Hey Paw Family!
I hope everyone is doing well on this fine Saturday afternoon. It is time for the next blog post! I'm a little worried about this one, but it is a common question we get asked in the store and I know it can be a bit divisive with opinions all over the place. So, I want to tackle this one, and let data lead the way in this discussion.
Let's talk about Grain-Free dog food vs. Grain-Inclusive dog food, and DCM (Dilapidated Cardio Myopathy) that looms over this discussion.
First, what is the difference between Grain-Free and Grain-Inclusive dog food? The names are pretty self explanatory, one includes grains such as rice, oats, barley, etc.. The other uses non grains such chickpeas, lentils, quinoa, etc..
Ok, that's all well and good, but what does it mean, who cares? Well, there are a few reasons these exist.
1. Some dogs have grain allergies, and grain free foods greatly help these dogs and their coats. This is the main reason we carry grain free dog foods in the store!
2. Some believe that dogs do not require grains and did not eat them in the wild, and therefore do not need grains in their dog food. There is no real research or peer reviewed studies on this one, this is more opinion based at this time than anything. There are studies currently happening, but nothing with any amount of time or real data to give us anything to go on here.
How do these two types of dog foods relate to DCM?
DCM (Dilapidated Cardio Myopathy) is a heart condition that dogs can get. Simply put, it is a reduction in heart function which can either be genetic or developmental in dogs.
In 2019 the FDA released a report which seemed to correlate Grain-Free dog foods to DCM. Since then, the FDA has repealed this report later in 2019, in 2020, and in 2021. They have retracted the statements and are now stating that it is due to a lack of Taurine and activity in dogs.
How come when I google DCM or Grain Free for dogs it still comes up with everyone saying DCM is due to grain free diets. This is because good news does not travel as fast as bad news, and folks aren't staying up to date on the latest research and reports. It is true that some grain free dog foods have a lack of Taurine, but that does not include any of the foods we carry in the store. ALL of them have added Taurine, as we were aware of this study and worked to make sure we had the best in store.
Where is your proof in what you are stating, because I have heard that DCM is a big deal affecting so many dogs, especially from these grain-free diets:
1. The FDA themselves: The Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) Director Dr. Steven Solomon of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) concluded that there is no scientific evidence that a grain-free diet causes canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in a recent study.
Partnered with Champion pet foods in the study referenced above "The agency’s latest remarks and findings on DCM confirm that a grain-free diet provides safe and healthy nutrition, and that the risk factors for DCM relate to the dog’s unique health situation,” said Blaine McPeak, chief executive officer of Champion Petfoods. “Evidence shows that the absence of grains in a dog’s diet is not linked to the development of DCM, as the presence of grains in a dog’s diet does not prevent against DCM. We hope this brings clarity to pet lovers and gives them the confidence and trust to select the best diet for their dogs."
This is not opinions or heresay, but facts backed by collaborative, peer reviewed studies.
2. Next research paper, written by PHD Dr. Ryan Yamka - Founder of Guardian Pet food co and is board certified in companion animal nutrition by the American College of Animal Science
3. Lets look at the numbers:
1 in 15 dogs will be diagnosed with cancers. Some breeds are prone to it, others from feeding cheap commercial foods that have things like BHA/BHT in them.
1 in 4 dogs are obese which exacerbates any issue they may have including Arthritis, cancers, and even DCM.
Only 1 in 750,000 dogs will be diagnosed with DCM. It's incredibly, incredibly rare. There are only 519 cases that have been submitted to the FDA, number is taken directly from the original FDA report that was sent out and caused the panic:
So, not to make light of any issue, we love all of the furbabies! However, there is a strong concentration that folks have on an incredibly rare issue, when instead we should be focusing on the much, much more common issues by not feeding cheap filler foods and trying to keep our dogs at the correct weight ranges.
We are not vets! Always listen to your vet. This is just a question we get alot and there is A LOT of disinformation out there. We hope this helps clear up some of that!
