cardiomyopathy is a subgroup of cardiovascular disease, which is the 4th most common cause of death in dogs. DCM in itself is the 2nd most common form of heart disease in dogs, which makes up about 10% of cardiac diagnoses”.
DCM is a genetic disease. There are years of studies to prove dog are geneticly predisposed to having DCM. Large breed dogs such as, Dobermans, Golden Retrievers, Wolf Hounds, Boxers, Labs, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Great Danes, Dalmatians, Poodles, and any mix with these breeds, have higher risk of DCM due to their genetics. Reputable breeders do not breed dogs that knowingly have DCM. Some dogs get DCM because their body does not naturally metabolize the Taurine due to genetic defect. Breeds such as the Cocker Spaniel and Golden Retrievers fall into this category as well. Small poodles, Pomeranians, Cocker Spaniels and King Charles Cavilers are also dogs geneticly predisposed for DCM and other heart diseases.
So how is diet now such an issue for these 325 dogs?
Let’s first look at the percentages of seniors (who already fall into heart disease/murmur category), Breeds genetically predisposed for DCM, food quality for many in the study, and last but not least the “unknown” breeds listed. Out of the many pages of dogs, listed with details, in the FDA study in 2019, many were unfounded DCM, rather heart murmurs and other heart disease. Approximately 70% of the dog breeds listed are breeds genetically predisposed to DCM, 65% are seniors, 70% are eating diets of brands that are known for using cheap “fillers” in excess to make up for lack of meat protein, and lastly, 20% are listed as unknown breeds meaning they could be a Doodle. Doodles are usually not geneticly tested before breeding even though Poodles, Goldens, Bernese and many other dogs used to make this mix breed, are on the list of genetic DCM dogs.
Could legumes, including Peas and Pea proteins be an issue for absorption of Taurine?
If so, why now and not 10 years prior when grain-free dog food was booming? It seems we should have seen an increase in DCM cases a year or two into the rise in grain-free feeding since some dogs mentioned in the study were recently changed to grain-free within a two-year time period of being diagnosed.
Are grained foods better”?
Many grained dog foods use grain as a protein source to save money on meat protein. Even if meat is the first ingredient, the next 4 or so ingredients can be grain and equal a larger percentage than the actually meat. Protein from grain is not a soluble protein for dogs as a carnivore. Taurine is made by the conversion of meat. Diets low in amino acids such as Methionine and Cystenine can cause low taurine in dogs since they can not convert the meat proteins into taurine without these amino acids.
The FDA says in their 2019 article, “Most of the diets associated with the reports of non-hereditary DCM have legume seed ingredients, also called “pulses” (e.g., peas, lentils, etc.), high in their ingredient lists (although soy is a legume, we did not see a signal associated with this ingredient). These include both “grain-free” and grain-containing formulations. Legumes, including pulse ingredients, have been used in pet foods for many years, with no evidence to indicate they are inherently dangerous, but analysis of data reported to CVM indicates that pulse ingredients are used in many “grain-free” diets in greater proportion than in most grain-containing formulas. FDA has asked pet food manufacturers to provide diet formulations so we can further understand the proportions of ingredients in commercially-available diets and possible relationships with non-hereditary DCM”.
This statement backs up my theory of “Cheap” grain-free foods that use fillers such as legumes as a protein source to save money. It also states legumes are found in grained dog foods.
What do I think is the real issue here?
DCM is a genetic disease. Has DCM been “provoked” by diet? Possibly. Are genetics behind almost every dog in this study?
Yes! and here is why. As time goes on, people are breeding dogs to make a second income. They are mixing breeds without concern for genetic outcome. Even the mixed hound/lab from the shelter has a chance of genetic issues. We have more dogs in the USA currently than we should have due to the lack of proper funding for spay/neuter programs and licensing of dogs. Unethical breeders of pure-bred dogs are not doing genetic testing. Breeding two dogs that are geneticly known to have health issues in their blood lines enhances the chance of the disease. Our world wants instant gratification. We are now seeing the effects of this in our dog’s health issues as well as the quality of some of our pet foods.
All grain-free and grained dog food are not created equally. Meat protein inclusion is very important as is the amount of grains, potatoes and legumes. Though, Acana and Zignature are at the top of the list of the FDA foods fed, they are two of the better-quality foods out there. They are also two of the most popular quality grain free foods on the market. They both list the percentage of meat inclusion. This is a very important statistic when choosing a dog food. Price will reflect quality. Buying the cheapest dog food is equivalent to eating McDonalds or Snickers for your main diet.
Closing arguments…
The FDA has not reached a conclusion on this matter. They continue to study it rather blindly. If they would take into consideration the above-mentioned facts, I think they could conclude the following:
We are allowing dogs to be bred without genetic testing which magnifies all genetic issues. We are falling prey to the false advertising done by many dog food companies that are not using the proper meat inclusion and using too many legumes or grains. Sadly, people with older dogs being diagnosed with heart murmurs are being told it’s the grain-free diet rather than an age-related issue. Quality grain-free dog food is irreplaceable for dogs that can not eat grain or potatoes due to skin, coat, or ear infections. When in doubt, supplement with a vet recommended taurine or feed raw beef or lamb hearts as an addition to each meal.
I hope this somewhat explains the controversy surrounding the FDA grain-free debate.
#DCM, #DietassociatedDCM, #Dogs, #Heartdisease, #Taurinedeficiency, #Aminoacids
Annette Clark
Certified Pet Nutritionist, Pet Allergy Specialist, Master Groomer
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