RESCUES
WILL YOUR DOG FOOD CAUSE HEART FAILURE? FDA Report Warns Against Grain-Free Diets Is a grain-free diet good for your dog? Many people would say yes but won’t be able to explain why. It’s just something that sounds right. However, a little investigating reveals no evidence that grain- free dog foods are actually better for your dog. In fact, a report from the Food and Drug
And a Word From Ozzy
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Administration (FDA) suggests that going grain-free may actually be bad for your dog’s health.
Between 2014 and 2019, the FDA received reports of 515 dogs being diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a condition in which the chambers of a dog’s heart become dilated because the heart is too weak to pump blood effectively. This can lead to congestive heart failure. DCM is not a rare condition in dogs. Some
breeds, like Doberman pinschers, Great Danes, Saint Bernards, and cocker spaniels have a predisposition to DCM. However,
the reports submitted to the FDA were unusual because the disease was occurring in breeds of dogs not prone to DCM.
Directions
The FDA examined the labels of dog food products reported in the DCM cases. They found that 90% of the food in these cases were grain-free. They also noted that 93% of the products contained peas and/or lentils, and 42% contained potatoes and/or sweet potatoes. The FDA also released a list of dog food brands that were named at least 10 times in the DCM reports. These included popular brands like Acana (67 reports), Zignature (64 reports), Taste of the Wild (53 reports), Blue Buffalo (31 reports), and Rachael Ray Nutrish (10 reports). Does this mean you should stop feeding your dog these brands or other grain-free dog foods? Not necessarily. Keep in mind that correlation is not causality. Just because these foods happen to be grain-free doesn’t necessarily mean that being grain-free is what has caused dogs to develop DCM. Dr. Jerry Klein, the chief veterinary officer of the AKC, stated, “At this time, there is no proof that these ingredients are the cause of DCM in a broader range of dogs, but dog owners should be aware of this alert from the FDA.”
1. Heat oven to 350 F. 2.
In large bowl, combine flour and Parmesan cheese, then add peanut butter and water. Mix until mixture thickens and forms a dough.
3. Sprinkle flour on your workstation and roll out dough to form a long, 1-inch-thick cylinder. Cut dough into 3-inch pieces. Use the round handle of a wooden spoon to make a crease down the middle lengthwise of each dough piece, forming a hot dog bun shape. 4. Place “buns” on a nonstick baking pan. Cook in the oven for 7–10 minutes, or until hard. 5. Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes. Cut beef sticks into 3-inch pieces. Place beef sticks into buns to create “hot dogs.” 6. Share with your dog during your next cookout!
Not sure which food is best for your dog or cat? Feel free to ask your vet during your next visit! They can discuss your options and help determine the best foods for your pet’s lifestyle.
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