Evidence Update: Grain-free and other “BEG” Diets Associated with Heart Disease in Dogs | The SkeptVet


I would need absolute, concrete evidence that my pup was allergic to grains before I considered grain free foods.

I totally missed - I was reading the OP and not realizing it was from 2015 :eek:

I was referring to the Cause unless I'm mistaken RC doesn't make a grain free formula for small dogs much less specifically for yorkies. Or at all that I remember. comment in the OP. Whoops!

And was just letting her know that RC does technically have some grain free foods in their RX line.

It's not really the fact that it's 'grain free' per say. It's the addition of all of the legumes that is the problem. And 99% of grain-free foods out there contain butt loads of legumes. So I agree, nowadays, I don't trust most companies out there to be able to formulate a proper nutritionally balanced grain free food. RC has a few perfectly formulated grain-free foods for example. There are plenty of grain inclusive foods that also contain tons of peas, legumes, etc etc, that can still make dogs be at risk for DCM. Even WITH grains.

Either way the studies are super scary and I hope more research continues to be done.

Dog food
 

I am feeding my 2 yorkies Lifes Abundance dry food and Fromm turkey and sweet potato wet food. I order Lifes Abundance and have it se t to me. This food has my dogs coats looking so healthy. Breeders feed this food. Check it out. I heat a little water and put the wet food znd them some dry on top. They love it. This is a reputable company. Im happy with them.

LOL I had done the same thing. I advised her to go back to RC and then caught it and edited it.

3 yr old Gidget has been on RC for Yorkies for over 2 years. Coat looks great and it agrees with her. Vet said she's very healthy and to keep on doing what I've been doing. So, it's RC for me and Gidget.:)

More research will suss it all out, but all of these foods that popped up out of nowhere...or actually somewhere...where someone decided they were experts in dog nutrition and started ranking foods based on ingredients have always concerned me.

Yeah, for sure. I was suckered into it for many years. As I am sure you remember LOL.

And then the Hills situation has me totally confused again because tbh, I don't really trust any of them lol. :rolleyes::eek: But what can ya do? I'd for sure rather have a company that catches these things and recalls than not do anything at all (which is what has been going on for years with many of these designer foods getting away with these formulas which are now showing are making dogs ill or unhealthy etc).... but when Hills kept recalling more.... and this is a *prescription* food that is supposed to HAVE the better quality control that we so hope for AND pay for and trust. But me personally will feed RC or Purina over Hills at this point.

Sorry to go off topic ish. Just venting. And again I think we all do the best we can do and what we feel is best for our individual dogs.

I trust Hill's ... what happened there is something that a vet nutritionist told me could happen to any of the companies. She works for a competing company btw. The whole thing was blown out of proportion. My Teddy Bear is on ZD...it has saved his life. Daisy, one of my fosters is on low fat ID ... she has been for some time and has kept her out of trouble. I simply looked at the lot numbers and went on with my life. The people who were online bashing Hill's were crazy...one woman told me her dog was so sick and losing weight so she gave more of the food....no vet, but blaming Hill's.

I asked my vet if he had seen any pups with issues related to the Vit D issue and he said no.....had he heard of any? Again, no.

I asked one of the specialists and the same answer.

Heck there are recalls on food that we consume ALL the time. I think it is unrealistic to think there will never be any.....I know that I have seen some companies have recall after recall...and some once in a while. I had not seen any with Hill's foods except cat food prior to this.

I think there were definitely a lot of people who blew it out of proportion. I guess it just makes me unsettled since these are prescription foods who are supposed to be given much more quality control with an issue like this... it wasn't really something "small". From what I read - the only reason they found out about it was because a dog got sick... NOT through their testing. But maybe this was incorrect information. Also how they basically were like everything is fine... and then I think a week later, it was a whole 'nother batch that got recalled. It just seemed like a lot... it was not really a small issue. And if it had happened to Champion or some other company not in 'the big 4', I think most would be up in arms, as well.

I just expected better quality control from a company that has so many scientists, vets on staff and does research etc. My expectations, especially for prescription foods that pets lives depend on, is that not a single bag or can leaves that facility with contents that have not been tested. I totally completely get that recalls happen. And if Hills is what saves your dogs life, I'd likely suck it up and keep feeding. I am SURE after the backlash that they will be a lot more careful in the future. I would think anyway. I am just glad that so far, RC hasn't had the same issue *knock on wood* My vet and IMS both prefer RC and Purina over Hills anyway and that was prior to the recall - have no clue why. I know many IBD dogs do amazing on Z/D so I am grateful it exists.

Btw, on another note, I find it funny when folks say they'd NEVER touch Purina yet they feed Merrick (they are owned by Purina now, lol). I know no one in this thread said it but I've seen it before online. :yelrotflm

Never thought I'd see the day where I am feeding an RC kibble and a Purina kibble (my cockapoo eats a mix of Jackson's RX food and Purina Sensitive Skin & Stomach due to her skin/itching issues) as well as his canned Weruva mixed in. Times have changed. :p

Purina bought Merrick's in 2015. The recalls before that time were numerous and I have never even thought about them since. I had no idea Purina bought them. Merrick's had purchased Castor and Pollux years ago .. I had fed their food for some time but stopped after I had a problem with a bad bag and they lied to me.

My healthy pups are on Hill's Ideal Balance...have been for years and I have had no problems thankfully.

Oh, and yes it is humorous about Purina...that started with treats thing...the chicken jerky

My 3 have been loving RC Yorkshire Terrier adult food for a couple years. They seem healthier, their coats grow thicker and faster which is almost a problem as I have to groom more often, their teeth are good, no more picky eaters here, and plenty of energy for the 10 & 11 year olds.

The problem is they are doing a little "too good" they are all a couple pounds overweight, in my opinion. They only get 1/4-1/3 cup twice a day. I'm thinking of switching back to Wellness Healthy Weight for small dogs, which they were on for years before RC. It is hard though because I really do think they are healthier now, just getting a little chunky.

What do you think I should do?

Is it possible it is treats causing the weight gain? If not, and you are sure it is the food and they like it and are healthy, I personally would just cut back a bit on the food...just a little bit.