Does anyone ever feel like ever changing science makes it hard to do the right thing?
Due to ongoing scientific inquiry things are always changing.
Believe it or not there is a lot of science that goes into dog kibble. Love it or hate it the government and private corporations study dog food and negative/positive outcomes associated with what we feed our pets. Recently the FDA was alerted to 524 cases of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) occurring between January 2014 and April 2019.
So you might be wondering why the FDA is monitoring this. The FDA depends of reports from consumers to investigate concerns and felt that this trend was concerning. While DCM is not considered to be a rare disease it affects certain breeds disproportionately. And the new cases were unsettling.
The animals affected, while a small number, were not animals (breed or sex) that typically get DCM.
When my vet brought this to my attention in April and I was floored. The kibble I was feeding was on the list and I didn’t even purchase it because it was grain-free. I selected it based on “quality.”
Currently, there is not a 100% link between grain-free diets and DCM, however, the takeaway for pet owners is that there may be a link and we need more data. Sure, there are all types of confounders that were not considered within this report but nevertheless trends are important. Another important consideration is that reporting oftentimes is low and does not represent the entire landscape that has been affected. Reporting is not required by law and takes time.
I switched my Greyhounds to a new kibble and things are going well. I trust my vet and her recommendations. If you have concerns about what kibble is best for your pup discuss diet with your vet. Vets understand animal nutrition and have your pet’s best interest in mind.
