GRAIN-FREE PET FOOD | PET GAZETTE | 27
food. But just as grain-free was reaching the
peak of its popularity along came the US FDA
to burst its bubble.
“FDA is investigating a potential dietary
link between canine dilated cardiomyopathy
(DCM) and dogs eating certain pet foods
containing legumes like peas or lentils,
other legume seeds, or potatoes as main
ingredients,” says the FDA’s Anne Norris
of the vegetables that are often used as
grain substitutes. Norris explains that the
investigation began when the FDA’s “Center
for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) received a
number of reports of DCM in dogs eating
these diets”. The center points out that while
DCM itself is not rare in dogs, the reports were
“unusual” because “many of the reported
cases occurred in breeds of dogs [that were]
not typically genetically prone to the disease
and were reported to have been fed the
same type of diet”. The FDA investigation
is currently being carried out as part of a
collaboration between two US government
veterinary diagnostic laboratories and says it
will be keeping pet owners, veterinarians and
manufacturers up to date on progress.
DCM, the disease at the centre of the
investigation is a disease of a dog’s heart
muscle which can result in enlargement of
the heart, making it harder for the heart to
pump blood around the body and causing
heart valves to leak creating a build-up
of fluids in the chest and abdomen. With
appropriate veterinary treatment and dietary
modification, the disease can be nullified and
heart function can improve. The FDA says
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that the cases of 30 dogs and seven cats are
currently being investigated after “signs of
heart disease, including decreased energy,
coughing, difficulty breathing, and episodes
of collapse” and says that many more cases
have since been reported by the “veterinary
cardiology community”.
The FDA has refused to name the brands
of pet food it is investigating, however it says
“rather than brands, the common thread
appears to be legumes, pulses (seeds
of legumes), and/or potatoes as main
ingredients in the food”. Legumes are part
of the Fabaceae plant family; the word is
usually used to describe the fruit or seeds
of plants with common examples including
peas, beans, lentils, chickpeas, soybeans,
and peanuts. The FDA is careful to point out
that it is not investigating issues with rice-
based products, stating “rice is a grain, not
a legume”. Despite the common trend of
legumes, the FDA says it is not certain as to
what connects these grain-free foods to DCM,
saying: “Taurine deficiency is well-documented
as a potential cause of DCM, but it is not the
only cause of DCM. Nutritional makeup of the
main ingredients or how dogs process them,
main ingredient sourcing, processing, amount
used, or other factors could be involved.”
Some relief for manufacturers will come
from the fact that the FDA is, for now, refusing
to advise owners to change their pet’s diet.
The FDA is currently advising concerned
owners to consult their vet rather than make
any sudden changes. If dogs are showing
signs of DCM the regulatory body has
recommended that owners supply their vets
with a “thorough dietary history”.
John Burns, founder of Burns Pet Nutrition,
says: “For over 40 years as a veterinary
surgeon, I have been recommending whole
grains as the mainstay of healthy eating for
pets.” He goes on to accuse those singing
the praises of grain-free food in the case of
dogs that do not need it of “trying to market
a product and carve out a share of the pet
food industry”. Burns explains that he does
not believe grain substitutes to be “intrinsically
harmful” however he points out that “large
scale use of derivatives rather than the whole
vegetable” could have detrimental effects
on the metabolism of dogs. Burns mentions
the FDA’s references to taurine deficiencies
in dogs, saying “the dog is normally able to
synthesise its own taurine, unlike the cat which
must have taurine in its diet”
The FDA has also provided relief for retailers
stocking grain-free products, with Norris
saying: “We are not making recommendations
about whether to buy (or in the case of
retailers, sell) affected pet foods.” Norris
adds that the FDA is telling retailers to advise
customers “to consult with their veterinarian
for individualised advice that takes into
account a dog’s specific needs and medical
history”. When asked which way it seemed the
investigation was going, Norris replied: “We
are unable to prejudge the outcome of the
investigation, as we are still gathering data
through cases reported to the agency. We will
continue to convey our information publicly as
the investigation progresses.”
September 2018