The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently raised concerns about certain grain-free dog kibble and its potential link to canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a cardiac muscle disease that occurs mostly in larger breeds.
As of today, 4 cases were reported to the FDA that were linked to DCM and grain-free dog kibble and more reported cases shared in a NYT article. The pet foods in question contain peas, lentils, other legume seeds, and potatoes as key ingredients and are currently being evaluated. Given the widespread use of potatoes and legumes in canine diets, we are not sure, without further research and data, if the correlation is the same as causation for DCM. There are millions of dogs that consume grain-free kibble diets without any issues and while the small numbers of reported cases are concerning, we are not sure that they lead to a statistically significant sample size for us to draw a meaningful conclusion about the causation. Without conclusive data or further research, the correlation seems to be more of an unproven hypothesis about the potential link.
At Healthy Spot, we prioritize providing a biologically appropriate diet that closely mimics what a pet would eat in the wild. We focus on promoting frozen raw and raw alternatives that contain low amounts of carbohydrates. However, we also carry grain-free kibble recipes and treats. We believe in the quality and benefits of all the products we carry and do not think that the current data provided is definitive enough to take action. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and reassess our actions if more legitimate findings come to fruition.
As always, the health of your pet remains a top priority in all our decision making and we will remain vigilant on behalf of our canine companions.
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them down below. We also welcome you to visit your local Healthy Spot if you have any questions about any food or treats you are feeding your pet now. To read more about the FDA’s recent report, click here.
Comments (1)
I am looking forward to more information on this as this disease is horrible and there is no cure.. The cost of treatment makes getting that treatment prohibitive, especially since, at best, it only slows the progression of the disease.
I have a dog that I foster frequently with DCM.. He has become unadoptable as there aren’t many people who will take in a dog who can fall into heart failure without notice even while being treated, and whose life expectancy has been dramatically decreased.
While getting to the bottom of this disease and eradicating it would be ideal, the studies so far do not give enough proof that grain free diets cause this disease.