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FDA Investigating Potential Connection Between Diet and Cases of Canine Heart Dis

https://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary..._source=Eloqua

This is a pretty big deal. I've been keeping an eye on this information for about a month or so now after the first study came out. I'm glad the FDA is now involved.

I've always been a believer in the grain-free higher protein etc etc diets. I've fed Acana for years with good luck but have been annoyed with a lot of changes in the past few years. The pet food industry in general seems to be using an ABUNDANCE of legumes- peas, pea protein, beans, lentils, etc etc. It's always made me annoyed because I know these things are upping protein vs. the protein coming from the meat. Well, turns out, there may in fact be an actual problem with this. Read the FDA alert...

Quote:

July 12, 2018

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is alerting pet owners and veterinary professionals about reports of canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs eating certain pet foods containing peas, lentils, other legume seeds, or potatoes as main ingredients. These reports are unusual because DCM is occurring in breeds not typically genetically prone to the disease. The FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine and the Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network, a collaboration of government and veterinary diagnostic laboratories, are investigating this potential association.

Canine DCM is a disease of a dog’s heart muscle and results in an enlarged heart. As the heart and its chambers become dilated, it becomes harder for the heart to pump, and heart valves may leak, leading to a buildup of fluids in the chest and abdomen. DCM often results in congestive heart failure. Heart function may improve in cases that are not linked to genetics with appropriate veterinary treatment and dietary modification, if caught early.

The underlying cause of DCM is not truly known, but is thought to have a genetic component. Breeds that are typically more frequently affected by DCM include large and giant breed dogs, such as Great Danes, Boxers, Newfoundlands, Irish Wolfhounds, Saint Bernards and Doberman Pinschers. It is less common in small and medium breed dogs, except American and English Cocker Spaniels. However, the cases that have been reported to the FDA have included Golden and Labrador Retrievers, Whippets, a Shih Tzu, a Bulldog and Miniature Schnauzers, as well as mixed breeds.

Diets in cases reported to the FDA frequently list potatoes or multiple legumes such as peas, lentils, other “pulses” (seeds of legumes), and their protein, starch and fiber derivatives early in the ingredient list, indicating that they are main ingredients. Early reports from the veterinary cardiology community indicate that the dogs consistently ate these foods as their primary source of nutrition for time periods ranging from months to years. High levels of legumes or potatoes appear to be more common in diets labeled as “grain-free,” but it is not yet known how these ingredients are linked to cases of DCM. Changes in diet, especially for dogs with DCM, should be made in consultation with a licensed veterinarian.

In the reports the FDA has received, some of the dogs showed signs of heart disease, including decreased energy, cough, difficulty breathing and episodes of collapse. Medical records for four atypical DCM cases, three Golden Retrievers and one Labrador Retriever, show that these dogs had low whole blood levels of the amino acid taurine. Taurine deficiency is well-documented as potentially leading to DCM. The Labrador Retriever with low whole blood taurine levels is recovering with veterinary treatment, including taurine supplementation, and a diet change. Four other cases of DCM in atypical dog breeds, a Miniature Schnauzer, Shih Tzu and two Labrador Retrievers, had normal blood taurine levels. The FDA continues to work with board certified veterinary cardiologists and veterinary nutritionists to better understand the clinical presentation of these dogs. The agency has also been in contact with pet food manufacturers to discuss these reports and to help further the investigation.

The FDA encourages pet owners and veterinary professionals to report cases of DCM in dogs suspected of having a link to diet by using the electronic Safety Reporting Portal or calling their state’s FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinators. Please see the link below about “How to Report a Pet Food Complaint" for additional instructions.

Does seem they are taking advantage of dogs as they decrease quality protein - probably for the $$!

Thanks for posting but ugggggh, this makes me mad too :(. At least they're looking into it though...

Thanks Tay.

Very interesting. I’ll be following this as well.

I've switched to Victor, so far so good, but will know more as I continue to feed. Not as many lentils and peas compared to Acana. Solid company from what I have researched. I am still feeding the grain-free formula as of now but way less addition of legumes. I also bought a bag of the grain inclusive I just haven't fed it yet but will.

Victor:
Beef Meal, Sweet Potato, Chicken Meal, Peas, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols), Pork Meal, Menhaden Fish Meal (source of DHA-Docosahexaenoic Acid), Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Dried Egg Product, Flax Seed (source of Omega 3 Fatty Acid), Yeast Culture, Natural Chicken Flavor, Potassium Chloride, Dried Kelp, Salt, Montmorillonite, Tomato Pomace (source of Lycopene), Dried Carrot, Choline Chloride, Dried Chicory Root, Taurine, Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Hydrolyzed Yeast, Vitamin E Supplement, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Selenium Yeast, L-Carnitine, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Niacin Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Biotin, Magnesium Amino Acid Chelate, Riboflavin Supplement, Calcium Iodate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Lecithin, Fructooligosaccharide, Folic Acid, Yeast Extract, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Aspergillus Niger Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus Subtilis Fermentation Product, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Citric Acid, Rosemary Extract

Acana meadowland:
Deboned chicken, deboned turkey, chicken liver, turkey giblets, chicken meal, catfish meal, whole red lentils, whole pinto beans, whole green peas, pollock meal, chicken fat, whole green lentils, whole chickpeas, lentil fiber, whole blue catfish, whole eggs, rainbow trout, pollock oil, natural chicken flavor, chicken heart, chicken cartilage, whole pumpkin, whole butternut squash, mixed tocopherols (preservative), sea salt, zinc proteinate, dried kelp, calcium pantothenate, kale, spinach, mustard greens, collard greens, turnip greens, whole carrots, whole apples, whole pears, freeze-dried chicken liver, freeze-dried turkey liver, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, copper proteinate, chicory root, turmeric, sarsaparilla root, althea root, rosehips, juniper berries, dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried bifidobacterium animalis fermentation product, dried lactobacillus casei fermentation product.

Brit - I'll throw in another option for you -- Sojos. You can add any protein. I add mine raw, but you can do cooked as well. I have a super busy client I dog sit for and her dogs were always so picky about their food - I suggested Sojos...and bc she's so busy, I told her to just try adding canned chicken and shred it. Omg her dogs GO NUTS for it every time. Just a thought bc their ingredients are very nice.

https://www.sojos.com/mix-meal

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom (Post 4765836)

I wasn't happy with Sojos - SO MUCH POOP lol. I've never seen Jackson poop so much before so we ended our Sojos "trial" pretty quickly lol. He did scarf it up though and LOVED it and it didn't cause upset stomach per say. It was just very large softer piles and occurring 3-4x a day where he usually only goes 1-2x per day at home. Two Goldens I watch poop like madmen on Sojos as well haha. I like the idea of it a lot though and wished it worked for my 2.

I have always supplemented the kibble w/ canned foods- I rotate between Weruva, Wellness Stews, NV Instinct toppers, etc etc, and they seem to do well with this. They are used to trying different kibbles and foods so rotating a bit works for us so I'm always open to other ideas. I can get a good "feel" for how a food is going to work out within a week of feeding- regarding poops anyway. Coat, etc takes longer of course.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Britster (Post 4765887)

Interesting! Were you feeding the pre-mixes or the complete versions? I do only the pre-mixes and then add my own meat. For mine, the poo isn't as little and dry in compared to when I was doing Primal or NV, but it's not like you were describing. They all react so different!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom (Post 4766004)

It was the complete version. Yeah who knows. The Honest Kitchen produced a ton of poop too for us too. They even say on their website it's normal for the dogs to go a lot more like 3-4 times per day and be more "voluminous" due to the high moisture and fiber. But 4x a day pooping on a regular basis is wayyy too much for me to deal with :p

My two have been doing phenomenal on Victor as their base kibble. I've never seen them have better poops, tbh. Jackson did well on Acana for a long time but lately it had been inconsistent. My cockapoo, Lola, has more issues though w/ constipation and skin problems, etc, and since feeding Victor, we have not been dealing with these issues like before. I'm crossing my fingers it keeps working and they don't change formulas.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Britster (Post 4766804)

That's awesome Brit! Which specific Victor are you feeding? I always like to know things like this for my dog sitting clients looking for a good kibble.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom (Post 4766840)

That's awesome Brit! Which specific Victor are you feeding? I always like to know things like this for my dog sitting clients looking for a good kibble.

The red bag - "Active Dog & Puppy". Their "Hero" formula is similar, just with added glucosamine.