ALERT! FDA investigating possible link between grain-free dog food and heart disease

[Cattledog]

The FDA is investigating a possible connection between grain-free food and heart disease in dogs. While there is no definitive link, experts are recommending pet parents consider making changes to their dog’s diet.

Mixed-breed rescue, Vida, turns 10 years old in January. Her owner, Brooke Ehlinger, has fed Vida grain-free dog food for years.
“I’m grain-free for the most part so I felt like... Why not? I felt like meat was probably the most important thing for dogs,” Ehlinger says.
However, she may be reconsidering her dog’s diet after learning the FDA is investigating a possible link between grain-free food and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

“It’s kind of scary,” she admits.

CVCA board-certified cardiologist Sara Beth Bordelon treats Austin dogs with enlarged, weakened hearts due to DCM. In several cases she’s seen possible connections between the diagnosis and the dog’s diet.
“We've seen more than we would like to see where we're just like, 'You really shouldn't have dilated cardiomyopathy. Let’s change your diet. Let’s see if you improve,'” she explains.

While the federal investigation is ongoing, experts are suggesting dog owners consider avoiding grain-free dog foods that include legumes, potato or exotic proteins in their first five ingredients. Examples include:

peas
chickpeas
lentils
beans
potato
sweet potato
kangaroo
rabbit
bison

“If your dog doesn't need a grain-free diet for a health reason-- you know, inflammatory bowel disease, severe allergies to the grains in the diet-- we are recommending trying to find a traditionally balanced diet,” Bordelon says.
She also recommends seeking out a food that’s not just AAFCO-approved but trial tested, too.
“The AAFCO diets are just a recipe that they took that should work, whereas the feeding trials have been fed to animals of those ages and breeds and have been shown not to cause issues,” she explains.

“I’m definitely going to go home and look at the ingredients on mine now,” says Ehlinger.
While a lot is still unknown about what exactly is causing increased heart disease in dogs, if caught early DCM can improve with treatment.

https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/fda-investigating-possible-link-between-grain-free-dog-food-and-heart-disease

[yankeepants]

1. I am a dog practitioner

I have 5 dogs of my own plus literally hundreds that come for board and train. I feed grain -free food. I have for years. Results: allergy free, lethargy free, normal bowel movements, over all quality of health. I will hear you out but my dogs, in the old Irish song goes, "They live 'til they die!' 12-15 years old.

Oh by the way, two of my babies are cattle dogs!

[Ferrets are Cool]

2. I'm with you...

my bichon's have eaten a grain free diet all their lives. They have never had any allergy problems or any problems at all (knock on wood). They are 9 years old now. I'm not going to change their diets now.

[yankeepants]

3. Yes! One of mine is a Bichon mix. Love him!

[Ferrets are Cool]

4. Bichon's make great pets.

We have twins that are 9 years old...Zach and Zoey. We also have a 16 year old rescue that we got when she was 3 years old. She had been in a puppy mill for the first 3 years of her life and had been put into a temporary home until she could be adopted. Unfortunately, she escaped the foster home and was "wild" for 6 weeks until she was caught in an animal trap. Of course, by that time she was in terrible shape, mentally and physically.
We adopted her...it was 2 full years before she would voluntarily let us pet her. It took lots of patience and TLC to get her to trust again and she never had completely gotten over that experience. Having said all that, she has been a treasure to us. She is a sweetheart and we love her unconditionally. She is now blind and deaf but gets around fantastically. I wouldn't trade her for the world.
More people need to consider adopting. It is very rewarding.