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DCM Study Misses the Big Picture

A new paper regarding the pet food link to canine heart disease names multiple popular pet food brands sick dogs consumed, but it misleads and it misses the bigger problem in pet food.

A new paper regarding the pet food link to canine heart disease names multiple popular pet food brands sick dogs consumed, but it misleads and it misses the bigger problem in pet food.

Taurine deficiency and dilated cardiomyopathy in golden retrievers fed commercial diets” is a recently published paper from multiple scientists including Dr. Joshua Stern. Dr. Stern is a canine cardiologist who’s attention to his clients put into action a full blown investigation of heart disease in dogs linked to the pet food those dogs consumed. 

The newly published paper states the study is an “observational study” that collected data on “Twenty-four client-owned golden retrievers with documented taurine deficiency and dilated cardiomyopathy and 52 healthy client-owned golden retrievers.” The dogs studied were included from North American veterinary offices and/or universities from January 2016 to July 2018.

The analysis of the data showed “Twenty-three of 24 dogs diagnosed with taurine deficiency and dilated cardiomyopathy were fed diets that were either grain-free, legume-rich, or a combination of these factors. None of these diets were feeding trial tested using Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) procedures. Twenty-three of 24 dogs had significant improvement in their echocardiographic parameters and normalization of taurine concentrations following diet change and taurine supplementation. Nine of 11 dogs diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF) had resolution of their congestion at follow-up with five no longer requiring diuretic therapy and four tolerating diuretic dose reduction by >50%.

And the study provides this graphic naming the pet foods fed to the dogs in the study…

Per the study data:

Champion manufactured pet foods were fed to 16 dogs that were diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy and low Taurine (15 Acana, 1 Orijen).

Diamond manufactured pet foods were fed to 3 dogs that were diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy and low Taurine (1 Taste of the Wild, 1 4Health, 1 Kirkland).

Ainsworth manufactured 4Health dog food was fed to 1 dog that was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy and low Taurine.

Tuffy’s manufactured pet foods were fed to 2 dogs that were diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy and low Taurine (Zignature and NutriSource).

And Fromm manufactured pet foods were fed to 2 dogs that were diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy and low Taurine.


As concerning as this information is, the study almost deletes its significance by making a poor – if not foolish – effort to link the heart disease to pet foods that are not feeding trial certified. Quoting just one mention “All diet labels included a complete and balanced claim substantiated by formulation to meet the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles; none had undergone feeding trials for nutritional adequacy.”

To explain the foolish point the study tried to assert…

AAFCO defines a “complete feed” (pet food is considered ‘feed’ by AAFCO) as “A nutritionally adequate feed for animals other than man…as the sole ration and is capable of maintaining life and/or promoting production without any additional substance being consumed except water…

When a pet food label states “Complete and Balanced” regulations require that pet food to 1) have passed a AAFCO feeding trial (proving ‘nutritional adequacy’), or 2) the pet food must meet AAFCO established Nutrient Profiles. Both of these methods used to validate the Complete and Balanced claim should be assurance to the pet owner that this pet food is the only nutrition your pet needs (emphasis should be assurance).

The study appears to blame pet foods that meet AAFCO Nutrient Profile Complete and Balanced pet foods (item #2 explained above) as the risk pet foods. BUT…the flaw of that assertion is the study neglected to mention AAFCO feeding trials do NOT require taurine blood testing.

AAFCO feeding trials require NO final taurine level blood work of dogs that ‘passed’ the feeding trial. In other words, a pet food certified by AAFCO feeding trials provides absolutely no guarantee the diet would NOT result in low taurine for dogs consuming it (leading to heart disease).

The point of the study should have been to point out we have a serious problem with all Complete and Balanced claims on pet food labels. The study does prove Complete and Balanced pet foods were absolutely not ‘Complete’ for the dogs in this study (and many, many more dogs not in this study with low taurine blood levels and diagnosed with diet-related DCM).

Study authors should have contacted AAFCO and requested discussions to truly fix this serious problem. I’ve not read or heard any mention of study authors attempting to ‘fix’ the problem.

Study authors should be at every AAFCO meeting. Every single veterinary nutritionist should be present at every AAFCO meeting and advocate for improved Nutrient Profiles and feeding trial requirements.

There is a problem, the study authors successfully pointed that out. Now its time to fix the problem. Will any of them step up for that?

To read the full study, Click Here.


Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,

Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author Buyer Beware, Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
Association for Truth in Pet Food


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47 Comments

47 Comments

  1. Lynn Felici-Gallant

    December 14, 2018 at 2:01 pm

    I have yet to read the entire paper but it seems clear — at least at this point — that the problem lies with dry, processed grain-free kibble and one freeze-dried grain-free product. I don’t see a fresh food listed. Will this fact dispel the scare tactics some are using about so-called “boutique” diets that include fresh and raw pet foods?

    • Holly

      December 15, 2018 at 10:38 am

      On the facebook page, we have a food table that shows what dogs where being fed, taurine levels….etc there are dogs coming up with low levels on raw and home cooked diets.

      • Pet owner

        January 3, 2019 at 10:51 am

        Except that table is far from scientific. It is compiled by people that have either already had pets diagnosed with DCM, so the results are biased.

        This is only observational data, and correlation does not equate to causation.

        • Pet ~Owner~

          January 3, 2019 at 1:08 pm

          Spoken like a scientist, just not an affected dog owner.

          When you can’t get a manufacturing company to conduct (or publicize) formalized (scientifically based) PF field testing, all you can do is collect observational data. And of course the most interested parties are those with affected pets. So, that’s obviously a particular pool of PF consumers! Combined with the possibility that certain breeds, sizes could be predisposed to a Taurine deficiency (true). However we do know that manufacturers used pea/legume ingredients in the place of where a muscle meat ingredient would’ve been more useful. Of course, many studies (do need to be formally confirmed) begin with observation and the collection of common circumstances. What we actually know, is that most PF companies can’t be trusted with the best interests of animals, and do strive to get by with the minimum requirements. They just happened to get caught this time …. bursting the marketable and trendy virtue of “Grain Free” pet food. When eliminating wholesome “grain” isn’t the issue, mold and toxicity is. Just as much as using appropriate types of human grade, non contaminated protein is important.

          • Natalie

            June 10, 2019 at 10:15 am

            Your comment makes 0 sense. Pet food companies that use lentils and legumes in place of muscle meat? You mean like Acana that has one of the highest inclusions of meat of any pet food company and is supposedly the most implicated? Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin and Stomach has a crude protein of 27% and of that, only 34-38% comes from animal sources. I’m not switching my dog from a food with decent meat content (TOTW) to Purina that has hardly any. The best sources of methionine, cysteine, and taurine are in meat, not corn. (Peas have twice the amount of precursors for dogs making their own taurine) so again, that the brands that use the most meat are somehow the most implicated make no sense and goes against everything we know about nutrition.

  2. Pet Owner

    December 14, 2018 at 3:14 pm

    Except that the real point is this. Content AND proportion.

    Meaning, the first 5 ingredients on a dog food label are most important (as represented by their weight relative on to the whole). Then for every position which should be an animal based protein (ingredient) when replaced by pea/legume/grain/carb, means less meat in that recipe! Dogs need meat. DCM is simply the symptom being manifested.

    If you google “what is the best natural source of Taurine?” the response is that it is found primarily in muscle meat. Even in home made diets, along with cuts of meat/poultry, should be included muscle meat as well (heart, liver, kidney).

    We don’t want the response of these PF manufacturing companies to simple add more taurine (as a supplement). We want more whole meat/protein high on that ingredient list! At least it was that way back in the day, with traditional canned PF, before this stupid “trend” of grain-free was invented. Because manufacturers want to save money by adding as little whole meat as they can get away with!

    • Zachary Chernik

      December 14, 2018 at 4:16 pm

      aafco guidelines is by weight before processing…..so a fresh fish with all the moisture will weigh much more that a rendered dry ingredient. Even Tufts University mentions about list order is a flawed way…..then you add in ingredient splitting and it gets even worse

      http://vet.tufts.edu/wp-content/uploads/DecipheringFactFromFictionIngredients.pdf

      this affects all products grain and grain free.
      __________________________________________________________________________________
      so let’s take an example of Acana Pacifica

      Fresh whole pacific herring (14%), fresh whole pacific pilchard (12%), fresh whole arrowtooth flounder (8%), whole herring meal (8%), pacific cod meal (7%), whole whiting meal (7%), whole green peas, whole red lentils, whole chickpeas, whole green lentils, pollock oil (6%), fresh whole silver hake (4%), fresh whole redstripe rockfish (4%), whole pinto beans, whole yellow peas, sun-cured alfalfa, cold-pressed sunflower oil, lentil fiber, dried brown kelp, fresh pumpkin, fresh butternut squash, fresh parsnips, fresh green kale, fresh spinach, fresh mustard greens, fresh turnip greens, fresh carrots, fresh red delicious apples, fresh bartlett pears, freeze-dried cod liver (0.1%), fresh cranberries, fresh blueberries, chicory root, turmeric root, milk thistle, burdock root, lavender, marshmallow root, rosehips, enterococcus faecium.

      SUPPLEMENTS: Vitamin E, Zinc Chelate, Copper Chelate.
      ___________________________________________________________________________________
      ok…so first 6 total 14, 12, 8, 8, 7 and 7 for fish totaling 56%. (that includes fresh whole so moisture is also included)

      The next 4 are pea/legume notice that the percentage is left off but then continues with pollock oil of 6%

      so the peas/legumes are between 7 and 6 percent for each item listed.

      4 @7% for 28%

      then there are more after the rockfish 4% 3 more pea/legumes

      Look at Susan’s post https://truthaboutpetfood.com/is-change-in-pet-food-a-good-thing/

      you can see how the manufacturers changed their product over time

    • Hope

      December 15, 2018 at 1:37 pm

      Excellent point. I’ve been a complete and balanced raw feeder forever. But I need to point out that for those that insist on the convenience of dry kibble, the grain free movement started darn well 15 years ago with the introduction of EVO that featured an abundance of meat and/or fish and lots and lots of push back from industry and pet parents that high meat would hurt dogs (LOL. That company is now defunct after being purchased and run into the ground by a couple of conglomerates. This is to make the point that “boutique” brands (and I don’t think that term is appropriate to Champion and others btw) began to change their high volume meat/fish formulas over the last 5 years in particular to decrease it’s muscle meat volume and substitute high protein carbs. Of course they did it very gradually (and I think deceptively as possible) to not shock the market and to make more $ of course. As always, it’s our dogs that suffer for the profit to the companies. So I agree with you but I don’t think grain-free kibble is stupid. Only the companies that won’t make high muscle meat formulas for the health of dogs who have parents that insist on dry food.

      • Pet Owner

        December 15, 2018 at 6:18 pm

        Yes, I remember EVO. It was an alternative choice of Breeders and Exhibitors to Pedigree and Purina. A generous amount of meat was an attractive feature. However dogs don’t survive (even) on meat alone (which is where some of those comments may have gotten started). It’s not about “too much meat” in their diet, but a lack of variety and balance. In terms of instinct, dogs are opportunistic scavenger feeders. Meaning (for pet owners) that rotation is the secret. Non toxic, non contaminated kibble isn’t the worst choice, when augmented with whole (human edible) meats (minimally cooked). Or also being served raw instead of dry for some meals. Grain and Potato becomes a problem when it is taking the place of the meat/muscle meat ingredient in a PF among the first 5 ingredients. And then feeding only that one kind meal (recipe/brand) 7/30.

    • Natalie

      November 23, 2020 at 8:19 am

      So…between 78-81% of the protein in Taste of the Wild High Prairie comes from meat. So I should switch…to Purina? And feed my dog half that? The ingredient list doesn’t tell you how much meat is in the formula which is why you have to ask the companies as I have.

      And stupid grain-free trend? Go on, feed your dog mycotoxins and aflatoxins and less meat. I’ll stick with grain-free, thanks. While your at it, look up what grains do to horses and cows (herbivores). It’s not great.

      Could all manufacturers stand to use more meat? Probably – if they can still make kibble, or perhaps we should do away with kibble entirely. But blaming the companies that use the most meat makes NO sense.

  3. Zachary Chernik

    December 14, 2018 at 3:33 pm

    The Golden Retriever Lifetime Study is one of the largest, most comprehensive prospective canine health studies in the United States. The study’s purpose is to identify the nutritional, environmental, lifestyle and genetic risk factors for cancer and other diseases in dogs. Each year, with the help of veterinarians and dog owners, the Foundation collects health, environmental and behavioral data on 3,000+ enrolled golden retrievers.

    Dr. Stern is a member of this Study….and as a researcher:

    Study data and samples are available to qualified researchers during special calls for proposals, which are scheduled and announced by Morris Animal Foundation. For additional research-related data and sample questions, contact the study team directly.

    July 17, 2018 – The Golden Retriever Lifetime Study is one of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken in veterinary medicine. Each year, data and biological samples (such as blood, urine and hair) are collected from enrolled dogs that will be used for current and future research projects. But what happens to those samples after they are collected, and why are they so important?

    Data Mining

    The Foundation tracks each dog’s samples every step of the way. Our study team also records information about each sample, providing a double check on the process. It’s not easy keeping track of an average of 20,000 samples per year, but it is well worth the trouble! These samples will provide the raw materials for research that will improve canine health and advance veterinary medicine for years to come.

    https://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/article/dogs-freezers-life-and-times-study-sample

    I would think that you have foods from many different manufactures from grain to grain free and others being used, that the blood and hair samples could be tested for Taurine levels. In fact maybe even tested for heavy metals and pesticides/herbicides too.

    • Zachary Chernik

      December 14, 2018 at 4:01 pm

      Dr. Josh Stern, a Morris Animal Foundation-funded researcher, owner of a Golden Retriever Lifetime Study participant (Lira, Hero #203)

    • Lucyna

      December 14, 2018 at 10:27 pm

      I would have to say it is rather suspicious that this study focuses only on grain-free foods and deliberately omits other dry foods containing grains. Also, if AAFCO standards do not include the level of taurine, we don’t know if any commercial foods contain any taurine.

      • Hope

        December 15, 2018 at 1:39 pm

        Excellent point Lucyna!

  4. Reader

    December 14, 2018 at 7:26 pm

    Point of reference below:

    https://www.championpetfoods.com/wp-content/themes/champion-petfoods/res/research/taurine_bulletin.pdf

    Okay, I’m getting really annoyed with this discussion. We are only amateurs in the field of canine nutrition! There’s only so much we can do (or figure out) as pet owners! And even though I believe in what’s best for my dog, I can not cook the most exquisitely perfected meal for him every evening. There just isn’t time.

    But it’s looking like a PhD.in science is required to even begin to understand what’s going with this issue! We DO know large breeds are suffering from DCM. Part that problem, could even becoming a hereditary trait being bred into successive generations. so it’s time to fix this now!

    Grain-free (am not defending) is blamed. Am not defending Champion either (who seems to have a heavy metals problem). But their paper IS an explanation of Taurine. Who knew high heat (such as meat meal) destroys its efficiency. According to the paper “fresh and raw meats minimally cooked” (or considered biologically appropriate processing) is a better system. Who knew Lamb protein is deficient. Who knew some manufacturers use grain to “augment” protein measurement, which is also an inadequate system.

    What also skews the discussion is, whether or not, the product is cheaply made (such as substituting grain for meat). Or whether it is a more expensively made product (like Champion) due to appropriate sourcing and processing.

    A person has to go from study, to study, to study (plus consider the cost of the product itself) in order to unravel the complexity of this subject! Either somebody is lying straight up to protect their competitive edge. Or analysts are conveniently bridging circumstances together, in order to state conclusions, ever since the advent of grain-free products hit the market. If there is a defect in grain-free products, then they need to be eliminated. Come on, is it right to breed the risk of a genetic defect into the next generation, aggravated by an inadequate diet?

    The most blatant comment in Champion’s paper, is that Taurine is NOT considered an essential amino acid for dogs. [Because] it can be synthesized in a dog’s pancreas, from the amino acids cysteine and methionine (which I believe are in muscle/organ meats). So wouldn’t a large consideration be … whether or not that commercial PF contains appropriate muscle/organ meats, in proportion to the whole recipe?! And many do, contain liver or kidney. The key is reading a label, assuming it is honest and balanced, and assuming that it is not a contaminated protein source, or toxic in other ways, in the first place!

    What IS the problem here?

    I would like to know (once and for all) which manufacturers rise to the top of that list, given all these considerations. Not whether it is “perfect” in every single minute aspect. But whether it’s nourishing the dog, in a “complete and balanced” manner, and toxicity in not invalidating the benefit, as is supposed to be the intention of what is claimed on the label. And what AAFCO is SUPPOSED to be all about, meaning to confirm “complete AND balanced” formulas.

    Are labels honest or not? Let’s answer that question first! Otherwise it’s time to call-out these companies one by one, once and for all. Let’s put them on a list, to be avoided. And distill it down to who and what can be used.

    I am now on my way to return the lamb based canned PF. And am getting REALLY tired of going back and forth on this subject! Without having a clear course of action being advised. A lot of problems are presented, without many solutions.
    And it is very frustrating!

    • Regina

      December 14, 2018 at 8:45 pm

      Susan publishes a list, every year, that lists the best (for most) foods out there. Every dog is different, so there may be one on the list that isn’t right for your dog, if it has a specific allergy, but, her list is a good place to start,

      • Reader

        December 15, 2018 at 12:44 am

        I have the List. I can not mention the PF name as an example, because subscribers must purchase it to help support the advocacy work.

        However the food could be characterized as grain-free. And because I do not know the mixture of protein, also can not say whether it has sufficient muscle/organ meat included which is supplying the appropriate quantity of Taurine. This comment is not to slight the brand itself which has many fine attributes. What I’m saying is this. That the Taurine issue opens up an entirely new conversation about PF and is yet another element about which PF consumers must be knowledgeable. I don’t believe that’s our job at this point. I’m not a scientist, and not handy enough with a calculator to start crunching all these percentages. We barely can believe the labels we’re reading in the first place. Now we have to second guess the “nature” of the ingredient listed??

        Especially concerning the premium-expensive PF brands. So, because it’s on The List (does that mean I don’t have to worry about it?). Or more to the point, if AAFCO can’t assure a “complete and balanced” profile on a pet food, period… then what is the point of their existence and making the claim in the first place? It’s one or the other, but not both. And it shouldn’t depend on the individual (healthy) dog. A dog burns calories at whatever rate. But there’s a feeding recommendation, per weight, activity and age so the dog consumes enough food.

        Btw us: I’ve been at this subject (TAPF) for TEN years!

  5. Lucyna

    December 14, 2018 at 10:25 pm

    I would have to say it is rather suspicious that this study focuses only on grain-free foods and deliberately omits other dry foods containing grains. Also, if AAFCO standards do not include the level of taurine, we don’t know if any commercial foods contain any taurine.

    • Pet Owner

      December 15, 2018 at 12:57 am

      The Study came about with the introduction of “grain-free” food where owners starting noticing the difference in their dogs when feeding this type of food. Although we aren’t (and never were) assured by AAFCO that sufficient Taurine is part of the recommended profile, if dogs weren’t manifesting DCM before the market changed, then the ratio of appropriate meat/muscle meat ingredients must’ve existed.

      I have also started looking at the ingredients listed on canned PF. Regarding the same brand, one that was virtually all a “liver” recipe did not have Taurine listed. The same brand, but a “duck” recipe did have Taurine listed. Does this mean that the manufacturer has assumed the responsibility for “complete and balanced” depending on the nature of the protein being used? Meaning the inclusion of enough muscle/organ meat?

    • Germansheppups

      December 15, 2018 at 11:52 am

      Many of the grain free foods substituted grains with legumes and potatoes. That appears to be one of the main issues. However, off the top of my head, Fromm Gold is one food that has had some dogs with dcm, and that is a grain based food.

      • Pet Owner

        December 15, 2018 at 5:57 pm

        Potato is not a grain, it is a starchy vegetable. Potatoes have been an age-old added carb (binder) in PF. Sweet potato is even better. The issue is when a manufacturer is putting a carb ahead of protein (including muscle/organ meat) on the ingredient list. That is the point! Rice has also been used forever; there is an issue with arsenic however, but again, that ingredient should not be predominant as one of the first 5 ingredients on a label. Also, rotation is important. Some potato or sweet potato, or rice (as a binder) can be included. The dogs showing DCM symptoms are not getting enough meat, and peas and legumes are not a natural food for them, much less any kind of substitution for real meat.

      • Jodi Miranda

        December 22, 2018 at 9:39 am

        please show me where the fromm gold? fromm gold has put plenty of taurine in their gold food so this is kind of a shock……..

        • Pacific Sun

          December 22, 2018 at 3:13 pm

          Well we don’t know if it’s “plenty” unless the manufacturer has given a percentage relative to the whole. However Taurine is listed on the label. At least the first 3 ingredients are chicken, chicken meal and chicken broth. Then groats and oats (a binder). If the meat it partially muscle, then good. Liver is also listed on the label. However, someone has written that the high heat used to process into meal, may negate the value of Taurine. And how lamb is not such a good source. Again, I don’t think we (the PF consumer) should have to second guess this stuff. If AAFCO is doing it’s job, then “complete & balanced” should mean just that. It’s criminal that these dogs would be suffering because the PFI can’t get its act together.

  6. Reader

    December 14, 2018 at 10:47 pm

    Zignature is from Pets Global Inc., is it not? I did not know they were associated with KLN’s Tuffy Nutrisource.

    • Jo

      December 16, 2018 at 6:25 am

      They’re both made at the same factory. Pets global is just the distributior.

  7. Janice

    December 15, 2018 at 9:54 am

    If a manufacturer provides a complete nutrient profile, one can check the amino acids in a food to see if they are adequate for one’s pet. That requires knowing what your pet requires. This can be found by checking the NRC recommendations and calculating what you pet needs. (Your library may have the 2006 NRC Nutrient Requirements text, or you may be able to get it by interlibrary loan.) This is worth the trouble. Unfortunately, many manufacturers will not provide a complete nutrient profile–even those who have taken Susan’s pledge (I am thinking of Farmina). To its credit, Champion has this info. on its website, and if you check you can see that a food like Pacifica performs better than the Champion singles did (I think they have now changed the formulas). Still, that may not be enough, because one theory–not proven– is that “suspect ingredients” such as legumes and potatoes may somehow block the production of taurine, even in foods with adequate levels of methionine and cystine. So I would avoid such grain free foods until more is known (and it is concerning and annoying that Champion does not seem to be interested in producing foods without legumes). But in any case, your pet’s food should have enough amino acids for your pet, and I agree that we cannot rely on AAFCO for guaranteeing that a food has optimum nutrient levels.

  8. Zachary Chernik

    December 15, 2018 at 10:01 am

    Study in 2007

    Differences in Taurine Synthesis Rate among Dogs Relate to Differences in Their Maintenance Energy Requirement

    Abstract

    Diet-induced (taurine deficiency) dilated cardiomyopathy is reported more in large than small dogs possibly because taurine biosynthesis rate (TBR) is lower in large than small dogs…..

    In summary when a low, but adequate, protein diet was given to dogs of varying body size to maintain ideal body condition, a trend of lower taurine concentrations in blood, plasma, and urine was found in large dogs, but not in small dogs. Some large dogs had taurine deficiency (plasma taurine ≤40 μmol/L) such that, if continued for the long-term, would be at risk for development of taurine-deficiency DCM. Our results support the hypothesis that the rate of taurine synthesis in large dogs is lower than that in small dogs when taurine precursor SAA are not in excess. In general, large relative to small dogs appear to be at greater risk for taurine deficiency because they ingest less diet for their MBW than small dogs. We conclude that the SAA allowance should be increased enough for large-breed dogs and dogs with low maintenance energy requirement to enable them to maintain an optimal taurine status.

    full article here:

    https://academic.oup.com/jn/article/137/5/1171/4664573

    Resting and Maintenance Energy Requirements here:

    https://thebark.com/rer/pdf/MER-Adult-Dogs.pdf

    • Janice

      December 15, 2018 at 12:24 pm

      The last chart is confusing. It lists body weight, but the National Research Council uses METABOLIC body weight, which is body weight in kg superscript 0.75 (the notes at the bottom of the chart seem to refer to this, although I wonder about their notation. Metabolic body weight is body weight in kg to the 0.75 power. For example, our dog weighs 7.25 lbs, which is about 3.3 kg, but his METABOLIC body weight is 2.45 kg. There is a formula for calculating this which is not difficult.)

      • Janice

        December 15, 2018 at 12:33 pm

        I see the chart is from a magazine. If you want the most reliable information, I would suggest using the actual study, the 2006 Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats, from the National Research Council. Relevant charts for adult dogs are on on pp. 359-360; the publication also has other charts (puppies, etc.) It is unfortunate that these are not online, but for us it was worth the effort to obtain a copy through the library.

  9. Janice

    December 15, 2018 at 1:18 pm

    Sorry for the multiple comments, but I would like to add that our dog, an “easy keeper,” needs far fewer calories (kcals) than even the NRC chart for MER requirements suggests. The NRC does say, in a footnote, that for dogs with unusually low energy intakes (i.e., who need fewer kcals), one should use the figures in their third column of Recommended Allowances for calculating nutrients (which is also the easiest column to use). I suspect–and Susan has written about this–that there are many dogs who do not need as many kcals as they are “supposed” to need. Are they getting enough nutrients from their food? And does this relate to the following sentence at the end of the article Susan discusses:
    “We also noted that all but one of these dogs were consuming less food than their calculated MER would suggest and thus cannot exclude the role of dietary intake in these cases”?

  10. Terri Christenson janson

    December 17, 2018 at 7:10 pm

    I give nutrisource as a side but I homecook as well. Since all this has come out I also give 1/4 tsp taurine in my homemade for a 50 pound dog Dailey.

  11. Salome

    December 17, 2018 at 10:12 pm

    Have people realised that 23 out of 24 dogs in this study ate 62% less food than the recommendation per day? (MER calculation). How can they not have a deficiency? I can’t believe this study was published with so many holes. Btw they have some mistakes on one of the diets, Fromm Salmon a la veg, they said that it is grain free and contain legumes in the first 5 ingredients, it is not grain free and it does not contain legumes, just potatoes in the 8th ingredient.

    • Pet Owner

      December 18, 2018 at 3:42 am

      You’re oversimplifying a conclusion. The problem isn’t that because dogs were fed less than a 100% portion of the whole meal that they suffered a Taurine deficiency. In fact the researchers commented that dogs were fed proportionately according to their energy versus resting requirements. In other words, you wouldn’t over feed your dog, just to feed it 100% of the meal, just to get the required amount of Taurine. Which means that the point of the study is to show the irrelevance (or fallibility of a “100% complete & balanced” claim) which obviously is a relative term depending on the status of the dog and its individual needs and requirements.

      Again, nobody would even be looking into AAFCO’s false (or at least misleading) claim of a “complete & balanced” meal (as Susan has been pointing out for years) if it weren’t for the accidental discovery of the impact of “grain-free” diets on the ill-health of a particular breed!

      I don’t think the study was published with very many holes at all. The researchers were very specific about specifying elements of the study. Very fair and forthright. The brand/recipe you reference has this order of ingredients:

      1. Salmon (protein)
      2. Salmon meal (protein)
      3. Barley (grain)
      4. Rice (grain)
      5. Potato (carbohydrate)
      6. PEA PROTEIN (non-animal protein)
      7. Egg (protein)
      8. Tomato (Vegetable)
      9. Fish (Broth-(protein)
      10. Salmon (oil)
      11. Safflower (oil)
      12. Potatoes (carbohydrate)

      Protein = 32%
      Fat = 15%
      Fiber = 3%
      Moisture = 10%
      Carbohydrate = 40%

      It was my understanding that a (healthy, normal) dog should be fed a predominantly meat-protein diet, supported by “some” carbs (binder) and veggies (supplying some vits & mins.). But a meal like this served 7 days a week, 365 wouldn’t really be doing any dog justice.

      • Salome

        December 18, 2018 at 5:41 pm

        From the study,
        ” Actual daily caloric intake for baseline diet could be calculated for 23/24 dogs based on the number of cups consumed per day on the caloric content. Only 1 dog was consuming an amount that exceeded the predicted MER; 23/24 of the dogs for which this could be calculated were consuming up to 62% less than the predicted MER using the less active factor applied to RER (table 4)”

      • Pet Owner

        December 19, 2018 at 3:33 am

        The point can be made in a different way. Is AAFCO saying (or even allowed to say) a meal is “complete & balanced” only assuming the full portion of the meal is being served to a dog requiring that portion? For example, if its an extremely hard working sporting breed, it would need a greater portion of the meal. But wouldn’t that be the owner’s responsibility to calculate. Again, the problem is when an overweight dog is being fed less than the recommended portion on a daily basis, while it might be losing weight (but also nutrients). I think that “a” package of kibble or “a” can of dog food (with the words “complete & balanced”) can’t be expected to replace the oversight (or analysis) that an owner is required to use, to care for a pet!

        What happened with “grain-free” is two fold. Replacing a meat-protein (ingredient in positions 1 – 5) with an alternative element that wasn’t clinically studied. Changing the recipe required a feeding trail. And owners shouldn’t have to be doing that after the fact. Pretty said, isn’t it. So the other point of the article is to say, that before “complete & balanced” can be asserted, it needs to be the result (or proof) of a very thorough food trial. How many companies post that data?

  12. Janice

    December 18, 2018 at 12:53 pm

    The authors themselves indicated that dietary intake could be contributing to the problems inasmuch as all but one dog consumed less food than their predicted needs based on calculated MER ranges– and they also ate less than the manufacturer’s directions indicated. Thus it is possible that these dogs were not getting adequate methionine and cystine to synthesize taurine. That is why it is best, I think, to know the recommended (not just adequate) amount of nutrients, including amino acids, that your own dog needs, and to provide these nutrients. If you feed commercial, insist on a complete nutrient profile so you can see if your dog is getting optimal amounts. But there remains the issue that legumes may well interfere with the bioavailability of methionine and cystine and taurine.

  13. Bam

    January 6, 2019 at 11:12 am

    I joined the Facebook Group who uses this study and those results, the Taurine-Deficient Dilated Cardiomyopathy. Their answer is that dog foods should follow the recommendations of WSAVA which is on that chart your posted. I never heard of Wsava until I joined. They say they don’t recommend dog food BUT insist the only foods to feed follow the WSAVA guidelines. Coincidently, the three big companies support and fund this group. Hills, Nestle (Purina) and Royal Canine. They insist one of those brands are the only brands to feed your dog. There are vets in that group and when I pushed hard with questions, I was removed. It is shameful that a group and/or food companies are using this Taurine issue to market these low end dog foods because they were not on the list. I was told that they have nutrionist and the science research behind their foods. I asked if these were the same nutrionists and researchers that were on staff when they were part of dog food recalls. I also asked if there were ANY other dog foods that would be higher end that would be good to feed dogs. The answer….only the big three meet the Wsava criteria. So in fact the focus of that group is to promote those foods. What a disservice to pet owners who are buying into it. Their group is growing every day.

    • Pet ~Owner~

      January 6, 2019 at 2:20 pm

      This is not to defend the Facebook group to which you’re referring (I don’t even use FB).

      However if those 3 companies mentioned absolutely used human edible grade ingredients, then you’d be flocking to their product. Why? Because they really do have nutritionists who formulate the food. They have to. And just because they don’t publicize their feeding trials (to the public) doesn’t mean they don’t exist. Particularly the Hill’s line (probably RC too), but Purina’s been in the business for decades! They are pioneers in the PF business (but unfortunately have been purchased by profit seeking entities). However the fundamentals still exist.

      That’s why RX food costs so much!! Just as there’s a reason why PF for general pet consumption is “affordable.” RX diets do not cure any illness! But because the scientific calculations (and testing) is available to Vets, it can be offered to a pet, in order to help compensate (support) a pet illness. Few owners are equipped to do the same with a homemade diet, on a sustained basis. The reason why Vets prefer the identified diets (isn’t just to make money) but because they are a known quantity. And if an owner is directed to use only the recommended product (i.e., no treats, no junk, no fattening human food, whatever) then the Vet can isolate the pet’s other issues. And figure out the Lab work.

      Because we’re so invested here in the TAPF, we focus only on the quality of ingredients. Although is currently making a more than valid point about the questionable relevance of “complete & balanced” (there is no “one-size-fits-all”). But a guideline does need to be a starting point, for feeding the meal. Certainly more transparency is required. And (of course) if the ingredient quality is so wretched/toxic, then it negates any possible benefit of a nutritionally balanced PF (obviously). But, given all things considered, meaning acceptable ingredients, then the nutritional balance of a meal is a separate discussion from the “perfect” quality of ingredients used to achieve that balance.

      At some point, compromise is …reality.

      • Bam

        January 6, 2019 at 5:26 pm

        Those companies, with all their years in the business and their research etc. they still have been part of many recalls. I don’t agree that by products are human grade foods, we don’t eat them. Any food that starts with corn gluten isn’t the best food for a dog. They don’t need corn gluten in their diets, it’s a filler. They used protein meal from China, that had melamine in it. They had a recall in April and voluntarily recalled food. Why do that if your food is good? I do believe the more processed a food is, the less nutrition it has for dogs or humans. We could eat Mcdonald’s every day, it passes for human consumption, but it’s not the best for us to eat at all. My main point that it is misleading about Wsava when they are funded by those companies and to tell people those are the guidelines to follow. If Wsava had a list of all companies who followed their criteria I would be more open to it but they don’t. They shame people for the food their dogs are on, and make efforts to have people change to those foods. I think it’s a misleading to state the answer to the Taurine issue is these 3 foods…..they haven’t figured it all out yet. It will be years.

        There was a paper just released that Scientists at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine analyzed the levels of nickel, silica, aluminum, chromium and molybdenum in dog food and it was quite high. They listed the foods that are high and the three big companies are on that list. They have not determined if those levels being high will have an adverse affect on dogs…..but then again, these so called BEG foods have offered no grain for years and this problem has just been discovered. So I don’t put any more faith in those companies. Their track record isn’t great. So it just feels wrong to promote foods and slam others when all of this has not been sorted out.

        • Zachary Chernik

          January 7, 2019 at 10:28 am

          Chromium most likely was Total Chromium that was tested which does not really help that much. It needs to be broken down into Cr+3 amounts and Cr6+. The Chromium plus 6 also know has Hexivalent Chromium or Chromium VI.

          California drinking water has it’s current safer level at .05 PPB and a goal of .02 PPB

          Remember the Erin Brockovich lawsuit with PG&E….that carcinogen was Cr6+

    • serj

      February 20, 2019 at 11:21 am

      I just joined that group and got that same feeling. Just a big push to sell those brands. Then I noticed of their regular posters was posting on a grain free brands post on facebook. It’s almost cult like.

  14. Sam

    February 17, 2019 at 6:52 pm

    I think it is important for everyone who reads this article to know that not all cases of DCM come from low-taurine levels. The exact cause of DCM is still unknown. While there are some cases where DCM is diagnosed and the dog has low taurine levels, but there are also a lot of cases where the dog did not have low taurine levels and that suggests that there are other nutritional deficiencies as well. Thus, judging the AAFCO feeding trials because they do not test for low-taurine levels does not even begin to address the larger problem.

    I do agree with a lot of the data that suggests that DCM has something to do with gran-free and/or high legume/pea/potato protein content, and it could also seem logical that there are some exotic ingredients in some snootier dog food companies that are not tested enough and thus could be leading to some toxicity that is causing nutrient deficiency. However, there is a lot of testing that needs to be done. Every dog food company should be testing for these nutrient deficiencies, even if they are high regarded on websites like these and are human-grade foods.

    Note that I am a fan of raw food, but I also rotate through multiple brands of dog food and use different kinds of dog food including frozen raw, freeze-dried/dehydrated, and kibble. That is one of the safest things I believe I can do for my dogs right now. My hopes that are until research provides us with more data and more companies get on board with diet-related DCM that by using different brands and different types of food I can provide my dogs with enough nutrient balance to keep them healthy. If one dog food is toxic or lacking nutrient or causing nutrient deficiency then perhaps another food I am using will make up for that. That is all I can do until someone figures out what exactly is causing diet-related DCM.

    Also, here is the article that provides information explaining that not all cases of DCM pair with low-taurine levels: http://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2018/11/dcm-update/

    • Concerned

      February 18, 2019 at 1:33 pm

      DVM – Lisa Freeman is so connected to the Grain Pet Feed Companies she is against GF and RAW 100% as being totally wrong for your dog.

      Dr. Lisa Freeman is one of three faculty in the Nutrition Service at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine.

      “Nestlé Purina Funds Nutrition Center at Tufts University A new nutrition center funded by Nestlé Purina PetCare at Tufts University’s Foster Hospital for Small Animals in North Grafton, Mass., is helping to enhance the veterinary nutrition program. The Tufts Nutrition Center, which opened in January, is conveniently located within the teaching hospital where Tufts clinicians treat more than 22,000 animals a year. Lisa Freeman, D.V.M., Ph.D., DACVN, associate professor of clinical sciences says, “The Nutrition Center is a boost to our nutrition program. While the former nutrition area was located in a small part of one of our hospital wards, the new Nutrition Center is both convenient and beautifully organized.” Besides having a sleek appearance and efficient organization, the Nutrition Center features Plexiglas canisters for holding and dispensing dry formulas and glide-out vertical drawers with adjustable shelves for various can sizes and boxes of softmoist product. The Tufts Nutrition Center is one of four veterinary nutrition centers nationwide that Nestlé Purina has funded through the Nestlé Purina Veterinary College Program. Others are located at Michigan State University, Colorado State University, and the University of California-Davis.”

      https://truthaboutpetfood.com/does-vet-damage-the-reputation-of-university/

      What you need to take a look at like for example is the dog food in the study by Dr. Joshua Stern of UC-Davis which was Champion Pet Foods Pork and Squash and the high amount of Peas/Legumes in the percentage of the overall protein. There is no required labeling of percentage of Meat Protein vs Plant Protein. Since Plant Protein is missing the Amino Acids that our four legged kids require we are greatly mislead by the % protein that is on the label thinking it is all meat based protein.

      But lets take a step back with Champion Pet Foods for a minute. They have been grain free for years, but where was the DCM issue in the earlier years, what you can see which Susan has posted in another topic is that over the years Plant Protein Percentages has skyrocketed vs Meat Protein.

      https://truthaboutpetfood.com/is-change-in-pet-food-a-good-thing/

      “…The presence of high levels of dietary trypsin inhibitors from soyabeans, kidney beans or other grain legumes have been reported to cause substantial reductions in protein and amino acid digestibility (up to 50 %) and protein quality (up to 100 %) in rats and/or pigs. Similarly, the presence of high levels of tannins in sorghum and other cereals, fababean and other grain legumes can cause significant reductions (up to 23 %) in protein and amino acid digestibility in rats, poultry, and pigs. Normally encountered levels of phytates in cereals and legumes can reduce protein and amino acid digestibility by up to 10 %…”

      https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-nutrition/article/impact-of-antinutritional-factors-in-food-proteins-on-the-digestibility-of-protein-and-the-bioavailability-of-amino-acids-and-on-protein-quality/052B66B8F1BA8DBBCEE94E3607A63402

      If you look at Champions new Acana Pork and Squash for 2019 you might not see Taurine supplement being added by name but you do see Marine Algae of 1.2% and also some Kelp even though Brown Kelp is minimal.

      Fresh yorkshire pork (16%), pork meat meal (16%), whole green peas, whole red lentils, fresh pork liver (6%), pork fat (6%), fresh pork kidney (4%), fresh whole butternut squash (4%), whole garbanzo beans, whole green lentils, whole yellow peas, dried pork cartilage (2%), lentil fiber, marine algae (1.2%) (pure and sustainable source of DHA and EPA), fresh whole pumpkin, dried brown kelp, freeze-dried pork liver (0.1%), salt, fresh whole cranberries, fresh whole blueberries, chicory root, turmeric root, milk thistle, burdock root, lavender, marshmallow root, rosehips, enterococcus faecium

      This is their ingredient list when the Kentucky Kitchen opened in 2016

      ACANA Pork & Squash features an unmatched variety of local ingredients that are raised by people we know and trust, deemed “fit for human consumption”, and then delivered to our Kentucky DogStar® kitchens fresh each day!

      Deboned pork*, pork meal, whole green peas, red lentils, pork liver*, pork fat, pinto beans, chickpeas, herring oil, green lentils, whole yellow peas, whole butternut squash*, pork kidney*, sun-cured alfalfa, natural pork flavor, pork cartilage*, dried kelp, freeze-dried pork liver, whole pumpkin*, kale*, spinach*, mustard greens*, collard greens*, turnip greens*, carrots*, Red Delicious apples*, Bartlett pears*, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, zinc proteinate, mixed tocopherols (preservative), chicory root, turmeric, sarsaparilla root, althea root, rosehips, juniper berries, dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried bifidobacterium animalis fermentation product, dried lactobacillus casei fermentation product.

      NO MARINE ALGAE in their 2016 ingredient list.

      Taurine is found naturally in milk, meat, fish, eggs, and sea vegetables such as kelp and seaweed. Among the 29 different types of seaweed that were studied, red algae contained relatively high concentrations of taurine.

      I believe we have hit a tipping point where the plant protein percentage has caused this greater occurrence of DCM without a substantial amount of additional Taurine supplements being added to the final product.

      • Concerned

        February 18, 2019 at 3:18 pm

        Update: The 2013 Ingredient list which was only out of the Canadian Kitchen

        INGREDIENTS
        Deboned pork*, pork meal, green lentils, red lentils, pork liver*, butternut squash*, pork fat, green peas, yellow peas, canola oil, algae, garbanzo beans, pumpkin*, carrots*, pork kidney*, freeze-dried pork liver, kelp, chicory root, ginger root, peppermint leaf, lemon balm, mixed tocopherols (preservative), dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product. *DELIVERED FRESHSUPPLEMENTSZinc proteinate

        2013 – Canada Kitchen had Algae
        2016 – USA Kitchen no Algae
        2019 – USA Kitchen has Algae (1.2%) of total ingredients

        • Reader

          February 18, 2019 at 4:17 pm

          Domesticated dogs aren’t wolves, and never will be. But it makes for terrific copy in an advertising campaign.

          While it might be a hedge against risky commercial PF, there is more to a companion dog’s diet than just what raw food offers. I was using Vital Essentials (in my rotation plan) until they also succumbed to HPP (curing). To me, that defeats the purpose of actual “raw” food. Yet I can’t just feed a butcher worthy slab a of raw “ground sirloin” to my dog either, which requires several more elements for balance (see Beckers/Habibs “easy” raw food recipe). I am not sure my dog could digest the added “whole food” ingredients of red pepper, broccoli and spinach. And I keep him off of eggs/poultry, so getting the calcium/phosphorus balance is also tricky.

          We used to raise dogs on canned PF for decades! Breeders and Exhibitors swore by certain brands. Often it was a combination of those brands, including raw food (and whole food) meals! But not usually just one or the other. I don’t remember that the canned PF back then as being particularly heavy in potato … “protein”either. People would’ve laughed at peas/legumes in the recipe.The problem isn’t with the starches (a binder) in themselves. But REPLACING honest/wholesome/healthy protein (red meat or poultry) with plant based crud. And using heavily GMO’d corn (and soy for that matter). Any fillers which are subject to molds and therefore become toxic. Rice has a bad track record too. Let’s face it, farming is full of pesticides.

          The point being is that the recipe itself HAS to be separated from the quality of the ingredients being used! These companies have been in business for DECADES and you bet they have feeding trials on file …. somewhere. That’s what Purina did/does! They know exactly what this food is doing to the animals. The problem has now become companies cutting even more corners to maintain their profit. As can consumers get smarter. I can just see the “Marketers'” arguing around the corporate conference table as in “Okay, so consumers are complaining about the rotten quality of meat-protein. Then let’s lower our risk in dealing with meat suppliers, by substituting with a plant-based protein. At least that won’t kill em.” Oooops!

          The only problem is, they can’t back up their revision in the recipe with testing (worthy of publication). And everyone is confusing the issue, including the DCM problem, with assumptions that waste time. And at best, are only diversions. All at the expense of these poor creatures. So instead of publishing papers (the link above) to defend (or not) the role of a commercial “PF” brand … Why don’t they just go back to what used to work, and insure its quality food to begin with? Problem solved. Doesn’t take a genius.

  15. Spreading the word

    May 4, 2019 at 4:13 pm

    All I know is my previously very active golden retriever has been eating grain free Blue Buffalo Wilderness Healthy Weight for 8+ Years and was just diagnosed with advanced DCM. Another friend recently lost their 2 year old golden to DCM. She was also fed a commercial grain free food. These researchers are onto something.

    • Salome Rocha

      May 4, 2019 at 8:01 pm

      Golden retrievers have predisposition to taurine defiency which cause DCM, this has been known since the 90s. Many scientific paper studying DCM in Golden Retrievers. Inbreeding is a huge problem, Golden Retrievers are possibly the most popular breed in the and USA, increase of cases of DCM is just predistible

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