Grain Free Diets: What Every Pet Owner Should Know

Deciding what to feed our four-legged family members is a very important decision. With all the current information and internet opinions, this can be a very difficult path to tread. Let’s take a look at one of the controversial issues in the Pet Food Industry today, Grain Free Diets. Hopefully, our team at Somerset Veterinary Hospital can provide you with some information to make the best decision for your pet. 

Are Grain-Free Diets Linked to Canine Heart Disease?

In 2017, an investigation was started into why certain large breed dogs were developing Dilated Cardiomyopathy ( DCM). Certain breeds have long been known to have DCM including Dobermans, Great Dane, Boxer and Giant Schnauzer. These cases were attributed to genetic issues and is not the same as the acquired DCM.  However, in 2017 , Doctors were noticing DCM in several other breeds. The FDA started having veterinarians report these incidences. Through observations, certain diets were implicated in causing DCM. Initially, it was thought to be the absence of grains in grain-free diets. 

On July 12, 2018, the US Food and Drug Administration issued a warning to pet owners and veterinary healthcare professionals about reports of heart disease (Dilated Cardiomyopathy) in dogs eating grain-free diets.  The diets in question contain peas, lentils, legume seeds or potatoes as main ingredients.  In 2019, the FDA updated their warning to include which breeds were reported the most to have acquired DCM.

Remember this is only patients which have been reported to the FDA. I include this list so that you can make an informed decision on your own dog and can better understand the risk. 

Please Note: This information is subject to change over time. Please review the FDA Website periodically for the most up to date reports. 

Another inclusion in the FDA report was which ingredients were most commonly used in diets fed in reported cases. Of course, this does not prove these ingredients are the cause of DCM. At this point more research needs to be done. However, most patients improved with a diet change. 

Why Are We Just Now Learning About Possible Issues in Grain Free Diets for Pets?

In 2007, the pet food manufacturers were lobbied by producers of legumes , sweet potatoes, peas, etc. to use their products. This created a great demand for these crops which did not exist previously. Often you will see the term “pulse “ legumes. This term refers to  chickpeas, lentils, dried peas and beans. Also implicated are pea proteins and sweet potatoes.

Unfortunately, no research was done prior to including these in pet food diets. One theory is that these ingredients prevent absorption of Carnitine and Taurine which is important in heart health.  It does seem that Soy is not implicated in acquired DCM in dogs. Also cats do not seem to have exhibited the same acquired DCM as dogs secondary to grain free diets. 

What to do if my dog has been eating a grain free diet?

• If your dog has no cardiac signs ( a murmur, increased respiratory rate, exercise intolerance, cough), changing the diet is the easiest first step until more research is done.
• If you do not want to change diet, you can have an echocardiogram performed and taurine testing performed. Taurine testing is more informative in certain breeds such as Golden Retrievers which seem to be prone to taurine deficiency.
• If your dog has been identified as a cardiac patient, consider Taurine supplementation
• If Taurine level is low change the diet and also consider supplementation. 
• Repeat echocardiogram in 4 – 6 months to assess resolution of DCM.

How to pick my dog food in light of these ingredients being so popular?

• Avoid Peas, Legumes, Pulse ingredients and Potatoes altogether
• Make sure that these ingredients are after Meat and Grain
• The food should have no more than 2 of the above suspect ingredients

In Conclusion

In conclusion, this topic is very frustrating because we do not have clear answers. However, we as veterinarians, always lean toward “ Do No Harm”. Therefore, I recommend the above parameters when picking food. The FDA seems to be at a standstill and is leaving this topic up to researchers at veterinary colleges.  Currently, several studies are underway. Previous studies seem to be sponsored by Legume producers or grain free pet food manufacturers, therefore these studies should be reviewed carefully.

The good news is that this condition seems to be reversible with the elimination of legumes, potatoes and peas from the diet.   

If you have any questions concerning your pet’s diet, please consult your primary care veterinarian or veterinary technician.