The answer depends a lot upon whom you ask. Some veterinarians call on research studies to support the connection between Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) and grain-free diets in dogs. In contrast, some grain-free pet food manufacturers point to other studies that don’t support the link between the two.
For instance, The Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University’s Clinical Nutrition Team reported that grain-free diets are “big on marketing and small on truth.” The research they poured over offered them no reliable evidence to suggest that it is harmful to feed grains as a diet for pets. They noted that allergies to grains are rare in dogs and that they are much more likely to be allergic to animal proteins such as chicken, beef, and even dairy than whole grains.
In a Plos One study released in late 2018, researchers noted that Golden Retrievers were over-represented in the case of taurine-deficient DCM, which is unusual because Golden Retrievers aren’t usually genetically predisposed to DCM disease. Twenty-three of the 24 Goldens they studied were diagnosed with taurine deficiency and DCM and fed either grain-free, legume-rich diets or a combination of the two.
So, Are Grain-Free Diets Safe, According to Veterinarians
At Jacksonville Community Pet Clinic, we take this issue very seriously and have extensively researched the pros and cons of grain-free diets for dogs. Here’s what we found:
Celiac disease, or gluten intolerance, while very common in humans, is quite rare in dogs. In some cases, feeding dogs grains can help with other health issues. For instance, some Border Terriers have a condition called epileptoid cramping syndrome and find relief from it by eating a grain-free diet. However, they are the only dogs known to have a gluten-responsive medical issue.
Dogs with allergies can benefit from a diet made from limited ingredients, like grain-free diets. Therapeutic prescription hypoallergenic diets have gone through lots of scientific testing and advanced feeding trials and have yielded no reports to date of DCM. For instance, we carry a Hill’s Science Diet dog food specifically formulated for adult sensitive stomach and skin grain-free chicken and potato recipe dog food that helps with common food allergy reactions.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has studied this issue since a spike in cases in 2008. Their veterinarians, animal nutritionists, epidemiologists, and pathologists have been working with vets at universities; industry think tanks, and private practices to better understand any possible connection between the two. They reported at the 2020 Kansas State University’s Scientific Forum Exploring Causes of Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Dogs that some dogs experienced full or partial recoveries from DCM once the grain-free diet was replaced with a more balanced mix of grains, vegetables, and proteins. Of the 121 studied, 107 had achieved various stages of recovery within the first few months of the study.
As a result of such data, several pet food companies have adjusted diet formulations since the FDA published their study.
But Here is the Kicker, Dogs on Any Diet Can Suffer from DCM
The FDA has received reports of non-hereditary DCM in dogs that ate grain-free and grain-containing diets. Most of these reports focused on diets with non-soy legumes such as peas and lentils making up the lion’s share of their ingredients list. Yet, legumes have been used in pet foods for years with no evidence (until the late 2000s) that they might be inherently dangerous. That’s why the FDA has not requested any recalls of pet foods associated with non-hereditary DCM.
Whole Grains Might Not be the Guiltiest Culprit at All
When the recalls first started in 2007 and 2008, and canine deaths from DCM skyrocketed, the recalled pet products contained one ingredient other than wheat gluten, corn gluten, or rice protein concentrates. This ingredient came from an industrial product manufactured in China and used in making dog food called melamine. Melamine is a chemical used in manufactured paper products, such as dog food bags. Bags coated with melamine to increase expiration dates led to the deaths of over 1000 household pets in 2008.
It’s Important to Remember That Dogs Are Not People
While this sounds like something we should all intuitively know, low-carb diets that were trendy for human weight loss in the 1990s and early 2000s led to the assumption that they must be as good for the dogs as they are for the dog owners. But dogs are omnivores, meaning they require a diet made of both meat and plants. Actually, more than 90 percent of all dogs process grains very efficiently, and grains are better than empty, calorie-rich fillers.
Unfortunately, the Cause of Diet-Associated DCM Remains Largely Unknown
That goes for the vast majority of cases. Low taurine levels are to blame for DCM, as taurine is an essential protein for canine health and wellness. One theory is that legumes, such as those found in grain-free diets, are interested in a dog’s ability to absorb taurine. Plus, dogs diagnosed with DCM often have lower levels of B vitamins and a high concentration of amino acids in their diets.
Your Best Bet is to Ask Your Vet Which Dog Food is Best for Your Dog
In cases where your pup won’t eat a regular diet, is constantly itching, or has an overly sensitive stomach, then grain-free diets may be the answer. However, ask us first before switching your dog to a grain-free diet. We’ll do a thorough exam to ensure all your dog’s blood work is in order and their heart is in good health, not showing the beginning signs of DCM. After all, our overall goal is to give you and your dog as many carefree years together as possible.
