About the FDA's Latest Findings Regarding Grain-Free Diets
Last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wrote:
"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine and the Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network, a collaboration of government and veterinary diagnostic laboratories, are investigating the potential association between reports of canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs and certain pet foods the animals consumed, containing peas, lentils, other legume seeds or potatoes as main ingredients. Canine DCM is a disease of a dog’s heart muscle and often results in congestive heart failure. In cases that are not linked to genetics, heart function may improve with appropriate veterinary treatment and dietary modification if caught early."
Since then, the FDA has linked several grain-free diets to an increased risk of developing DCM.
The FDA reports that the following brands were commonly named in DCM reports from pet owners:
- 4Health
- Acana
- Blue Buffalo
- California Natural
- Earthborn Holistic
- Fromm
- Merrick
- Natural Balance
- Nature's Domain
- Nature's Variety
- Nutrisource
- Nutro
- Orijen
- Rachael Ray Nutrish
- Taste of the Wild
- Zignature
Though only grain-free diets from those brands seem to be affected, we recommend non-grain-free diets and pet food brands, including:
- Hill's Pet Nutrition
- Purina
- Royal Canin
- Science Diet
For more information aboout the risks associated with grain-free diets, check out Dr. Lisa Freeman's article on the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine website.
If you're concerned about your pet's diet or want to talk to a veterinarian about what type of food may be best for your pet, please feel free to call us at (585) 394-2288 to schedule an appointment. We'd be more than happy to help.