For some time now, there have been increasing reports that a certain form of chronic heart disease in dogs, known as dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM for short), is said to occur more frequently with certain diets than with others. Some studies suggest a possible link between grain-free or legume-containing diets and the development of DCM[1]. As pulses are an important component of vegan complete feeds and therefore also of our own products, we have been following this topic from the very beginning. This article provides a brief overview of the current findings:

A brief summary of the current state of knowledge:

• DCM cases also occurred with grain-containing/legume-free diets
• DCM cases did not occur with all grain-free/legume-containing diets, possibly due to a lack of information. depending on the manufacturer/composition: the nutrient content is not always checked, not all complete foods meet requirements
• When comparing grain-free dog foods, particular attention should therefore be paid to the ingredients
• When considering grain-free wet or dry food, individual action must be taken

First investigations

After the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) received an increasing number of reports of DCM cases in dogs, an extensive investigation into the issue was undertaken: Data was collected nationwide and internationally. In particular, case reports from veterinary practices and the respective feeding method of the patient were evaluated.

In an initial statement in June 2018, the FDA stated that not all grain-free or legume-containing feeds are associated with an increased likelihood of DCM. DCM cases did not occur in all dogs that were fed a grain-free diet. This was attributed to the fact that these manufacturers have the relevant expertise in the design of complete diets - in other words, that these grain-free complete diets, in which no cases occurred, met the requirements. [2]

Grain-free dog food with a high meat content...

In the same FDA statement, there seemed to be no difference whether the dogs were fed meat-based, vegetarian or vegan diets: Most cases of DCM occurred with the combination diet of lamb and rice, for example, among others - i.e. neither legume-based nor grain-free. It is therefore an open question whether the ingredients themselves are actually responsible or whether a lack of certain essential nutrients is causing the problem (z.B. methionine and cysteine or taurine).[2]

Current development

Further studies and a recently updated FDA statement[3] still do not allow a conclusive statement on a possible link between a grain-free/legume-containing diet and the occurrence of DCM. Although the market share of grain-free commercial feed increased by approximately 500% between 2011-2019[4,5], cases of patients with DCM showed only a slight upward trend[6]. Furthermore, the FDA states in its current statement that this form of heart disease also occurred in dogs fed grain-containing food. The FDA can therefore not yet confirm a definitive link between grain-free feeding and the occurrence of DCM.

Grain-free dog food tested:

When searching for the right dog food, you often come across comparison sites that list grain-free dog food. Nutrition myths, such as that the pure meat content is decisive for the protein supply of the fur nose, are often passed on on such comparison sites. That's why we're giving you some tips on what you should look out for when comparing dog food:

When comparing dog food, pay particular attention to the ingredients. High-quality oils, fruit or herbs are also often an indication of high-quality dog food. This adds vitamins, minerals and fatty acids to the dog food. VEGDOG When it comes to dog food, pay attention to high-quality ingredients and a balanced diet.

Wet or dry food?

When comparing grain-free dog food, the question also arises as to whether it is wet or dry food. The differences between grain-free wet or dry food lie particularly in the water content. Wet food can consist of up to 84% water, while dry food only contains 3-12%. This means that wet food can spoil more quickly than dry food. With dry food, care should be taken to ensure that your dog drinks enough. Wet food may therefore be the better choice for dogs that drink very little.

Due to the low water content, less food is needed in dry food to achieve the required energy level. For overweight dogs, it is therefore better to feed wet food, as the food is more voluminous due to its high water content and therefore keeps your four-legged friend fuller. Both wet and dry food should be stored in a cool and dry place .

Which food should ultimately be chosen depends on the individual pet. Although dry food is often more practical and cheaper, if your four-legged friend has one or two kilos too much on their ribs, it may be better to give them wet food. Wet food is also the better alternative if your pet doesn't drink much.

Conclusion

Further studies are desirable and necessary to understand possible links and causes between diet and the occurrence of DCM. It is therefore to be welcomed that increasing focus is being placed on this topic wird.Sollten certain ingredients in certain forms of processing have undesirable effects on the availability of nutrients, so these are important findings that must be taken into account when compiling a complete food.

When comparing grain-free dog food, particular attention should therefore be paid to the ingredients werden.Selbstverstof course we also follow the latest results and take them into account in our product development. For this reason, we pay particular attention to the supply of all essential nutrients including methionine, cysteine and taurine and check the nutrient levels by means of laboratory analyses.

Sources

[1] Owens, E.J. et al. (2023). Comparison of echocardiographic measurements and cardiac biomarkers in healthy dogs eating nontraditional or traditional diets. J. Vet. Inter. Med. 37( 1): 37- 46.

[2]Wilfredo D.M. et al. (2019). Special topic: The association between pulse ingredients and canine dilated cardiomyopathy: addressing the knowledge gaps before establishing causation. J.Anim. Sci. 1;97(3)

[3]FDA: https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/outbreaks-and-advisories/fda-investigation-potential-link-between-certain-diets-and-canine-dilated-cardiomyopathy

[4]The Nielsen Company (2020a). Grain Free Dollars Sales Trend (Report ID RB01) [Nielsen Answers]. New York, NY: The Nielsen Company.

[5]The Nielsen Company (2020b). Extended All Outlet Combined (xAOC) and Pet Specialty. Dollar volume and share, total pet food and dry dog food, regular and grain-free [Nielsen Answers]. New York, NY: The Nielsen Company.

[6]Quest, B.W. et al. (2020). Incidence of Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy Diagnosed at Referral Institutes and Grain-Free Pet Food Store Sales: A Retrospective Survey. Front. Vet. Sci. 3