Grain free dog food, heart trouble linked to diet, what's up?

The cause is not known at this time, but it appears linked to high levels of potato or legume in some foods (and likely associated low levels of meat content). Taurine deficiencies have previously been linked to DCM. It is not known if that is the issue with these diets or not. Grain free doesn't mean healthy, and my guess is that the specific foods that are likely to be ultimately linked to this issue are probably going to be low meat content and mostly carbohydrate fillers.

It's bad enough when such articles focus on human diets - now they have started on dog diets. At this rate, none of us, nor our animals, will be eating ANYTHING - and then there's drinking!!! I have contacted my food manufacturer's dietary expert for her comments about this latest. Can't see taurine listed in the contents but I'd not be in a hurry to buy this as a supplement at the moment.

Add - I contacted the dietician of the food I use here in the UK - Arden Grange and an abridged version of her reply is as follows ..

"......unfortunately there have been no recent

developments since the first published report, and the situation

remains highly speculative. As members of the Pet Food Manufacturing

Association (PFMA) we are being kept aware of any news regarding the

investigation and will of course be compliant with any new directives

that could arise once conclusions have been drawn.

In the meantime, I hope it will reassure you in that we do measure the

essential amino acid levels in our food to ensure that they are within

the correct parameters. Taurine however is currently not considered an

essential amino acid for dogs (because they can manufacture it within

the body as well as derive it efficiently from natural sources such as

meat), so it has not been necessary to measure this specific amino

acid. Also, there is no standard to measure it to, because a formal

RDA has not yet been established for dog food manufacturers to work

with. We are still awaiting the conclusions of the investigation to be

able to implement any actions if required - which could include a

declaration of the level and/or supplementing with additional taurine."

In other words the media have, as always, taken this news and run with it!!

Discuss your concerns with your diagnosing/treating vet/nutritionist, not strangers/children on YA.

First, all the answers are not known. The Cardiomyopathy now being reported as SEEN in more breeds is supposedly linked to diet. But the woman at the base of the study WORKS for the BIG THREE: pet food companies: Mars, Hills, Nestle. And we are being told the problem is "grain free" diets. Highly unlikely as the entire problem or only issue, considering I've been feeding grain free for over 20 years on some dogs & raw on others. No heart problems, ever!

Grain is inflammatory and is not a natural food source for dogs, period. What seems to have been missed - in many of the reports (or the RUSH TO JUDGEMENT) so we can CONDEMN the independent and/or boutique retailers of quality pet foods - is the part of about many grain free foods (in fact many pet foods) use of LEGUMES (peas, lentils, soy, chick peas, various other beans). It is now thought the the rise in the use of legumes may BLOCK or mess up the absorption of taurine in dog foods. Peas never used to BE in dogs foods. I KNOW, BECAUSE I had a dog who was tested and found to be DEATHLY ALLERGIC to PEAS. She could not even eat a food MADE IN A PLANT - where they made other foods, with peas. I used to be able to buy some foods for her without peas in them, but once many of the smaller independent food makers - like Innova got BOUGHT OUT - the ingredient lists changed.

NO ONE should automatically add a taurine supplement (on a regular basis) without having their dog's taurine level tested by their vet. Fatty fish (like sardines or mackerel) has a very high level of taurine, naturally. Feeding a fish based kibble (if you ARE feeding a grain-free kibble, is a better option than beef, or poultry, IMO). Adding some canned fish to your dog's diet can be helpful, even if you do not wish to feed a fish kibble all the time. But as ALWAYS, varying the kibble diet and adding some fresh foods, is advisable.

As to this controversy, there are also suggestions that the TYPE or source of the TAURINE being added to certain brands of dog food may be a culprit (ahem does anyone remember all the dogs & cats in the USA that DIED from kidney failure due to melamine being put into dog & cat food sourced in China?) Another possibility is how the kibble foods packaged and then are BEING STORED; both by warehouses & BY YOU AT HOME - may also be a factor in how fast the TAURINE is depleted before the dog ever ingests the product.

See this link (takes awhile to play)

Rodney Report (also found on facebook)

https://keepthetailwagging.com/is-your-raw-dog-foo...

https://preciouspetz.wordpress.com/2013/03/12/card...

The current offender seems to be mainly diets with high levels of legumes/peas. The jury is still out, however. Grain free is NOT the same as low carb. And lack of Taurine does cause heart issues (at least it does in cats), and some studies link those legumes with a diminished ability to absorb taurine. The bottom line - be aware of what you are feeding your dog. This means knowing what is IN the food as well as what is NOT in the food. Your dog may be much better off with a food who's carb source is brown rice, than all of the legumes and potatoes. The link between lack of taurine and heart disease has been known for many years in cats (it is added to most quality cat foods) and I'm surprised it hasn't been studied more in dogs.

Its lack of Taurine and too much carb.

Should be 10% carb or 30% max and supplement taurine. Its as easy as adding a chicken heart to the food once a day.

I try really really hard to keep making my own pet food and avoid peas, grains, and potatoes

G-I-M-M-I-C-K