What’s the skinny on grain-free diets?

In recent years, a major diet trend for humans has focused on reducing or eliminating grains in order to promote weight loss, heart health, and diminishment of metabolic diseases such as diabetes (think “Gluten-free,” “Paleo,” “Keto” etc.). This trend made its way into the pet food market and became extremely popular, as owners thought “If it’s good for me, it must be good for my pet.”

As it turns out, grain-free diets may NOT be good for your pet.

In fact, there is an on-going FDA investigation linking grain-free dog food with development of dilated cardiomyopathy in otherwise healthy young dogs. DCM is a disease of the heart muscles, in which the muscle fibers degenerate and lose their ability to contract effectively. Thus, the heart does not adequately pump blood and fluid begins to accumulate in the chest and abdominal body cavities. DCM can be managed medically for a short period of time, but it is eventually fatal in all cases. I myself have seen the devastating effects of this disease on a one and a half year old Labrador; he passed away within months of his diagnosis.

Symptoms of DCM (or other heart conditions) include: decreased energy and/or appetite, cough, pot-bellied appearance, difficulty breathing, and episodes of collapse. Upon observing any of these clinical signs, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Although there are a few carefully researched and nutritionally sound “grain-free” diets, certain brands and ingredients have shown a more substantial correlation to the development of DCM. The 3 most frequently reported brands associated with DCM, according to the FDA, are Acana, Zignature, and Taste of the Wild. If you are currently feeding a grain-free diet, we recommend you consult with a veterinarian for information on alternative options.