Dog Food Warnings

Addressing Concerns Regarding Grain-Free Diets

Recent research found that certain diets considered “grain-free” may be contributing to heart disease in dogs. The diets in question are not only those that list no grains, but also those that have peas and/or lentils as the main grain substitute. While the research is not fully conclusive, there is significant evidence to suggest that these “grain-free” diets do not provide dogs with the nutrition they need. As a result, dogs can develop dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a type of heart disease. To help you better understand these dog food warnings, we’ve gathered some research below.

Research from the Veterinary Information Network

Below are charts documenting which brands have been associated with DCM as well as the ingredients and characteristics of the diets.

For more information surrounding this research, please view this article published by the Veterinary Information Network.

Advice for Preventing or Correcting this Problem

If your dog is currently on one of the diets listed in the dog food brands chart, the easiest fix is to change their diet. Choose one that you do not see listed in the chart and is not a grain-free diet. It is also important to look at the ingredients of any dog food you do choose. Make sure it does not have peas, lentils, or potatoes/sweet potatoes as the only carbohydrates in the food.

If you prefer to continue the same grain-free diet your pet is on despite these dog food warnings, please talk to us about this decision. We can determine if the diet is causing health problems through diagnostic testing. This can help us understand the effects of the diet. If health problems are evident, we can provide therapy to help correct these issues.

If you have questions about your dog’s diet or concerns about their health, please don’t hesitate to call us. We are here to answer all of your pet health questions.