The following article was posted by a member today in the pet section of an astronomy forum I belong to. I'm really interested in everyone's opinion here. I am not reading any evidence of scientific study finding a causal relationship between any of these brands of dog food listed and the incidence of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Unless I'm missing something in the article, It sounds like these are just anecdotal reports, i.e., "My dog has been diagnosed with DCM, and by the way, I feed X brand of dog food."

My initial feeling is this article will cause needless panic among dog owners who feed these brands of dog food and cause consumers to avoid them, with no scientific basis for doing so.

I have heard of possible issues with grain-free diets being implicated as being connected to cardiac issues, as well as reproductive issues, but, again, I'm not aware of any definitive studies and I believe research is ongoing. This article seems to be simply an overall indictment of multiple brands without reference to specific formulas, ingredients, etc.

Additionally, I think the article is remiss in not mentioning the important fact that some breeds of dogs are known to have a genetic predisposition to DCM.

What do you think?


https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dog-food-causing-heart-disease-fda-suspects-citing-16-dog-food-brands-under-investigation/

But, but, but ... I just skimmed the first article I came to, and it appears that you are completely correct that nothing causal -- not even a conjecture about any possible link, appears in the vague article.

My first thought, I'm sorry to say, concerned Hills et al.

I'd like to find out who, exactly, published the first paper.

Grain-free kibbles on the whole have never particularly impressed me, especially the lower-grade ones, since, often, something much like starchy grains replaces those grains so the kibble can still be extruded.

Cheri, if you get a chance to bump this tomorrow, would you? And I'll write myself a note and hope that I see it in the morning. LOL

I'm glad you posted!


ETA Better source linked below

Edited by Connie Sutherland (07/01/2019 12:48 PM)
Edit reason: ETA

Well, I did find (actually, it came in today's emails) a straightforward overview with what seem to be well-informed possibilities laid out ...

https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-news/fda-investigating-potential-link-between-diet-and-heart-disease-in-dogs/




P.S. I've always found these Dog Food Advisor alerts useful and worth signing up for.

Here's a direct link to the sign-up page ...
https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-recall-alerts/

Edited by Connie Sutherland (07/01/2019 12:54 PM)
Edit reason: PS

Thanks for posting that, Connie. I just got home and had the same Dog Food Advisor alert in my inbox. I was going to post it here.

I still have so many questions......mainly, that the FDA is still simply saying they are investigating "reports." So I still keep coming back to the whole idea of what makes them associate a case of DCM with the food the dog was fed, without the benefit of scientific studies with control groups, etc.? They come right out and say that they are seeing cases of DCM in dogs fed dry food, canned food, raw food, even vegetarian diets (OMG, why would you feed a canid a vegetarian diet?).

So it sounds like, if you feed your dog food, it may be in danger of developing DCM. At least they admit there are many other likely contributors.

Information coming out in bits and pieces like this, with the need to follow links within the articles to read the actual FDA reports, and the FDA reports contradicting themselves in every other paragraph, is so very frustrating!

I've been feeding Blue Lifestyle formula fish and brown rice, switching off on chicken and brown rice.

Sounds like I'll be looking for something new when the Dog Food Advisor finishes the new listings.

I've been using the Dog Food Advisor for choosing the better foods and Blue was always #4 or #5.

 Quote: Bob Scott

I've been feeding Blue Lifestyle formula fish and brown rice, switching off on chicken and brown rice.

Sounds like I'll be looking for something new when the Dog Food Advisor finishes the new listings.

I've been using the Dog Food Advisor for choosing the better foods and Blue was always #4 or #5.

Maybe not, Bob. In fact, probably not.

Rice is actually a grass -- in fact, a grass seed. But so are most other "grains." Grains are almost always seeds of grasses, used to produce "cereals." Brown rice would be called a whole grain. White rice, OTOH, would be called refined. Whole grains, IMO, are preferable to refined grains (with the exception of something like white rice being used for an anti-diarrheal). JMO!

So that would make those two dogfoods NOT grain-free, and NOT one of the problematic foods, or the foods under discussion, per this discussion.

BTW, I'm enthusiastic about your use of two different foods. It's a good attempt to avoid feeding one formula 100% ... and avoid magnifying one food's possible or potential shortcomings by feeding just that food.

Sounds good to me!

When raw stopped working for Thunder and his EPI is when I went to Blue and kept it with Trooper.

He seems to do really well on it.

I also believe in switching foods around.

I stay in the Blue family but they have numerous varieties.

I've "heard" that General Foods bought them out so I'll keep my eyes on that.

Yes, General Mills did buy the company, I think last year.

Yes, I believe that you and I have discussed avoiding the same food every day, and I agreer with you! There's only one way to minimize any unknown shortfalls or problems in a dogfood ... and that is to "switch foods around."

JMO!

I remember how well you did with Thunder with his EPI ... advice is one thing, and carrying it out faithfully is a whole 'nother thing.

 Quote: Cheri Grissom

Thanks for posting that, Connie. I just got home and had the same Dog Food Advisor alert in my inbox. I was going to post it here.

I still have so many questions......mainly, that the FDA is still simply saying they are investigating "reports." So I still keep coming back to the whole idea of what makes them associate a case of DCM with the food the dog was fed, without the benefit of scientific studies with control groups, etc.? They come right out and say that they are seeing cases of DCM in dogs fed dry food, canned food, raw food, even vegetarian diets (OMG, why would you feed a canid a vegetarian diet?).

So it sounds like, if you feed your dog food, it may be in danger of developing DCM. At least they admit there are many other likely contributors.

Information coming out in bits and pieces like this, with the need to follow links within the articles to read the actual FDA reports, and the FDA reports contradicting themselves in every other paragraph, is so very frustrating!

Yes, the "explanations" are still vague to nonexistent. I'm still seeking something more.