Grain free vs grain & heart disease. Food help!!!

[Noreen612]

I'm in the process of switching my babies food off of poultry for the time being, part of an illumination diet to see if she's allergic to poultry. In so doing I've come across the research regarding the FDA warning and read the articles on here and online regarding the possible correlation between grain free and cardiomyopathy. My vet also suggested that I take her off of grain free to a grain inclusive food. I joined a Facebook group called taurine deficient dialated cardiomyopathy to get some information on the food suggestions and frankly I find all of it a little bit suspicious since the group tends to recommend the big names which to me, have some of the worst ingredients in their dog food, Purina for example. They have a list on there of dogs who have been tested for taurine deficiency and what foods they're eating. Fromm for example comes up as common amongst the dogs with low Taurine but Purina comes up as one of the best. I'm starting to wonder if it's an attempt to get the big-names back on board since a lot of the small boutique companies have taken over. In any event I'm less concerned with industry battle as I am with feeding my dog what is best for her. Has anyone change their food as a result of this? It's really hard to find foods that are poultry free and limited ingredient. I just picked up a bag of Canidae Pure Sea, although I really wanted to go to Fromm but felt unsure, and I've been slowly switching her to that but I'm wondering if that's a good or a bad decision and whether or not I should listen to my vets suggestion of switching her to something with grain. Any input on this is welcomed.

[Lovetodream88]

There is nothing wrong with grains. This is also not an attempt to get big names back to selling well. Most of the boutique food you see doesn't have a vet nutritionist on staff, do feeding trials and have good quality control. Most of them are all about marketing not what it best for your dog. Royal Canin is my favorite followed by Hills/Science diet and wellness. What you think is good food for us humans isn't necessarily good food for our dogs. Something to keep in mind that if your dog has a true food allergy you should be going with a prescription food because all off one brands food goes through the same factory so the limited ingredient foods still come in contact with all the other foods used and processed in that plant and for a truly allergic dog that little bit is all it takes. I have a dog with IBD which is cause by food allergies and I tried every food on the market and it still made her sick until I went with prescription food.

[Wylie's Mom]

I prefer grain free for my kiddos.

Regarding the cardiac correlation - there is actually nothing conclusive about that at this time. Read here for the full info:

https://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/di...t-disease.html

[Britster]

I am very "in between" these days when it comes to food.

I lean more towards companies with research, trials and proof to back it up these days. Yes, that includes Royal Canin, Purina, Science Diet, etc. That said, I think there are plenty of more "holistic" leaning foods that do their due diligence as well if you want to go that route.... The Honest Kitchen, Wellness, Farmina come to mind -- with veterinarians on staff, trials, etc.

Jackson has been eating Royal Canin Low Fat canned and dry due to pancreatitis. I've never been more thankful to have this option. He also does well with The Honest Kitchen Verve (low fat -- one of the few companies that can give you the DRY MATTER basis guaranteed analysis %'s) and some plain boiled chicken.

There is nothing inherently wrong with grain-free... it's the LEGUMES and the excess amount of them causing the taurine issue. Unfortunately, most grain free foods out there are filled with peas, beans, lentils, etc.

[Noreen612]

Here’s the thing that confuses me. I want to be on board with companies that do research studies, have vet nutritionists on staff, etc. That forum I mentioned I joined all push the same companies you mentioned such as Purina & Royal Canin. But either I’m missing something or am overthinking things but the ingredients in these foods just seem bad to me. Take for example 2 random examples below , I copied & pasted the first few ingredients for RC small breed & PPP small breed just to review. Corn & by product meal are the first few ingredients. How can that be good for our babies!!?? Especially as the main percentage of ingredients in the food , as my understanding is the first few ingredients are the large part if what makes up the food.

Royal Canin small breed: Corn, chicken by-product meal, brewers rice, brown rice, corn gluten meal, chicken fat, natural flavors, dried plain beet pulp, wheat gluten, fish oil, vegetable oil, potassium chloride, calcium carbonate, salt,

PPP Chicken, whole grain corn, poultry by-product meal (source of glucosamine), brewers rice, corn gluten meal, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols, fish meal (source of glucosamine), animal digest, corn germ meal, fish oil, wheat bran, L-Arginine, potassium chloride, salt,

[Wylie's Mom]

I hear you on the ingredient issue. I'm not a fan of corn as a filler product for dogs, nor all that wheat. There are many dog food companies who have nutritionists on staff - like Orijen/Acana for example. You can email or call companies and ask if they have one on staff. And unless a company is doing research for a prescription diet, these days "research" isn't all that meaningful bc all of the typical ingredients have already both been researched and have historical data.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by Noreen612

Here’s the thing that confuses me. I want to be on board with companies that do research studies, have vet nutritionists on staff, etc. That forum I mentioned I joined all push the same companies you mentioned such as Purina & Royal Canin. But either I’m missing something or am overthinking things but the ingredients in these foods just seem bad to me. Take for example 2 random examples below , I copied & pasted the first few ingredients for RC small breed & PPP small breed just to review. Corn & by product meal are the first few ingredients. How can that be good for our babies!!?? Especially as the main percentage of ingredients in the food , as my understanding is the first few ingredients are the large part if what makes up the food.

Royal Canin small breed: Corn, chicken by-product meal, brewers rice, brown rice, corn gluten meal, chicken fat, natural flavors, dried plain beet pulp, wheat gluten, fish oil, vegetable oil, potassium chloride, calcium carbonate, salt,

PPP Chicken, whole grain corn, poultry by-product meal (source of glucosamine), brewers rice, corn gluten meal, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols, fish meal (source of glucosamine), animal digest, corn germ meal, fish oil, wheat bran, L-Arginine, potassium chloride, salt,

Because what we see as good for us is not good for our dogs because they need different things. They do research and do what’s best for our dogs. I hold trust in them. I have seen dogs do amazing on these foods, mine included.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

I hear you on the ingredient issue. I'm not a fan of corn as a filler product for dogs, nor all that wheat. There are many dog food companies who have nutritionists on staff - like Orijen/Acana for example. You can email or call companies and ask if they have one on staff. And unless a company is doing research for a prescription diet, these days "research" isn't all that meaningful bc all of the typical ingredients have already both been researched and have historical data.

I also like that food trials are done to show it works with no issues too.