In the November issue, already in subscribers hands and available at WholeDogJournal.com, we have a number of articles about canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and diet. The articles are a response to the announcements by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) regarding their investigation of possible links between certain types of diets and the development of the disease in what seems like a growing number of dogs.
No statistics are kept about the rate or prevalence of DCM in dogs, but veterinary cardiologists first raised their concern that the disease might be occurring more often, and even more distressingly, in breeds that are not known to be at an increased genetic risk. They sent reports about their cases to the FDA, who began investigating. The agency apparently thought the matter merited extra attention or alertness from pet owners and veterinarians, and, in hopes of increasing awareness of the symptoms of the disease, they issued their first announcement in June 2019.
More DCM Cases, or Increased Awareness?
The number of cases of any suspected health condition will rise upon news about its potential risk – and it does seem that there has been an increase in the number of cases since awareness of the symptoms of DCM have been widely publicized. I’ve been following a number of Facebook groups for owners of dogs who have been diagnosed with DCM, and daily, there are people who post stories about their dogs – dogs who were newly diagnosed, dogs undergoing treatment, and dogs who passed away. But, dang, it’s frustrating to not have any idea whether the incidence of the disease really has increased or if it only seems so because more people are aware of the symptoms and are seeking veterinary attention for symptoms that, previously, might have been mistaken for “old age” and gone undiagnosed.
But, as I said in the editorial in the November issue, another thing that makes me crazy is the number of accounts that I read that lament how much they trusted the maker of the very expensive dog food they were feeding their dog – they fed it for years and years, and are now angry that the food may have contributed to the dog’s disease. I don’t think anyone should trust any company with the sum total of their dog’s nutrition for years on end!
What Does This Mean For Your Dog?
It’s important to keep in mind that even the companies whose products have been named in the FDA’s reports most frequently haven’t knowingly done anything wrong. The products have met the existing standards for nutrition, and they have not been contaminated with something that causes illness. No one has identified the cause or causes of the problem, so it’s not like the companies have failed to do something they were supposed to do. There is something – or, more likely, a few things – going on with some foods and/or ingredients.
The solution isn’t just avoiding those foods; until we know more, the solution is not feeding any food as your dog’s sole source of nutrition for years on end. If there is one thing that should be easy for us to do, it’s to switch foods at least a few times a year. Call it a hedge, call it “balance over time,” call it a hassle – whatever you call it, unless your dog is intolerant of many different ingredients, it shouldn’t be that difficult to buy a different product from a different company every other time you buy food. For most dogs, the more often you change their foods, the more robust their ability to digest different foods will become.
I have 4 dogs. 2 that can eat anything and 2 who have food sensitivities. Flaxseed fish chicken and grain being huge issues. Have found only one food they can eat canidae ancestral red. Multi red meats no flaxseed. The so called bad Ingredients start at #7. Their costs are gorgeous. I really dont like grain based and feel even my other 2 do better on gf. I have noticed with grain based their teeth are not as clean as with grain free and I brush their teeth. I would love to switch around with the other 2 but it seems most dog food companies love to make their food same way. I do puree carrots spinach green bean broccoli to add to their food. Was adding meat but cant afford it the way I was doing it. Beef is very expensive. Where I live we dont have access to all the different types of meat where you could afford to buy it. On a very limited income now.
I have a young 60 lbs girl who is allergic to all common grains, legumes and eggs. She also has environmental allergies. I have found a number of good foods that contain none of these ingredients, and use grains such as millet ,quinoa and sorghum. I mix several kibbles together, along with air dried Max Meats, fresh meats, and immune builders such as bovine Colostrum and medicinal mushrooms. She is doing great, and on no drugs. Check out Sport Dog, Nature’s Logic, and Taste of the Wild’s new Ancient Grains formulas. All legume free
Natures Logic Sardine …with a duck topper. Saved our baby Stella.
I am sorry but changing dog foods this much is a lame idea! First when introducing a new food it needs to be done slowly. Doing this several times a year seems like a waste. Now maybe next time buy a bag of something different and just mix a little into the food you feed. Keeping the base food the same. As GI upsets are no fun. Pancreatitis once a dog gets can get it on a recurring basis if your not really careful what goes into that dog. But after 50 years of experience having dogs and 35 of showing and breeding stick to a regular food and once in a while add a little something different to it.
And as far as DCM. I find it a non issue. Just bringing it out in the open is going to cause more to look at things differently and unless further extensive testing is done and more statistics are concrete dogs do have all kinds of health related issues just like humans. And actually with selective COI breedings and using DNA will help us breeders in the future to produce as healthy as possible. As far as I am concerned we breed healthier dogs, than us humans select when choosing to marry and start a family. Until I get concrete stats. I am not jumping the gun!
To answer the question about selection of dry dog food… I made a list of criteria and chose foods that met it and had acceptable nutritional values for their ages and activity levels, etc. Criteria I came up with are from reading WDJ, WSAVA, pet nutrition alliance, and Linda Case book Dog Food Logic. First three ingredients are real listed meats (ie chicken not meat by product), USA ingredients (human grade when possible), made in USA in factories owned by the company who employ veterinary nutritionists and can answer question about digestibility percentage (84% or higher), with grains when possible. Almost everyone except Acana/Orijen had recalls so I had to remove no recalls from the criteria. Took many months to find four acceptable foods. Then we also supplement with a variety of extra proteins, grains, veggies and fruit on a rotating basis (e.g. boiled eggs, pumpkin, fish oil, etc.) and pre and probiotics. I had echocardiograms done on all the dogs in July and no one has any heart problems, thankfully.
Hi lisa.
Thanks for your comments. May I ask you what the “four acceptable dog foods” that you discovered were?
Many thanks!
10 years ago after much study I switched to raw. I spend about $2 per pound. It’s what dogs should eat. If people could manage to feed half raw that would be great!
My dog ate dog foods only in the morning and the rest I cook their meals with chicken or pork broth with vegetables like carrots, pumpkins, potatoes with rice.
I give my minature Aussie 100 percent Organtic, dog food. I’m so against so many foods on the market. But how are you to switch foods now and then ,when there’s not much of a choice in Organtic foods?
I don’t know why it is so difficult for someone to just provide a good solid dry food and variations for assuring our pets get proper minerals /vitamins as well
I thought that each time I found a newer more highly touted (expensive), all the right ingredient food that I should have the healthiest dogs around. I have been feeding my dog one of top ten of highly rated foods made in Canada, without recalls that I am aware of. I added veggies, supplements, chicken and organic meats. They have been healthy dogs (specifically) my two Dutch Shepherds who are generally long lived often live to 17 yo.
My 12 yo, was often mistaken as a dog looking like he was under 5 yo. Full of vitality. At almost 12, I noticed he was slowing down. I thought okay, now it begins. But actually it is, where it ends. He was always a careful eater, heavily smelling everything put in his dish, never eating anything on the ground. He began having breathing problem, and would not eat anything unless it was in very small pieces.
Not even a week ago, in the middle of surgery which was expected to be a diaphragmatic hernia (breathing and swallowing problems), and a Xray and Ultrasound. It was instead huge malignant tumor in his lungs. I had to let him go. My beautiful full of life boy, my soulmate of dogs.
Two weeks before that I took in my younger 10 yo Dutch Shepherd that had been coughing off and on. Then I noticed large nodules under her neck under her collar. Lymphoma was the diagnosis. She is doing well on the Prednisone right now, which has reduced her symptoms. But we know with that diagnosis it is only a matter of time. I don’t believe in putting toxic chemicals into my body or theirs to try to add a few weeks or months, and have them suffer more.
I had many dogs over the years, most lived past 14 (larger dogs). I often self fed them dry food. With water always available. I never had one dog with cancer before. I thought I was doing my best for my guys, only to have to end their lives in pain with so much enthusiasm for life still left in them. I am so torn up and now I don’t know what to believe about feeding my dogs anymore. Instead of getting a better outcome it has just been the opposite.
Serena can put some info on the dog 🐕 diy at surgery, can you go with more details one of my dog’s birthing is heavy some times and I think it is normal I don’t have a vet yet and expeses?
I’ve always thought of ‘feeding the same brand of “complete” dog food day in and day out to your dogs would be akin to feeding your child the same MacDonalds Burger every day.