I’m sure most of you have already heard.
Here is the list with documented links.
Acana (67)
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)
NutriSource (10)
Nutro (10)
Racheal Ray Nutrish (10)
I’ve seen a lot of chatter about how this study seems biased benefiting very large dog food companies. You have to understand that around 0.5-1% of all cases of DCM have had some sort of link to grain free dog food. When the rate of risk for the disease is around 1% overall. Pretty insignificant.
I have a 13 year old lab that’s been on Fromm grain free for over a decade. She is one of the healthiest dogs I’ve ever known. Most people think she’s going on 6 years old. I’m not about to change a thing and I’ll still recommend grain free to anyone who asks.
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I’ll take my chances…
And all other causes of death are linked to grain free dog food.
If I give my Boyken grain, all of her hair falls out.
Grain free for our lab mix also. Incredibly healthy according to our vet.
About 2 years ago we switched to making our own dog food using peoples freezer burned food we collected for free locally. About every other month we grind up a large batch and the wife adds a few items we buy which are supposed to help and then form it into log shape paddy’s and freeze them. It costs us nothing and our dogs health has improved in that time.
Amazing, the most most popular dogs, goldens, mix breads, and labs, had the most “complaints”. Maybe because they make up the highest portion of the canine pet population? :rolleyes:
I file it under Sloppy clickbait journalism. Show a real number, like how many goldens per 1,000 on a grain free diet contracted issues compared to how many goldens per 1,000 not on a grain free diet contracted the same issues, then publish that proportion.
The number they published means nothing.
The actual story says, “ we do not have a measure of the typical rate of occurrence of disease apart from what is reported to the FDA.”
Wait until the study is concluded. My guess, their first assumption, raised awareness of illnesses, aka reporting bias, is the cause. “FDA has observed a reporting bias for breeds like Golden Retrievers due to breed-specific social media groups and activities that have raised awareness of the issue in these communities and urged owners and vets to submit reports to FDA.”
We have 12 and 13 year old GSPs that have been eating Fromm from the beginning. One has had a heart murmur for most of her adult life with no ill effects. Oddly, a heart murmur has a similar symptom of light coughing, while each year at her annual checkup the Vet comments how strong her heart sounds.
Let’s flip this around and say that your dog is affected by DCM. You wouldn’t be upset? Just because your dog is doing well doesn’t mean that it’s a non-issue.
I always find it interesting how defensive people get about what they feed their dogs.
Feed grain free if you want, but I think the FDA has a duty to make this publicly-known.
Let’s flip this around and say that your dog is affected by DCM. You wouldn’t be upset? Just because your dog is doing well doesn’t mean that it’s a non-issue.
What would I have to be upset about? If it’s clear these grain free brands were withholding evidence that their food was likely to cause harm, yeah sure I have every reason to be upset. That’s not the case.
The problem here is the extremely minuscule risk being portrayed as a life or death decision. Sensationalism at its finest. You also have to question the motivation not only for the study but for the widespread coverage on this.
I switched to grain free food at the recommendation of a vet because my dog was clearly having allergic reactions to her food. They claimed that the grains contained in most mainstream brands is extremely inflammatory. My dogs skin was red and had chronic ear infections. Switched food a decade ago and haven’t had the problem since. My experience is anecdotal but the vets recommendation wasn’t.
I switched to grain free food at the recommendation of a vet because my dog was clearly having allergic reactions to her food.
That’s a specific case. The majority of dogs have no adverse reaction to grains. It makes sense, in your case.
If it’s clear these grain free brands were withholding evidence that their food was likely to cause harm, yeah sure I have every reason to be upset.
There seems to be evidence of a link right now (though causation can’t be determined), so yeah, if this wasn’t reported, they would be withholding information.
Again, I don’t really care what you feed your dog, nor do I feel the need to argue this with you. I’m really not even sure why you posted this since you seem to disagree with the FDA.
About 2 years ago we switched to making our own dog food using peoples freezer burned food we collected for free locally. About every other month we grind up a large batch and the wife adds a few items we buy which are supposed to help and then form it into log shape paddy’s and freeze them. It costs us nothing and our dogs health has improved in that time.
This sounds 100% intriguing and interesting.
I’m really trying not to ruffle any feathers here- purely asking (in fact I have a very close friend that it’s a vet and she highly recommends grain free despite these findings)
But we all agreed about 15 years ago that whole grains are the single most important item needed in our diet to reduce risk of heart disease in humans. Clearly biology is a bit different between humans and dogs, but would you think that all omnivores would benefit from grain then?
Not sure of the answers myself; and I’m glad fda had started this conversation
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>crappie55369 wrote:</div>
About 2 years ago we switched to making our own dog food using peoples freezer burned food we collected for free locally. About every other month we grind up a large batch and the wife adds a few items we buy which are supposed to help and then form it into log shape paddy’s and freeze them. It costs us nothing and our dogs health has improved in that time.This sounds 100% intriguing and interesting.
If you want to know more dan I can ask the wife about what else she adds. I know we add turmeric and bone meal and EAL which is a powdered calcium. I think we add fish oil too. We also try to add some organs like liver or hearts. It’s cool to get all the food for free and feel like you are making use of what people would normally throw away
Let’s flip this around and say that your dog is affected by DCM. You wouldn’t be upset? Just because your dog is doing well doesn’t mean that it’s a non-issue.
I always find it interesting how defensive people get about what they feed their dogs.
Feed grain free if you want, but I think the FDA has a duty to make this publicly-known.
If my dogs die of DCM at 15 I’m fine with attributing their end to old age.
The rest of that I agree with. Feed them what you want. Ours eat grain, usually oatmeal as surprise snacks in their dishes.
I’m all for studying things. Where did I say I wasn’t.
I’m against clickbait journalism causing people to grab their pitchforks before there is even a study. I’ll wait for the study. By that time, we’ll be on our next dogs and decide what to feed them then.
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