“Cardiologists and nutritionists” are making suspicious pet food recommendations to “protect your dog” from diet related heart disease. Are their recommendations bias, or do they just not have a clue?
The TaurineDCM.org website states: “The cardiologists and nutritionists who uncovered the taurine-DCM connection have been unanimous in their assessment that the best way to get your dog out of danger in this situation, and to protect your dog from future problems like this, is to buy your food from a company that has shown a commitment to doing regular nutrition research and that has the ability to catch these kinds of problems before they get so serious.“
The brands of pet food the “cardiologists and nutritionists” recommend pet owners to provide their pet – to “protect your dog” – is:
Purina (most formulas)
Hills (Science Diet)
Royal Canin
Eukanuba
The DCM website claims they recommend these brands because the pet food company:
- employs at least one full-time nutritionist;
- does not release a formula without testing and trialing that formula using the feed trial protocols established by the AAFCO;
- should do a huge amount of quality testing;
- The company should manufacture the diet themselves, so it can control the ingredients and quality;
- And the company should subject its diets to peer-reviewed scientific research, and be able to back up any of its claims with data that is available to the public.
Now that we have the “cardiologists and nutritionists” official criteria for selecting a dog food that will “protect your dog“…let’s look at facts they are ignoring.
Cardiologists and Nutritionists recommended safe pet food #1 – Purina
In a FDA investigation into Purina Pet Foods Beneful brand, the FDA found during inspection ‘above the allowable level’ of cyanuric acid and melamine in 2013 testing of Beneful. Cynauric acid and melamine are the deadly combination responsible for the largest and deadliest pet food recall in history (2007). There was no recall even though test results are evidence to 6 Purina Beneful pet food adulterations.
“Six samples collected contained ethoxyquin; however, the additive was not indicated on the product labeling.” Pet food companies are required by regulation to list ALL ingredients on a pet food label. Purina ignored that regulation.
During this inspection, Purina told FDA they perform “routine contamination analysis“. BUT…Purina refused to disclose to FDA exactly what routine testing was performed; the FDA inspection report states Purina “would not describe this analysis since the method is classified at the firm as proprietary information.“
During inspection, “Per a refusal from Nestle Purina, the manufacturing facility was unable to provide the actual content or weights of individual ingredients that went into the implicated lots.“
Perhaps the “cardiologists and nutritionists” blindly recommending Purina should visit the link on the FDA website to learn more information about Purina. Click Here to read the information from FDA.
And with the “cardiologists and nutritionists” requirement that a safe pet food manufacture their own food to “control the ingredients and quality“, perhaps a reminder is needed that owning the manufacturing facility is NO guarantee to safety. “Cardiologists and nutritionists” recommending Purina must have missed this recent Purina recall for putting a cat food into the marketplace that contained plastic pieces.
Cardiologists and Nutritionists recommended safe pet food #2 – Hill’s Science Diet
We don’t need to look very far to find another “cardiologists and nutritionists” requirement of a safe pet food to “protect your dog” being ignored; serious violations with lack of “a huge amount of quality testing” in Hill’s.
On January 31, 2019, Hill’s announced a excess Vitamin D recall – proving the company did not perform “a huge amount of quality testing” on incoming ingredients (Vitamin premix) or the finished pet foods put into the marketplace that resulted in many pet deaths.
Further, Hill’s announced another excess Vitamin D recall 7 weeks after the initial recall – again evidencing Hill’s lack of “a huge amount of quality testing” and proper investigation/tracing of the toxic excess Vitamin D.
Cardiologists and Nutritionists recommended safe pet food #3 and #4 – Royal Canin and Eukanuba
Royal Canin and Eukanuba brands are Mars Petcare brands. In 2017, FDA performed an inspection at a Mars Petcare manufacturing facility as follow up to a 2016 Mars Petcare Cesar dog food recall. This recall was due to plastic pieces being discovered in the pet food by a consumer. In other words, we again have evidence that a “cardiologists and nutritionists” recommended pet food DID NOT perform “a huge amount of quality testing“.
During the 2017 FDA inspection, the agency “Inspectional Observations” stated this about Mars Petcare:
“Inspectional Observations
1. Failure to inspect, segregate, or otherwise handle raw materials and ingredients used in manufacturing under conditions that will protect the animal food against contamination and minimize deterioration.
2. Failure to take effective measures to exclude pests from your plant and protect against contamination of animal food by pests.“
During the previous FDA inspection of this Mars pet food plant (9 months earlier – October 2016), the FDA investigator “reviewed the firm’s pest control deviations – most notably the firm’s German cockroach infestation (which is most prominent on production lines).”
In fact, Freedom of Information Act request documents evidenced a serious roach infestation of this “cardiologists and nutritionists” recommended pet food company to “protect your dog“. From a Mars Petcare “Pest Sighting Log” maintained by the pet food manufacturer, “Millions of Roaches” was noted on 12/13/2017.
What’s up docs?
Why are “cardiologists and nutritionists” ignoring the documented facts about Purina, Hill’s and Mars?
We don’t know why, we can only make assumptions. And none of those assumptions are good.
A word to the “cardiologists and nutritionists” giving uninformed advice to pet owners: if you want us to take you seriously, learn ALL of the facts about the pet foods you recommend.
FDA provided evidence proves that a pet food is NOT guaranteed to “protect” our dogs and cats by having a nutritionist on staff, by owning their own manufacturing facility, and blindly believing the company performs “a huge amount of quality testing.”
Cardiologists and Nutritionists, what you are currently doing to desperate pet owners is WRONG. Have you forgotten your oath?
And by the way, Purina sells grain free dog foods with the exact same exotic protein ingredients as well as multiple pea ingredients “cardiologists and nutritionists” warn against in other brands. Hill’s sells grain free dog food with multiple pea ingredients. And Mars is selling grain free pet foods with multiple pea ingredients too.
The “cardiologists and nutritionists” should be ashamed.
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author Buyer Beware, Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
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Angelia
April 5, 2019 at 12:36 pm
Wow did I ever need to see this article today! I recently joined the Taurine-Deficient (Nutritional) Dilated Cardiomyopathy Favebook group, and I’m having a ridiculously difficult time processing everything. I needed this reminder to put me back on track! Thank you!
Randi
April 5, 2019 at 11:09 pm
Not really impressed with that FB group. There has been quite a bit of misinformation published in the group.
Donna
April 7, 2019 at 5:11 pm
I recently joined that group too and I thought it was about Taurine deficiency but it’s more a promotion of the all the brands of food listed above. There is a lot of misinformation in the group and sadly people are switching to these brands. In the long term they may find that their pets end up with other health issues because of the poor ingredients in these foods. Thank you Susan for always digging deeper and for all the work you do for the health of our pets.
Robin
May 1, 2019 at 11:39 am
That group is criminal!!!
Stacy
May 1, 2019 at 7:23 pm
That group on Facebook is managed by the veterinarians and the veterinarian that is running the study at Davis. Their only goal is to bad mouth every brand but the ones they support, which are the big 4.
James H. Cohen
April 5, 2019 at 12:57 pm
Why are cardiologists diagnosing more Nutritional DCM?
Susan Thixton
April 5, 2019 at 1:04 pm
Diagnosis of more diet-related DCM is not the point of this post. The pet food recommendations of “cardiologists and nutritionists” is the point.
James H. Cohen
April 5, 2019 at 1:08 pm
Which brands and specific diets do you consider safe for dogs with a clinical diagnosis of nutritional DCM?
Susan Thixton
April 5, 2019 at 1:16 pm
It’s concerning James that you come to this website and adamantly defend the “cardiologists and nutritionists” recommendations. Facts are facts. Did Hill’s properly test their pet foods and ingredients? No, they did not. Seven lawsuits against Hill’s are addressing that now. Did Purina have adulterated products per FDA testing and not provide the agency with information? Yes they did. Did a Mars plant have serious roach issues? Yes they did. I’ll throw the question back to you…would you suggest someone provide a pet food that was manufactured in a plant infested with roaches? Would you recommend a pet food that couldn’t tell FDA exactly what was in the food? Would you recommend a pet food that had two recalls seven weeks apart – both directly linked to not testing ingredients or final product? I would not.
c skye
April 6, 2019 at 4:00 pm
james? are you going ansto wer this question please? you have been such an active voice. aannd:
crickets. SMH
Claire Medeiros
April 5, 2019 at 3:58 pm
What companies have PROVEN that none of their formulas can’t result in dietary DCM In any dog, breed, age or health condition. Please supply a copy of the research or the means in which they have researched this since there is published research that it most certainly can and has happened before in companies being recommended.
Specifically, the Freeman study on the 9 Dalmations with DCM that found Hills to be deficient in a number of vitamins and minerals and was speculated that was the cause of DCM in the dogs along with the low protein. Not to mention the Hills lamb and rice DCM issue.
I guess the fact that IT HAS happened means that it could never happen again. I mean, a dog’s health, breed, and health conditions has no factor in DCM or has any influence on the dog’s individual dietary needs.
Adam McAuliffe
April 5, 2019 at 8:56 pm
James H. Cohen, where is your response?
Ps. Thanks for kicking me out of your decietful Facebook group (seriously). Scientific, factual, and unbiased my ass.
YOU should be ASHAMED.
Pet advocate
April 6, 2019 at 5:07 am
Claire, which foods have PROVEN to cause DCM? A study with 6 or 10 dogs is far from adequate especially when key elements are missing. Love for you to post any REAL studies proving dog foods cause DCM. Again REAL large sample size studies.
Pet Foodie
April 5, 2019 at 8:33 pm
I have yet to see any clearly substantiated cases of clinical diagnosis of nutritional DCM in dogs – other than what in years past was determined to be due to taurine deficiency or something similar. What I have seen is clinical diagnosis of SUSPECTED cases of nutritional DCM. Jumping the gun here, IMO.
Chris
April 5, 2019 at 4:20 pm
I think it is a bit of a statistical issue as well. If you say everyone who wears glasses may develop cancer, and if you do, you should see an oncologist, you are going to see more people be diagnosed with cancer. The more people looking for the needle in the haystack, the more likely it is that you are going to find the needle. DCM is the second most prevalent heart condition in dogs and more and more dogs are eating “grain-free” foods; you are going to find a “needle” in these dogs and it has nothing to do with what they are eating. Dr Greg Aldrich did a presentation at AFIA regarding this issue and how epidemiologically and statistically this is “normal” and not an epidemic in anyway.
~Pet Owner~
April 5, 2019 at 5:17 pm
Wow, I don’t know about those statements. Not to be combative, but just in the interest of rethinking the premise. When you “say” something (like wearing glasses) that’s making an assumption. But then you’re assigning a non correlated factor to it. Because you know that wearing glasses has nothing to do with cancer, in order words, the correlation has to be relevant in the first place. However to have purpose, the discovery would actually have to work in reverse. Such as discovering that more people who wear glasses were prone to cancer.
The next thing you’d have to determine is in which breeds is DCM the 2nd most prevalent heart condition. It would be useful to know how the percentage is spread. Among types of dogs. Large vs. small, AKC classification (working, non-sporting, etc., etc.) Then you would want to know which breeding line (kennel) may see more incidents of DCM (that is, if they were even willing to admit it). And then survey which types of diet (among different kennels) were fed (and if the diet was fed consistently, rotated or introduced within a certain period of time). After data gathering for one breed (from multiple kennels), you would need to compare the data with what’s been gathered from a completely different breed group. Over and over. Only then could you really compare your statistics. You’d know the dog’s type (energy requirements, metabolic rate, lineage factor) within each group being compared to one another. If DCM manifested in all – equally – then that would really be a mystery. And an entirely different trigger would have be considered. But you would at least have a very solid baseline.
Epidemic is kind of a strong word. Epidemics are uncontrollable events (until disabled). So this is more like a feeding trend. Actually you can’t even go on collecting anecdotal experience either. Because in one household the food might be “grain-free” but the dog is getting meat based treats, or feeding is rotated, or portion control is different, or supplemented. This really has to be a broad based, very scientifically controlled, generational study. Keeping in mind – you don’t want to intentionally disadvantage any of the control subjects either. So this is a very tough call, based on voluntary information (experience) being provided.
Pet Foodie
April 6, 2019 at 4:46 pm
Agree with your points, Chris. It also works in the other direction. If people feeding “safe” foods from “trusted” big companies are told they don’t need to rush right out and get taurine tests and echos then they won’t be looking for that proverbial needle. When some dogs do inevitably develop DCM on “safe” diets anyway, its dismissed as genetic and not diet related. These assessments are all subjective at this time.
Dog advocate
April 5, 2019 at 5:07 pm
How are they diagnosing more DCM? The number of confirmed cases are EXTREMELY VERY low compared to the population of dogs in the United States. I’m sure you can do simple math…let’s say 300 dogs out of 90 million dogs. Dogs are being diagnosed at initial visits as Nutritional DCM which is impossible. You cannot distinguish nutritional vs genetic on an echocardiogram. Some are even diagnosed by x-ray only. In order to truly know it’s nutritional, it would be proven by a diet change ONLY with improvement seen 6months to a 1yr after the change. Many that are diagnosed on follow-up visits are on potent cardiac medications, diuretics and antiarrhythmics….yet they improved because of the diet?!? It’s actually quite disturbing that the obvious (cardiac meds working) is ignored and pet owners are made to believe it’s really the diet for the promotion of the foods mentioned in this article. I applaud the author for stating the obvious. This is what needs to happen. James you should be ashamed of yourself.
Charlie
April 5, 2019 at 8:38 pm
You cant fix genetic or degenerative DCM with meds. That’s how you can tell which causes are related to taurine deficiency.
Pet Foodie
April 5, 2019 at 10:07 pm
Misinformed reply.
First, while these recent suspected cases of NM-DCM are commonly referred to as “TD” or taurine deficient, most of the reported cases involve dogs with normal or high taurine serum levels – on the recommend taurine tests. Thus, no cases of TD-DCM – in these recently reported cases – have actually been determined.
Second, none of these cases of suspected NM-DCM have as yet been “fixed” or cured. They have so far only been managed, generally on a combination of meds, supplements, and diet change. No way to know what factor is contributing to what result when combined this way.
Meds are quite capable of managing genetic DCM as well. Even taurine and other heart support supplements like carnitine are also capable of managing genetic DCM symptoms. If started in the pre-clinical stage, meds and/or supplements can delay onset of symptoms in genetic DCM.
Therefore, there has been NO clinical diagnostic protocol established to date for determining NM-DCM in these recent cases.
James H. Cohen
April 5, 2019 at 10:34 pm
Many owners are reporting that their dogs have made a full recovery after diet changes were made, many within the period of half of a year. Many others have reported a partial recovery on meds that later made full recovery after a diet change. Genetic DCM does not improve with diet change and cardiologists consider those cases Nutritional DCM at this time until the disease is better understood.
Dog advocate
April 6, 2019 at 4:51 am
James, owners or vets? You stated a number of times about your anecdotal chart that information is obtained and confirmed by cardiologists and vets. What about the cases of dogs that have made a “full recovery” and are taken off their meds then revert back and are worse because they were falsely led? Your page doesn’t seem to talk about those…..
James H. Cohen
April 6, 2019 at 1:57 pm
Dog Advocate, Both owners and DVM’s.
Dog advocate
April 6, 2019 at 4:42 am
Do you have the studies to prove that? Remodelling happens in humans. Medications can allow a heart to rest and recover. Would love to see your sources proving your statement as facts. Furthermore, what criteria has been established clinically to determine reversal or curing for DCM? Again these apparent dogs are “cured” yet they are on potent cardiac meds….you CAN see improvement on those medications especially in milder cases. Please use common sense!
Catherine Smith
April 6, 2019 at 1:18 pm
My dog has recovered. No problems nor evidence of heart disease anymore. Her problem started when I switched from Purina Proplan after years of feeding it to Origen and Adsna which she ate for ab8ut 2 years. Now back on Proplan and done raw food l
Amelia
April 5, 2019 at 1:02 pm
Spot on! Excellent. This needs to be posted everywhere!
reader
April 5, 2019 at 1:12 pm
As we all should know now, all scientists, researchers, cardiologists, allopathic doctors, nutritionists, etc can only get a paying grant or a paying job if they go along with Big Money Big Pet Food Industry and say whatever they need to make Big Pet Food happy, because if any of them tell the truth, they will be out of a job and probably need to find another profession, as their name will be tainted for telling the truth. Obviously these are big corporations in the pet industry that have plenty of money to pay off grants and research to these socalled professionals, cough, cough…
Fortunately many pet owners are waking up finally, and becoming aware. It is a process. I woke up many years ago, as I trusted my vet and did all the vaccines, which made my pets have chronic illness, allergies, severe ear issues, stinky, seizures from puppy vaccines, severe smelly gas, constant stink to high heavens dog poop, then severe aggression out of no where after the rabies vaccine. I asked the vet to solve these issues, and the vet only sold more chemical meds that only temporarily worked and the problems became much worst, so I learned the allopathic vets are not there to help you but to only sell you more toxic vaccines and toxic chemical medicines. I fed the Nestle purina beneful which caused my dog terrible doggy smell yeast in the ears, skin, and smelly poop that stunk for miles.
Finally a dog walker with champion show dogs, gave advice to stop vaccinating for life as you have a very toxic dog, use nosodes the original natural vaccines to prevent any disease if needed, stop all kibble, stop all pasteurized no nutrition canned pet food, and feed real food like pastured organic raw EGGS, plain KEFIR (in fridge by yogurt at grocery stores), teaspoon of CODLIVER OIL, handful of frozen GREEN BEANS or asian mixed veggies, CHIA seeds for fiber and firm poop, greens powder with kelp, spirulina and chlorella, red powder supplement with cranberry, and a dog powder vitamin supplement.
This made all the difference. The gas stopped completely in less than several days, poop became firm and almost non smelly. After bathing and rinsing, then sponging on apple cider vinegar all over the hair and letting air dry to help kill off the yeast doggy smell growing on the hair and in the ears. Ears stopped producing black gunk over time, the smelly dog syndrome diminished greatly to no dog smell at all. Allergies stopped. Hot spots never came back again. So by stopping all the chemical toxic vaccines, and no nutrition kibble and no nutrition canned food, all this made a difference.
The allopathic veterinarians were clueless, or never wanted to tell the truth as all allopathic veterinarians receive rewards, aka commissions for all the toxic vaccines and chemical meds they sell. Allopathic vets do not want to heal a toxic dog, they kept selling more and stronger toxic chemicals that worked very temporarily, then the issues exploded much worst.
Moving forward, I have kept learning and researching, finding alternatives for most everything. Natural cleaning in the house with white vinegar and no chemicals. No pesticide chemicals in the yard. Pour a kettle of boiling water on weeds. Mix cheap white vinegar, and teaspoon dish soap and spraying weeds on hot sunny days. Put salt on cracks in the driveway to kill any weeds growing thru cracks. Search for natural alternatives for most anything.
Rolling forward, my elderly pets have passed on. Newly adopted pets and we go natural, literally no vet bills ever, no health issues. Vets are only used for maybe a full panel blood test when older, to see what holistic treatments may be needed to maintain health. Of course, any emergencies, closest vet would be used. Usually talk with true health holistic vets now, and get lots of enewsletters from holistic veterinarians with many holistic, homeopathic or naturopathic remedies alternatives to solve most issues if they even come up. Once starting the learning curve to go natural, there is no going back to toxic chemicals. My previous pets suffered from the allopathic vets and I had many thousands in vet bills. Not any more. Healthy is way more affordable in the long run. Healthy happy pets is worth everything.
Remember you cannot trust these paid off researchers, scientists, doctors, cardiologists, nutritionists for big pet food. They are paid to lie to sell more bad pet food. They are trying to stop pet owners from learning the truth.
Sharon Johnson
April 5, 2019 at 4:34 pm
I’m trying, but didn’t get helpful advice from anyone . . . maybe a dumb questions, but should the frozen green beans be cooked first? I’ve been microwaving them and sweet potatoes and mixing with de-fatted ground chuck. The supplement information is helpful too! Thank you for posting this!
helper
April 5, 2019 at 5:25 pm
For whole food diets, I’ve heard that for most dogs, veggies should be steamed. Which can be done in the microwave. but I think the advantage is in having a little extra nutrition from the water when steaming, if incorporated into the meal.
Mary Sue
April 5, 2019 at 10:23 pm
Sharon, your dog will also need a source of calcium, such as bone or other source, as well as organs snd maybe other supplements for this mix to be balanced. The proportions are important, too. There are several raw feeding groups where you can get information.
Judy Boitt
April 7, 2019 at 9:34 am
I read that microwave depletes vitamins so I bake in the toaster or boil.
Jane Democracy
April 5, 2019 at 1:17 pm
The problem is … cardiologists are speaking to what most pet owners can afford to feed and what the will feed, not what the people who read TAPF feed. Recommending a homemade diet is not going to work for most and is way to variable for a cardiologist to assure that this is the way to go. Boutique brands are often too small to be manufactured in house which means they are manufactured by a 3rd party putting the quality system at arm’s length and often these boutique brand know nothing of making pet food nor of quality testing… They just have good intentions. I would love a boutique brand to step up and tell us how they assure quality, the steps they take, exactly what they test for and how often and on what.
Susan Thixton
April 5, 2019 at 1:19 pm
You might be surprised at what small brands test for. Ask them.
Barbara Hoyos
April 5, 2019 at 9:30 pm
Susan, I researched pet foods and chose a boutique brand after speaking with the owner at length. It was a wonderful surprise to see that brand on your recommended list!
Sherrie Ashenbremer
April 5, 2019 at 1:43 pm
I love my precious Bailey, he has severe ear issues, bad bad allergies and bad rashes on his skin. He died earlier than he should have, he got kidney disease and it was awful. I don”t trust any dog/cat food company
Krista J
April 5, 2019 at 2:23 pm
When I visited the TaurineDCM.org website a couple of weeks ago to find out what I should be feeding my dogs I was disappointed. I felt so bad for the hundreds of pet owners who probably switched over to Hills/Science Diet trying to avoid or repair damage done by DCM; only to have their dogs poisoned by excess Vitamin D and now possibly dealing with kidney failure or worse. Talk about jumping from the pan and into the fire. Thank you for your tireless advocacy on behalf of pet owners and more importantly those that can’t speak themselves, our loving pets!
~Pet Owner~
April 5, 2019 at 2:40 pm
People no longer apply critical thinking skills to anything.
To “protect your dog” is such a hugely broad statement! That it’s being made by the DCM website implies there’s a way for owners to avoid DCM, even though the study hasn’t even produced final conclusions. Readers read something which seems relevant to the subject, then go off making their own connections. In this case, it’s very misleading to think the DCM website has the “authority” to make statements about PF, which (obviously) Susan has discounted. They really should be sent a correction.
Here’s why I’m skeptical.
(First) what’s the true purpose of the DCM website (data collection, anecdotal experience, providing test results, or functioning as PR for the breed fanciers most affected). I’m worried that some “kink” (such as a disruption in Taurine assimilation, or a tendency to DCM) has been bred (propagated) into the breed at this point (possibly expanding the mutated gene pool). And now the breeders are backtracking, hoping that a “diet deficiency” will explain away the flaw. Will the DCM website be honest enough to report on all possibilities and followup? But for a website like this not to be calling out pea protein (particularly in lieu of meat protein in the first place) just doesn’t seem responsible at all. I would say it’s not so much the “brand” of PF, but the order and quality of purposeful ingredients (which are verifiable, along with absolute product tested).
(Second) Cardiologists and Nutritionists can either be a group of specialists or 2 of them. How long have they been practicing, and looking at the issue, and why are they making these statements now? Which brands are paying for exactly what to be said about their products (there’s my cynicism again)? Employing a full-time nutritionist is one thing, but what is the person doing inside the company? Are they certifying recipes, correcting failures, or just acting as a spokesperson and attending industry promotional events.
This has been discussed before, but what’s the nature (scope, duration) of the feeding trials? Immediate trials are said to be about 6 months. What about long term trials too. If so, then such a trial should have sorted out the DCM issue … so obviously not. Did they, or should they, compare an all meat diet with a novel protein diet? Product testing (of course) is the most important factor of all, so what are the standards for doing so (like frequency, scope and definition)?
Testing is the one point missing from their list of statements.
As a side note: The original Purina company actually did do a lot of research, innovation and testing. Once upon a time they were known for their field trials and the development of proper diets for service and working dogs. Breeders and exhibitors used their products extensively. There wasn’t a huge amount of competition at that time. Hills and Royal Canin also do lot of product development too. Unfortunately not testing, using safe ingredients, or best practice manufacturing devalues their other efforts. Which is too bad, because they really should be the specialists of the PFI.
Rob Capel
April 5, 2019 at 3:05 pm
Dear Pet Owner
If Purina, Hills, Royal Canin or any other Big Pet Feed (not Food – because it’s not) Company EVER truly did unbiased, scientific research, other than under the “protection” of the AAFCO or FDA (both of whom are “owned” by Big Pet Feed) they would close their own doors and cease to exist.
Notwithstanding all of the recalls for specific problems with their food over the years, the simple fact of the matter is that KIBBLE KILLS !!
When you feed a carnivore, or in the case of cats an obligate carnivore, starch laden, chemically preserved and synthetic vitamin filled food there is no other outcome but illness or death – PERIOD.
Jennifer
April 5, 2019 at 9:41 pm
I agree with a number of points made by “Cynical” above.
Being that the PF industry, is just that, an industry, I fear that profit comes before many concerns- NO MATTER WHAT OR WHO THE COMPANY IS.
Consumers/Pet parents/Owners, (whom ever you consider yourself to be.) Keep eyes and minds open to science that is out there now, as well as developing science pet nutrition is an emerging science: things are being learned in the veterinary and science world everyday about pet nutrition. There are many scary things that occur in the PF industry/world-many of which we have no idea as consumers or veterinary professionals until after much damage has been done.
I keep my eyes and ears open, read as much information as I can take, listen to what science brings to the table-consult,question, research, repeat.
***For most people skeptical about commercial diets. Consult a Veterinary Nutitionalist, or consider a home made diet through Balance-IT***
Jennifer
April 5, 2019 at 9:49 pm
However, “Cynical”, this is not correct:
” Why is it that (fortunately) DCM hasn’t been a reported issue until just the last couple of years”
DCM has been around for knowingly decades. Taurine-deficient cardiac disease in felines, has been around for decades as well.
Tracy
April 6, 2019 at 6:42 pm
Rob Capel so damn true!! This fear mongering going on in that group is disgusting and the vet that moderates it is putting dogs in harms way by touting the “big 4” as the holy grail.
Charlotte rose
April 5, 2019 at 4:26 pm
I am confused why you are using beneful as an example of foods they are recommending or Cesar’s for that matter. This seems like a scare tactic and opinion piece vs the “truth about pet food” is that how we put things we are skeptical of? Every line you listed has a prescription diet of foods that were approved by the center for veterinary medicine, a branch of the FDA that requires research and documentation to prove they actually do benefit dogs or cats for that matter with any number of issues they help with ranging from allergies to cardiology issues. Do you really think a veterinarian is going to prescribe beneful? This article is a scare tactic and will do more harm than good to people who are looking to do the right thing and feed a good food. Sure, some diets may not help or a dog may not be a good candidate for a certain diet, but you are just trying to scare people here. Boutique diets can and do help dogs as well so I’m not saying that you are wrong in that, and you are wrong in saying they should be ashamed of themselves. DCM is still happening, and they are treating it as best they can while research is still being done. They are treating with cardiology diets…not beneful and not cesar… you should get your facts straight before publishing such a harmful opinion piece.
Susan Thixton
April 5, 2019 at 4:39 pm
Beneful is manufactured by Purina – the example was given to how the company operates overall. The Mar’s plant manufactured multiple brands not just Cesar (feel free to read the FOIA information to confirm that). No scare tactic – facts for pet owners to make their own decisions. But at least now, they have both sides of the story and can make an informed decision on who to trust their pet’s life with.
James H. Cohen
April 5, 2019 at 5:35 pm
Mars does not meet WSAVA guidelines. Neither does Purina Petcare. Never has. Some of the brands they own do meet WSAV guidelines which were established as guidelines for veterinary prescription and therapeutic diets.
Bam
April 5, 2019 at 7:21 pm
Hills and Purina do not meet Wsava guidelines either. Purina just has a recall for rubber pieces in their food and Hills has made so many dogs sick and some did not survive the VIT.D poisoning. Your group has proven that Wsava guidelines are useless, completely useless. Anyone with a brain can figure out it your way to push the big 4. The vitamin D issue is far more damaging and concerning to dog owners than DCM. Please go out there and find out how many thousands and and thousands of dogs eat grain free compared to the numbers the FDA reported as a possible link to DCM. There are no foods proven to cause DCM, but there are food proven to contain rubber and toxic levels of DCM. But everyone knows you silence the truth. You are nothing but a bully in that group and some of your misleading and untruthful comments are inexcusable.
Bam
April 6, 2019 at 1:43 am
James no reply my comment? But what can you say when its the truth, wsava guidelines didn’t prevent Hills or purina from making tainted food.
Valerie McDonnell
April 6, 2019 at 11:32 am
James H Cohen, WSAVA guidelines? I pulled the following off of WSAVA’s website…2008: Hill’s Pet Nutrition forms a partnership with WSAVA, becoming its major sponsor. How bias is this? If DCM is the real issue here…ALL kibble should be recalled until the FDA gives a definitive answer to its cause. But, wait….this has been going on since the 80’s so much for the FDA. Throughout the late 1980s and continuing through the 1990s, many veterinary cardiologists looked at a variety of nutrients, including taurine, in their canine patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. Scattered reports of taurine deficient dogs with heart disease appeared in the veterinary literature, but the vast majority of dogs with DCM had normal taurine levels and still no answers to date, and before “botique” grain free food. I’m a consumer, with two dogs…and am so pissed at these so called Professionals & dog food companies, they will NOT profit from me. I’m thankful for people like Susan Thixton…who asks consumers to look at all sides, fairly, and judge for yourself, which is what all Vets & Professionals should be doing!! It’s 2019, is it to much to ask for a dog food that is healthy for dogs? I get it…dogs cannot speak and the bottom line is produce cheap & make $$.
Cynical
April 5, 2019 at 6:28 pm
What should really be causing Readers to be frightened is HILLS once tasked with supporting the nutritional issues of ill pets, which just failed by not testing for excessive Vitamin D. That Purina, once a leader in research and innovation (undoubtedly with decades of testing in their proprietary archives), produced one of the worst products ever, namely Beneful. And that if they didn’t care then, the question is, why should they be a Cardiologist’s recommendation now. And that Mars (one of the largest owners of multiple brands of PF) can’t control the sanitary/safe manufacturing conditions of their plants. If new cases of (non-genetic) DCM continue to be an issue, consider that 80% of traditional commercial PF has “Pea Protein” (or a vegetable derivative) listed among the first 5 ingredients, in place of of a meat/poultry protein!! Why is it that (fortunately) DCM hasn’t been a reported issue until just the last couple of years. Could the situation be aggravated by “grain-free” feed (which REALLY means less available meat/poultry protein). Is there an issue with how field peas are gown,or processed, or how they convert under high pressure cooking, could they become toxic to some dogs (the way gluten is to some people), The point actually is, these are extremely profitable companies, well equipped for deep research and extensive trials. No matter who is paid to say what on any website …. can they really be trusted to fund a discovery that questions the use of “pea-protein” which is the basis of their entire “grain-free” marketing hype.
Before assuming the author hasn’t done extensive, balanced research before publishing articles, consider that we well should be scared, …. of the Pet Food Industry in general! And that the last time they actually did something beneficial for their consumers, is a very difficult time to remember indeed.
Pet Owner
April 5, 2019 at 4:49 pm
Excellent and will be reposting! The DCM page mentioned is driven by James Cohen who is NOT a vet or cardiologist yet he’s the expert….odd if you ask me. Then there’s Kim Skibbe who only approves posts that fit their agenda and makes people feel like they are harming their dogs if they don’t switch to these brands. It’s quite disturbing. I found this group which is very open minded and likes to look at all the facts.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/613256769040202/?ref=share
James H. Cohen
April 5, 2019 at 6:35 pm
Pet Owner, I am a Golden Retriever breeder/owner and member of the Golden Retriever Club of America. The facebook page you refer to Taurine-Deficient (Nutritional) Dilated Cardiomyopathy is was created by and for concerned breeders, veterinarians, board certified nutritionists and cardiologists in 2017 when the number of reported cases of DCM from breeds that are not known for the disease was rising. Initially, members of the Golden Retriever Club of America including breeders were concerned that there may be a genetic or some other unknown cause so some of us consulted with a researcher/cardiologist who is also has goldens and we supported efforts to understand the issue so we could make better breeding decision if that was what the findings indicated. There is more to the background that explains how and why we have this group that is no longer limited to breeder, DVM, nutritionists and cardiologists who have their own closed page now, and due to the increasing number of people asking to join who had dogs that were diagnosed, the group was opened to allow them to share their experience and in many cases what symptoms if any they noticed before their dog died. Since last summer we have opened the group to welcome anyone who wants to join.
Accountability
April 5, 2019 at 9:28 pm
James, did you as a breeder, ever inform anyone who has bought Golden Retrievers from you that they may have issues with taurine deficiency as past studies have shown? In I believe 1997 Fascetti mentioned in his study about taurine deficiency in golden retrievers it should be studied more. A cardiology textbook from the 2000’s before Dr. Stern’s study was published references among the heart conditions of golden retrievers that they are known for taurine deficient DCM. Was there ever any push by the Golden Retriever club you belonged to for an attempt to study this issue further? I am genuinely curious.
James H. Cohen
April 5, 2019 at 10:02 pm
Accountability, yes I have informed every prospective client and every puppy buyer about Golden Retrievers being more genetically susceptible to SAS and that they benefit from diets developed to support better cardiac health. I send every pup I sell home with a specific diet from a brand I trust that I require my puppy clients to feed if they want my health guarantee to remain in effect for two years. Golden Retrievers are not known for Taurine-Deficient DCM though, they are not genetically predisposed to this disease and that is what prompted some breeders to determine why all of a sudden just a few years ago why unrelated goldens belonging to GRCA club members who were fellow members of a breed specific group who own unrelated goldens of different ages were developing DCM at an alarming rate with only one thing in common which was the types and brands of diets they were on. In one case, a golden owner with 3 dogs ages of about 2,6 and 10 who were unrelated all developed symptoms of DCM at around the same time and after an engineer suggested the possibility that the diet was suspect, the owner took her dogs to Dr. Stern, a cardiologist at UC Davis. Through medication and diet change the symptoms were reversed. Many others were far less fortunate and their dogs lives are memories, many did not make it past 4. So yes, our club members have taken this issue very seriously and I as a fellow breeder have worked with many others in the DVM and PhD community in academia and the food industry to identify possible causes and causative relationships. We still do not know the answers but so far we do have a lot of case information that has been volunteered by Golden owners who participated in studies that we ourselves have funded, not dog food companies. And this is why there is so much data on so many goldens. We paid for this research, not the food companies that dogs got sick on, or recovered on.
I just returned from a visit to the NC State cardiology school. Call them and set up an appointment. Their wait list is rediculously long. Why? More dogs are being diagnosed with symptoms of DCM and are being referred to them and other cardiologists at veterinary schools are reporting similar scheduling issues. So, to answer your last sentence, thanks for asking.. our breed club membership has been aware of this issue for several years and we acted on the information that was available. We continue to work with the board certified veterinarians, geneticists, cardiologists and nutritionists in academia and private industry across the USA and other parts of the world to help each other find answers. I know this is not popular to say here but so far we are not seeing any diagnosed cases of nutritional DCM with dogs that have been continuously fed diet that meet World Small Animal Veterinarian Association guidelines which were specifically written for brands that produce prescription and therapeutic diets. That is not much to go by but for now its the only guidance we have to go by until the causes of nutritional DCM are better understood by the board certified veterinary pet care community.
Accountability
April 5, 2019 at 10:42 pm
https://books.google.com/books?id=nggxUPtJsAYC&pg=PA401&dq=golden+retriever+cardiology+dilated+cardiomyopathy&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjwxtDftbrhAhVvhOAKHQfdBfQQ6AEIMzAD#v=onepage&q=golden%20retriever%20cardiology%20dilated%20cardiomyopathy&f=false This is called the Manual of Canine and Feline Cardiology published in 2008. It’s referenced here. And here: http://www.vetcardiology.org/subsection?sub_id=1# So I am wondering if you were even aware of this or the Fascetti study from 97 where he says taurine deficiency should be tested further within the golden retriever breed and the mention of the study being done on cockers on said issue as they also presented with TD.
Accountibility
April 6, 2019 at 9:21 am
So again my question is, since it has been known, before the explosion of the grain free market, where you aware that studies showed there was a breed disposition for taurine deficiency? If so, what did the clubs do back then in attempts to find out more about the why? Were there ever any recommendations made to owners back then to test their dogs for taurine deficiency? The thing is, research shows that taurine deficiency can lead to DCM. It seems that would be an area explored for a breed that seemed to have a genetic disposition for taurine deficiency. If no further studies or investigations were done when this issue first popped up within the breed, then it shouldn’t be such a shock we are now seeing the outcome of this in DCM.
Bam
April 5, 2019 at 9:30 pm
As the person noted, you are not a cardiologist, or vet. That was the point. The FB group is not about sharing experiences, it mainly bashes all foods that are not Wsava compliant….and what foods are Wsava compliant?….coincidently (or not) the big 3 that fund Wsava. That group is fear based, not science based. People need to comply with your rules and agree to feed those foods or they are removed pronto. If people question anything, they are removed. You should change the name of the group to “Eat Purina, RC, Hills or Eukanuba Dog Food FB Group”. I am waiting for your science based group to share the scientific proof that the foods you recommend will prevent DCM because that is what you are selling. I see so many potential problems for that group especially if someone switches their dog to one of the big 4 and their dog gets DCM.
James H. Cohen
April 5, 2019 at 10:26 pm
Bam, 1. I am not a cardiologist or DVM, I am a retired engineer and I enjoy being a hobby breeder/owner. 2. No foods are WSAVA compliant, WSAVA is not a regulatory body, it’s a veterinary association with 200,000 members that generated guidelines for clinically formulated and tested veterinary diets. 3. Which WSAVA guidelines should dog food companies not meet? 4. The group is not fear based but a lot of owners fear losing their dogs and many are grieving because their dog died, often at very young ages, quite a few under 2 years of age. 5. We don’t require anyone to feed any particular food, many of our members, moderators and admins feed raw, home prepared and diets that do not meet WSAVA guidelines. 6. We question everything, we have lots of questions, but so far we see a relationship from the data provided by members, not dog food companies. 7. We do not have scientific proof that the foods that meet WSAVA guidelines will prevent nutritional DCM but we don’t have evidence that they are associated with the condition either. 8. Someone somewhere has to have a dog that developed nutritional DCM on a food that meets WSAVA guidelines, its impossible that there isn’t, thee problem is that nobody has submitted that information along with a clinical diagnosis by a board certified DVM and cardiologist. I sincerely hope this answers your questions.
Concerned
April 6, 2019 at 8:21 am
does WSAVA recommend giving (3) 1000mg Salmon Oil Caplets as a supplement or is that just to insure that the Taurine level in your dogs will help with any possible DCM issue, if your feeding your dogs Royal Canin that meets AAFCO and WSAVA nutritional requirements, you must have some doubts that something is missing in their product.
WSAVA main Partners are:
Diamond Level – Purina Institue, MARS Petcare
Gold Level – Hills
Partners – Nestle Purina, Royal Canin
https://www.wsava.org/About/Industry-Partners
from their Guidelines when a Vet talks with their Client:
Evaluate any unconventional diet, whether commercial or homemade for nutritional imbalances. °Evaluate additional risks of raw meat foods (e.g., fresh, frozen, freeze-dried, raw-coated, or other forms).26-28Pathogenic organisms may cause gastroenteritis and other health problems and can be shed in the feces for a prolonged period after ingestion of contaminated raw meat, even if not showing clinical signs. If a patient that has been fed a raw meat diet is hospitalized, evaluate the risk to hospital staff and other hospitalized animals. In addition, raw foods containing bones can be associated with dental damage and esophageal/gastrointestinal obstruction or perforation.
No where is there the dangers of KIBBLE/Dry Dog Food mentioned in their Guidelines.
https://www.wsava.org/WSAVA/media/Images/Association%20logos/WSAVA-Nutrition-Assessment-Guidelines-(2011)_JSAP.pdf
How many pets have died from tainted KIBBLE vs RAW?
Did FDA demand all the client contacts from Hills and all the Vet Clinics that sell their product with the Vitamin D overdose to make sure people where noticed?
https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2019/04/lax-testing-practices-resulted-in-vitamin-d-overdoses-in-hills-and-sunshine-mills-pet-food/
By Phyllis Entis on April 2, 2019
Toxic levels of vitamin D in Hill’s Pet Nutrition (Hill’s) canned pet foods and Sunshine Mills (Sunshine) dry pet foods could have been prevented, had both companies followed their own food safety plans.
According to information obtained by Food Safety News in response to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, Hill’s identified Vitamin Premix as a ‘high risk’ chemical hazard and required that the ingredient “…be analyzed and be within acceptable limits prior to unloading … into the manufacturing facility.”
The company was unable to provide analytical test results for Vitamin Premixes during a February 2019 inspection.
The inspection was undertaken by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in response to the January 31, 2019 Hill’s recall of canned pet foods due to excess levels of vitamin D.
Tests conducted on a retained sample of the premix revealed a level of vitamin D that was roughly 30 times the target range for this ingredient. As of February 11, 2019, the company acknowledged having received 85 consumer complaints reporting pet deaths.
Bam
April 6, 2019 at 10:34 am
It’s too bad that FB group you talk about isn’t like what you describe. I know what it said in that group and its not quite like you are trying to present here and anyone who reads it know it too. Probably because you are not a moderator here and cannot conduct yourself as you do there. 2. Lets not split hair on words….wsava compliant, or following their guidelines…same thing. I know exactly what Wsava is I have done my homework. THey are funded by Purina, Hills and RC. 3. Purina, Hills do not meet Wsava guidelines. The big 4 have the worst and deadliest recalls so as I said, Wsava guidelines are useless. There are companies that have had no recalls, not killed any dogs however Hills and Purina cannot say that. Yet you continue to tell people to eat foods that meet their guidelines. 4. That group is fear based because any time someone says they will not feed one of the big 4 they are told they are risking their dogs health. You are helping grieving dog owners? Yet no one can mention the Hills deadly recall where thousands of dogs have been ill or died. Far exceeds DCM. NO concern for those dog owners? It is too bad I cannot upload a files here but i have screen shots of things you have said. At the end of this I will quote them. 5. Whenever someone asks about a food not of the big 4, they are told it doesn’t meet wsava guidelines so its not okay to feed. Fact. If vets and admins are feeding foods not meeting the guidelines, they are simply hypocrites. 6. I will also post a few quotes on other dog foods since you cannot tell the truth here. 7. You don’t have evidence of ANY dog food associated with the condition, none have been listed by the FDA. 8. I know there are people who have fed Purina and their dog has DCM but it didn’t show up in your files….one was a Vet that was removed from that group. What you cannot do is manipulate what the FDA has.
THe following are YOUR quotes in quotation marks, I have screen shots of each. You have been called out by members about your conduct.
This is to a woman who you gutted. She had posted a picture of her dog urn. This was your reply (and apparently you deliberated this among the group moderators).
1. “What concerns me is reading you do not “buy into” science based formula, feeding trials, clinical expertise of nutritionists with backgrounds in animal biology and physiology, and the ongoing research conducted by a leading brand that does A LOT of ground breaking research and meets Wsava guidelines to boot. I would argue that this is not very complicated, its heartbreaking…your refusal to ‘buy into’ science based nutrition concerns me. The food this dog ate may have killed this beautiful animal”.
That is someone who did not buy into the foods you pushed, someone who was told not doing so killed her dog….is that the grief support you were referring too? I see food shaming and bullying by you. Many members told you how uncalled for that comment was.
This is your comment suggesting your group knows the answer to DCM and it involves feeding the big 4 since only they meet Wsava guidelines.
2. “17,000+ dog owners and we are just beginning. Together we can demand that all dog food companies meet Wsava guidelines and end Nutritionally Mediated Dilated Cardiomyopathy. Thank you to the Veterinary professionals who are dedicated to resolving Nutritional-Mediated DCM.”
This is misleading and false info. None of those Vets are researching this nor qualified, the FDA is. You said that eating the big 4 is the answer.
3. Here is your power tripping 101 and also suggesting people are not doing the right things by their dogs if they dont’ feed the big 4. Not quite the image of offering support to those grieving like yoyu said….your group is about pushing food.
” When they land here, post a link to the files and maybe some will put their dogs health ahead of their egos.”
You see, there are some, make that many, who know how low quality those foods are and their deadly recall histories.
4. Here you are bashing other dog food companies, looks to me that you do suggest people not eat some dog foods. Funny you…. say no VET bashing but food bashing is okay.
” If I had a nickel for every dog sickened by Blue Buffalo I would make a big donation to the veterinary schools who teach animal nutrition. BB along with Acana and Fromm are on my unofficial shit list”
Are you sickened by the number of dogs killed and made ill by Purina and Hills? And can you please post the link to the scientific study that shows how many dogs were sickened by Acana and Fromm? You are a science based group right? So please, the link….
5. Here is another statement directed at those who won’t fall in line with your Wsava guideline foods. So yes you do actually insist people feed the foods you push and insult those who don’t, suggesting they are killing their dogs. Your FEAR tactic.
“I approved this because the same arguments defend diets that are not associated with DCM. When people whistle past the dog graveyard turning their nose up at the foundations of trusted food sources, its an act of defiance to them and stupidity to us, but their dog pays the price”
how superior of you…..their dogs pay the price for not eating the big 4.
I have all these screen shots and these represent who you are and what the group is about. This group has boosted your little ego, made you feel so important, so much so you bully people. You wear your ‘hard hat” when someone steps out of line in that cult. The Vets on there that allow this, couldn’t be any more unprofessional IMO. You are going to seriously hurt someone….I know you did to that woman who lost her dog. Shame on you and that group.
Betty
April 6, 2019 at 12:24 am
James, as an admin of the FB group, can you explain why you remove people from the group (sometimes without warning) for asking legitimate questions and posing relevant concerns? The group is like an echo box and a gathering place for people to pat each other on the back. When extremely educated and knowledgeable people post anything contrary to your message the tone of the admins and moderators becomes highly defensive and combative. If you want more people to join this group to “spread the word”, why wouldn’t you answer their questions in a professional manner and perhaps agree to disagree? You (the group) have attacked people on the basis that they don’t understand science and need to “go back and read the files”. Your files are redundant and some are useless. Removing members, deleting comments, etc. only adds to the group’s waning credibility and strengthens the theory that there is an agenda outside of caring about dogs’ wellbeing. I understand some people’s posts and comments are extremely off-topic, inappropriate, or just plain stupid and those should be deleted and trolls should be removed.
Please also explain why members are reprimanded, muted, removed under the premis that they broke the group’s rules when the admins and moderators do so regularly. For example, “food bashing” and recommendations.
Honestly Curious
April 6, 2019 at 2:00 am
Since the condition has been around for so long are you tracking DCM positive dogs, and closing down the lines that manifest? Is there a test for it before breeding? And what do you recommend new puppy buyers feed? Have you been comparing the experiences of breeders who feed strictly raw diets versus those who use commercial PF feeders?
Pet Owner
April 6, 2019 at 5:01 am
James, your response doesn’t include why you don’t allow open discussions on other food brands and sensor those that attempt to bring light to your inconsistent theories.it is VERY clear on what your agenda is. You tell members to harass companies and other groups as someone who is a cult leader would do. You just named “ambassadors” to speak your “prophecy” and attack people who don’t agree with you 100%. I’m not drinking your Koolaid cause it’s not right and downright scary.
Bam
April 7, 2019 at 7:21 pm
James….telling people in your group you left here because of nastiness? that isn’t the case at all, people asked your direct questions which when cornered you wouldn’t answer. When you stated how loving your FB group is, I posted your real comments to people, which were very nasty. Your group is suppose to be about facts, but you cannot answer to why the big 4 will prevent dogs from developing DCM. Your factual group shows graphs of what foods not to feed, yet not one food has been mentioned by the FDA. As much as you bash this site, and yes you pay a tiny fee for the food list, but there are hours of research done for the list….its nothing to pay for the information obtained. Your facts are not facts.
jenn
April 5, 2019 at 5:12 pm
Thank you for all of your good work!
Pet Foodie
April 5, 2019 at 5:13 pm
Thanks so much, Susan, for an excellent article. Only one thing to add. NO – not all dog food formulas released to market by these “recommended” companies are fully AAFCO feed trial tested before release. That includes grain free formulas by Purina and by Hill’s that were only formulated to AAFCO standards. There may be more examples but that’s what I have found so far.
Anne
April 5, 2019 at 5:42 pm
please keep up the good work! Any recommendations on more affordable small or boutique store brands would be very much appreciated as I don’t have the time or the money for homemade cat food, thank you!
Brenda
April 5, 2019 at 8:48 pm
It’s pretty disrespectful how you put quotation marks around the words cardiologists and nutritionists. These people dedicate their lives to research and advancing veterinary medicine in their respective fields. You should not belittle their expertise or education.
Susan Thixton
April 5, 2019 at 8:50 pm
In no way, shape, or form did I “belittle” anyone. Quotation marks are signifying a quote – that is all.
Jennifer
April 5, 2019 at 9:58 pm
Also, “Pet Owner”
-Excellent points. I enjoyed reading your notes.
Dianne & Pets
April 6, 2019 at 1:30 am
What I would like to know is why pea suddenly became such a popular ingredient. My guess is that it is cheaper than other choices, but then, why is that? Did something happen to the pea crop making it unfit for human consumption? Then again, with so many natural disasters and lost livestock, how much more is ending up in pet feed and what impact does that have? Then there is the ever present elephant in the room that no one wants to really look at, pesticide residue.
Claire
April 6, 2019 at 6:27 am
James- I have to applaud you in your skills of being able to deflect and redirect and NOT respond to questions directly.
In addition, much of the information delivery in your group is given incomplete and in a manner to scare people in thinking there is an epedimic.
The continuation of taking elderly dogs who develop DCM and die and allow people to think it diet related and they killed their dogs, in my opinion is highly unethical. Hearing owners claim the Doberman and boxers dying of DCM and the guilt of “GF” and not ONE person educates on their breeds genetic DCM or that DCM risk increases in all breeds as they age.
I have asked you a question as to how the companies that are being recommended directly in concern of DCM have shown to be proven diets. I would appreciate an answer and one that doesn’t include that no one reported a diet related DCM case to a social media group or that one dr hasn’t seen a case. Considering the low numbers of DCM cases and that when a dog fed Hills presents with DCM is most likely “ idiopathic “
Golden girl
April 6, 2019 at 6:31 am
James- the group referenced by Susan was not created by golden owners. That was the golden taurine group. You were then kicked out and you went and started your own group.
Bam
April 6, 2019 at 5:00 pm
James has gone silent, cannot answer questions put to him nor real facts about tht FB page
Golden girl
April 6, 2019 at 6:29 pm
Bam, Is it really a surprise from someone quoted in the paper as saying this: “I’m like yeah it’s a hot issue, sorry I blew it up, but no, I’m not because it got more people talking about this issue,” said Cohen.
Golden girl
April 6, 2019 at 6:43 am
James- i am curious. How does one who runs a fake republican Facebook page go to running a ligitmate trustworthy one?
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.13newsnow.com/amp/article%3fsection=news&subsection=local&headline=creator-takes-full-responsibility-for-controversial-facebook-post&contentId=291-534319773
Peter
April 6, 2019 at 8:30 am
Oh, common. The so-called fact sheets about “choosing a pet food,” which is what pet guardians are commonly focused on, are, among others, dominated by Purina “myth buster” propaganda. When you enter the realm of defending by-products, animal digest, gluten, corn, etc., all of which advocate ceasing critical thinking…
noelle obcarskas
April 6, 2019 at 10:13 am
Never trust a website with a fancy name like DCM ORG that does not provide a SINGLE name or qualification of those making statements and recommendations. It is untrusworthy. Making claims that ALL “cardiologists and nutritionists” without a SINGLE NAME of who is ALL is plain ridiculous.
Opinion
April 6, 2019 at 5:56 pm
Superficially speaking, the younger generation is now embracing an extremely PC correct culture. In an era when we can no longer hug someone without their written permission (because the worst is being assumed) it stymies me that under the eyes of such overly vigilant “ambassadors of sensitivity” the nutritional welfare of companion pets is lost!
Before your objections …. note that I have no interest in defending an individual’s ill conceived actions, or political party spear-heading this new tidal wave of compassion. This is not to insult anyone who’s felt rightfully afflicted. But I do bash all those who claim to be working in the name of proper justice and welfare, for not calling out (and punishing, which is the only way to reform) the dangerous failures of the PFI. They should be on top of the back of the FDA to push through honest reformation!
Legally animals are personal property, and so have no rights unto themselves (save for protection against outright physical abuse). Worse yet, the profit of a billion dollar industry is intentionally built on top of animals being compromised through inferior feed; and who are completely dependent upon personal consumer decisions. And those decisions are made based on intentionally (illegal) deceptive advertising practices. All lies and hidden practices. And they are NOT being punished for any of it! This is a crime which a so-called “enlightened” society should no longer ignore.
Be aware that the PFI does nothing accidentally or by coincidence! Far from it. At this point in time they are looking well ahead into the future. They completely understand the implications of a “new green deal” and discussions about “climate change.” They are well aware of the mindset of an up and coming generation. These are the new consumers of the future. Perhaps completely foreign to our own. While it seems improbable to us, to make eating a hamburger socially unacceptable, that prediction is only a step or two away from restricting meat production, or making meat so ridiculously expensive that people will self-restrict their own consumption. Thus the PFI’s insistence on “grain-free” PF food, which was never created to eliminate your dog’s (skin or digestive) issues, but to substitute a vital protein value with a lessor one. Sorry folks, but red meat amino acids are essential in a canine’s diet.
In the present day, it’s just a matter of time before rabid socially conscious animal welfare enthusiasts get around to exposing the long horrid history of the PFI’s use of inferior-to-toxic ingredients. Diseased meat will become the first casualty, because it will be the most obvious and easiest of any ingredient to eliminate and thus restrict PF producers. But combined with the eventual escalation of meat prices, this will certainly create a dilemma for pet owners. Thus they are being schooled very early on and most thoroughly to accept (nay defend) “grain-free” PF! In fact to get them to do so on their own, is a diabolically clever manipulation of the PFI!
The use of peas (by the way) does not mean the lovely petite sweet green vegetable on your dinner table. But “Field Peas” (which belong in the bean family). And when the ingredient in a PF diet replaces the position of a whole meat protein, then that substitution needs to be further evaluated, and obviously over the longer term. Are we ever to simply take the PFI’s word for that ingredient’s virtue? No, we need to understand how is this product is grown, is it being genetic modified, how is it being sprayed for infestation, harvested, converted in cooking, can it trigger natural sensitivities in certain dogs? Yet the public is never given access to long term feeding trials, much less anything done by objective third science. And instead (when studies are done at all) what value are they conducted by an already deceitful Industry.
“Grain-Free” is marketing hype, and the only reason traditional carbs can become a problem for some dogs, is when they are inappropriate (corn gluten), do not balance the meal, and represent the poorest of quality and storage. Rotting, mold ridden, poorly transported. Even worse is when they supersede the necessity of real meat protein requirements. Hellow this is why consumers are switching to raw food diets, at least they can see the meat! Carbs were always meant to be a binder, filler (or energy) source anyway. Potato “protein” might have a technically miniscule value on the analysis chart, but it’s not a primarily natural food for dogs! Neither are Field Peas!! Remember that a certain amount of protein, needs to be both muscle and organ meat!
From: The Truth About Pet Food –
https://truthaboutpetfood.com/grain-free-equals-peas-peas-and-more-peas/
https://eliandjojosbakerybites.com/pea-protein-pea-fiber-pea-flour-and-pea-starch-in-dog-food-why/
https://healthfully.com/442461-do-green-field-peas-count-as-vegetable-or-starch-in-diabetic-diet.html
Whether or not these breeds have a tendency towards DCM,why in heavens put them in any more jeopardy using novel ingredients. Just doesn’t make sense.
c 2 skye
April 7, 2019 at 3:04 am
BAM- thank you. I witnessed the majority of those quotes you cited from J Cohen.
Bam
April 7, 2019 at 12:42 pm
Too bad I couldn’t show them as screen shots. Some of the comments blew me away. But he has run off with his tail between his legs as he should. I am really concerned that group is going to go too far….not only on the info they provide but with comments like those that may totally hurt someone already suffering. Can you imagine what will happen if someone switches food and it either makes their dogs very sick or they will DCM or their dogs diagnosed DCM gets worse? I also believe what they are saying about other food companies is going to come back and bite them….I hope it does.
Tammy Williams
April 7, 2019 at 1:36 pm
https://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/NewsEvents/CVMUpdates/ucm630991.htm
https://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/NewsEvents/CVMUpdates/ucm630991.htm
https://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/ResourcesforYou/AnimalHealthLiteracy/ucm616279.htm
https://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/full/10.2460/javma.253.11.1390
This is the reason why at this point the Cardioloigst & Nutritionalist are recommending specific brands of foods per the FDA they state to contact your Veternarian with concerns about diet change. Why would they recommend any products that contain suspect ingredients or possibly not properly formulated? The products they recommend are prescription products or ones that have been around several years with testing & the expertise behind them. Is there a 100% guarantee their safe & won’t have issues NO they have never claimed that however is there anything out there that is 100% guarantee NO this is just considered a safer option especially when being diagnoaed with any disease or this NM DCM (Silent Killer) until there’s a proven cause. Why would waiting for a proven cause from the FDA even be an option when there’s a possibility by just changing your pet food could prevent them from this deadly disease oh let’s just sit back & wait for a RECALL before we make that decision how crazy is that thinking. I wish everyone the best with their pets & hopefully you never have to experience the loss or suffering from this disease just because your Cardiologist & Nutritionalist are recommending a Brand that people feel have some kind of profit behind them this shouldn’t be about you & your personal beliefs it should be about your precious pets! Isn’t this a pet advocate blog? Looking out for the safety & well being of our pets? Then do an article from the FDA investigations & make us pet owners aware of this warning so we can make a safer choice on our own.
Susan Thixton
April 7, 2019 at 6:26 pm
Tammy – you must be very new to this website. This website has thousands of articles about pet food, pet food ingredients, and pet food regulations. We are actively involved in advocating for all pet owners regarding illegal ingredients allowed by FDA. https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=FDA-2016-P-3578. We currently are advocating for all pet owners by asking FDA to make pet food ingredient definitions public information, we currently have a request into AAFCO for improved meat ingredient definitions so that ALL pet owners can be better informed to what they are purchasing. The veterinarians recommending feed grade pet foods have a right to their opinion. But I and other pet owners also have a right to challenge their choices. I personally am shocked that any veterinarian thinks it is acceptable to feed pets diseased animals and animals that have died otherwise than by slaughter. I asked the American College of Veterinary Nutrition why they have not taken a public stance against these ingredient that FDA allows. This post was their response: https://truthaboutpetfood.com/response-from-american-college-of-veterinary-nutrition/. We’ll have to agree to disagree.
Tammy Williams
April 8, 2019 at 12:36 pm
This was the full response however it is sad they couldn’t find the time to get involved
Dear Ms. Thixton:
Thank you for contacting the American College of Veterinary Nutrition (ACVN). Your e-mail to the web site was forwarded to my office for response. I have shared your letter with the ACVN Board of Regents.
As an American Veterinary Medical Association-recognized veterinary specialty organization, the primary function of the College is to oversee the training programs for, and certification of, veterinarians in the specialized field of veterinary nutrition. Our activities associated with fulfilling this mission take up the vast bulk of our time and resources. As a result, we have a limited ability to take on many other projects. In fact, over the years the College has only issued a few policy statements or public opinions on nutrition-related topics that are based on review of the scientific literature. To date, we have not published a public statement on the topic you mentioned, i.e., the use and quality of rendered materials in pet foods. Considering our current pressing obligations and available resources, it is unlikely that the consensus of the College would be to engage in activities along that line at this time.
Regarding the incident mentioned in your letter where a consumer was addressed rudely, we do not condone uncivil behavior by anyone. However, please note that we do not have any authority over any public opinions expressed by “veterinarians” or “animal nutritionists” in general. Reading the actual quote on your web site post, it does not appear that the “PhD companion animal nutritionist” mentioned would be a member (“Diplomate”) of the College. To become board-certified through ACVN, one would have to be a veterinarian who completed advanced training and passed our rigorous credentialing and examination procedures. While many Diplomates also have PhD degrees, it is not an ACVN requirement (nor is it a requirement for other veterinary specialty organizations). Regardless, a person who went through this process would generally refer to him/herself as either a Diplomate of ACVN or a “board-certified veterinary nutritionist,” not by the terminology you mentioned.
With regard to the opinions of individual Diplomates of the College, they are often quite diverse. Some may wholly agree with your perspective, others perhaps not. I can confidently say that all would agree that full compliance with applicable standards as set forth by authoritative bodies is paramount to the protection of both human and animal health, but otherwise cannot speak for the College as a whole. Regardless, we do not hinder or otherwise attempt to control Diplomates from freely expressing their viewpoints through any means or venue they see fit, provided they do not do so on the expressed behalf of the College. Thus, any issue you may have with public statements of individuals, Diplomates or not, would best be addressed to that individual.
I hope this information is helpful.
Sincerely,
David A. Dzanis, DVM, PhD, DACVN
ACVN Secretary
Tammy Williams
April 8, 2019 at 12:42 pm
I also thank you for the work you are doing & appreciate you being a pet advocate taking our pets safety & well being as priority I just want all the facts (both sides) in one story/article not just partial facts. I will continue to view this site I am new here & appreciate a community looking out for our precious pets!
Food for Thought
April 7, 2019 at 10:55 pm
It was tempting to be cynical about the above comment, because TAPF has a decade of knowledge indicating the true intentions of the PFI and FDA neglect. However the AVMA link freaked me out. Everyone should read it, think about your dog, eating what? Now I have to make a few changes in my dog’s own diet.
However regarding the four links, two are duplicates (just checking to see if we’re really reading?). In general they’re about data collection, a variety of factors, talking with manufacturers (good luck with that ). While it all looks good on paper, keep in mind the FDA took it’s time “examining” the Chinese Jerky treat issue. They weren’t exactly on the side of the PF consumer. They’re also working around a lack of funds for protecting animal health! Yikes. And data collection is based on anecdotal experience. They’re, (perhaps) not yet involved in examining hard core 3rd party feeding trials and genetic tracing. And that out of 70,000 dogs, over 4 years, 325 DCM dogs were reported, including many breeds. That 273 were reported when diet -DCM got publicity. Case studies included commercial and some home cooked diets. They’re looking at Taurine deficiency, nutritional makeup, (ingredient) digestibility, sourcing, (crop) processing, volume (proportion in the recipe).
So yes, I read it.
The problem in recommending the brands stated, is that relevant recipes aren’t even being identified. Or discouraged for that matter, so what’s the point. Why refer a brand that is making grain-free formulas, who are not sharing their field (trial) testing? Or the lack of them. And why include the maker of Prescription PF in the midst of a huge recall. The brands have profit in mind (yes) because they aren’t investing in (or announcing) the kind of real testing needed, because (of course) they want to protect their brand, and not discourage consumers from grain-free PF. It’s not just grain free, its the substitution of field peas for MEAT/Poultry!! It’s the shift in the ratio.
They have profit in mind, not just because of a self-interest in merchandising, but BECAUSE the ingredients used are not human edible grade. And if you read through dozens of TAPF articles that will be clear. That’s the issue. All these other problems are one thing, and critically need research and correction. But no matter how perfect the recipe, its about the quality of the ingredients.. While Hills and RC actually do nutritional research and development, what good is it if the ingredients are inferior? And if they aren’t testing the product before release? Especially when compromised dogs already need major support.
Question for you! What specific recipes are Hills and RC recommending, and Purina and Eukanuba. And it would be very interesting to know why. So you aren’t going to see that happening anytime soon. Because you know the recipe isn’t going to be leading with red meat amino acids, organ and muscle meats instead of pea protein.
Tammy Williams
April 8, 2019 at 12:27 pm
Appreciate your reply I’m not for any specifc Brand/Product just a concerned pet owner doing research & wanting factual data not personal opinions from anyone not an expert in their field when it comes to diagnosing or making recommendations on a specific issue.
As for your question “What specific recipes are Hills and RC recommending, and Purina and Eukanuba”. I can only say RC Cardiac Care for one because of personal knowledge as to why because they see reversal & recovery when switched to this prescribed diet there are peer reviewed reports from Dr Lisa Freeman & Dr Joshua Stern that have factual information that’s interesting. I hope one day in the near future we get answers to these specific questions when the FDA & Veternairian Community complete their investigations into this issue.
I guess as a pet owner in my personal opinion this article will steer pet owners away from something that could actually save pets lives just because they feel there’s profit involved with these Companies. I feel with any PFI it’s all about marketing & profits so why single out any Company.
Your correct there is a duplicate FDA link my mistake however there are 2 investigations reports that are different within the FDA website & for some reason it just created a duplicate link.
http://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2018/11/dcm-update/?fbclid=IwAR258kI_Au6SaJL2cGKo5na_UbOnQssBnFvLI_1oYlyX1YQtZE4ex8RsGdM
http://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2018/06/a-broken-heart-risk-of-heart-disease-in-boutique-or-grain-free-diets-and-exotic-ingredients/
http://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2016/12/questions-you-should-be-asking-about-your-pets-food/
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0209112&fbclid=IwAR2rgPgizOb4SMUA_vfWyHWNbSVcuK0vx9oB18ZDrdj8dB0CRDScmwhGgRg
Zachary Chernik
April 8, 2019 at 2:02 pm
The observation study was not really a controlled study – it was by owners reporting on their dogs, out of the 52 – 28 where removed from the study for multiple reasons.
Then they dropped to 40 dogs and then removed another 16 from the study.
Did the removal of those 28 skew the data in a certain direction?
From the study link:
The length of time in days that dogs had been fed their diet at the time of diagnosis was available in 22 out of 24 dogs with a median of 814.5 days (min = 182 days, max = 3558 days). In the remaining 2/24 dogs, the length of time was not reported by the client in one dog and the length of time was described qualitatively by the client as “several years” in the other dog.
Seems that this observation study has many issues, like just the above text where where 2 dogs in the 24 the client could not determine how long on that diet. Seems to me that for all 24 feeding the same thing day in day out for 6 months to 10 years, those that where on it for the 5+ years should of had the DCM issue years earlier, so that to me seems like a major flaw……no DCM for say years but this DCM started in 2016 what about the dogs that where on this diet for over 5+ years, I would expected the DCM to show up years earlier……I would think it would be a formulation issue in the GF where more plant protein replaces meat protein noting that was there an issue 4+ years ago.
info about ingredient changes
https://truthaboutpetfood.com/is-change-in-pet-food-a-good-thing/
One of the foods listed in the study is Acana Pork and Squash in-which 10 of the 24 dogs where being feed that product.
IMO – they reached a tipping point in plant protein percentage and also one ingredient which might be key is algae
2013 – Canada Kitchen had Algae (product distribution world wide)
2016 – USA Kitchen no Algae (product distribution USA only)
2019 – USA Kitchen has Algae (product distribution USA only)
Algae was 1.5% and contains is a significant source of Taurine.
Just me
April 8, 2019 at 6:32 pm
While I totally understand people want data and facts from experts in their fields, however how could we believe in anything they said when they received benefits from these companies? Dr. Stern experiment had no control group. It was a bias experiment at best.
Coincidentally UC Davis Veterinary Medical Center is looking for $508 millions donations in 2017 and started ground breaking in 2018 when all of the sudden DCM became a big issue? UC Davis still needs more donations to finish the medical center. Who do you think are the donors?
This is the statement from AVMA site. How could we believe in anything they say or do?
Acknowledgments
Within the past 3 years, Dr. Freeman has received research support from Aratana Therapeutics, Nestlé Purina PetCare, and Royal Canin; has consulted with Aratana Therapeutics and Nestlé Purina PetCare; has given sponsored talks for Aratana Therapeu- tics, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, and Nestlé Purina PetCare; and has served on a scientific advisory board for Aratana Therapeutics. Within the past 3 years, Dr. Rush has received research support from Aratana Therapeutics, Nestlé Purina PetCare, and Royal Canin and has consulted with Aratana Therapeutics and Nestlé Purina PetCare. Within the past 3 years, Dr. Adin has received research support from Nestlé Purina PetCare. All other authors report no relationships relevant to the contents of this editorial to disclose.
https://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/pdf/10.2460/javma.253.11.1390
https://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/uc-davis-plans-508-million-upgrade/
Zachary Chernik
April 9, 2019 at 10:56 am
Update Also from that study:
Finally, many dogs in this study were consuming not only less than their predicted needs based on calculated MER ranges, but also less than the manufacturer’s feeding directions indicated.
Actual daily caloric intake for baseline diet could be calculated for 23/24 dogs based on the number of cups consumed per day and the caloric content. Only 1 dog was consuming an amount that exceeded the predicted MER; 22/23 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).
Tammy Williams
April 9, 2019 at 11:31 am
Thanks for the link in your comment really like the side by side comparisons I really feel the Pet Industry has exploded in recent years just for profit & not for the well being of our pets that is why we are seeing many medical issues with our pets being their guinea pigs instead of them using long term animal feeding trials & testing this is why were now seeing NM DCM related to diet not the known Genetic DCM that has been around forever & will always exist in specific breeds. I believe it’s improper formulations replacing certain ingredients with legumes so now our pets aren’t properly absording the required nutrients (amino acids) they require to survive. I feel these Cardiologists & Nutritionalist are just recommending safer options for pets diagnosed with medical issues products that have been around a long time & are the only prescription products available the small companies don’t produce them I think Blue Buffalo is now formulated them.
http://www.acvn.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/AAHA-Nutritional-Assessment-Guidelines.pdf?fbclid=IwAR38-MyBq6-DIyNVaTTJ3xsUkbpE4i0vyjc4H_mRfhPe7jkF5TWArhj0HhA
You might find this article interesting there are graphs/data on how legumes exploded over years in pet food & when they exploded the most is also when the NM DCM seem to be noticed I feel when producing pet food without proper testing of how the ingredients work in a formulation it only makes sense we are going to bad deadly medical issues with our pets eating improper formulated products. As a concerned pet owner I will take my chances with Companies that have been doing animal feeding trials for years there’s no 100% guarantee with anything there never will be I don’t want my pet to be a pet food companies guinea pig & that’s what all these small botique, exotic & grain free companies are doing.
Pet Foodie
April 9, 2019 at 3:19 pm
Just as interesting as the question of why some dogs get ill while eating so-called BEG formulas – is the question of why so many millions more dogs don’t get ill on these same foods consumed at the same time.
Food for Thought
April 9, 2019 at 3:24 pm
In terms of your consumption comment below, is the recommended feeding portion (let’s say 1 cup daily for an avg. activity 20lb dog) based on each recipe within the brand type? Per product line (like ProPlan vs. Purina One vs. the cheapest offering). Meaning, to take prioritize the quality of protein (meat vs. meal), quantity of protein (among the first 5 ingredients) followed by other types of protein (like potato “protein” derivatives)? Then general types of carbohydrates, fillers, etc..
If so, wouldn’t that affect how the dog metabolizes the food. Meaning, is meat protein metabolized more efficiently/effectively than a pea protein? And then working through each of those variables, to refine the study?
So when you say dogs consumed less than the recommended portion, is that because they were offered less (restricted) or that the calculation was off in the first place? Why isn’t there a better control on how much a dog should eat for (so-called) “complete and balanced.”
By the way, I am not arguing or disputing in any way. Just trying to understand this very complicated issue, with an endless amount of variables.
What’s needed is an absolulety truly controlled study by scientists of an objective third party.
Tammy Williams
April 9, 2019 at 8:27 pm
http://www.agr.gc.ca/resources/prod/Internet-Internet/MISB-DGSIM/ATS-SEA/PDF/6904-eng.pdf
This is the link that was suppose to be attached with my other reply for you this is an interesting read on the use of legumes over the years
Debbie
April 7, 2019 at 9:52 pm
Simple answer to this..Feed homemade and get rid of commercial pet foods.
Shanna Blasingame
April 30, 2019 at 7:06 pm
Thank you internet, Facebook, YouTube, and sites like this. I followed everything my vet ever told me to do for 30 years. If it wasn’t for these places for me to find REAL information, instead of what my vet told me, I’d still be in the dark, wondering…. I had instincts and questions, we all have. Why is my dog feeling down today when he had a shot yesterday? What are these ingredients in this fried burnt food, anyway? What is this stuff in this can? If the chemical you say I HAVE to put on my dog for ticks is poison to kill them, what is it doing to my dog? These heart worm pills- what are those chemicals listed there? Lyme vaccine? Sure. If you say I need it, I must need it. Too many sad stories to tell- cancer, congestive heart failure, near death from a Trifexis pill, you name it… stories of dogs, vets, huge amounts of money, and now… no trust, whatsoever!!! If they are prescribing, I’m running.
What does this have to do with this particular topic? I am so sad to read stories of how people are still going to their “trusted” vet, who I’ve determined to be uncommon, who have any common sense, or actual genuine care for our beloved dogs and cats. I love animals, and they are suffering so badly because of greed. They can’t talk, so it’s up to us to speak up everywhere we can.
~Pet Owner~
April 30, 2019 at 10:58 pm
It sounds like you might be new to the TAPF, so welcome. And be grateful for the opportunity to share opinions! We all benefit. My goal is to balance discussions, particularly as new readers drop in over time.
Our dog (during the 60’s – mid 70’s) was born and aged with very serious digestive issues. Commercial PF and table scrap food generated uncomfortable and damaging symptoms. Our Vet recommended a lean human grade single ingredient protein, light carb, vegetable broth and a supplement. The question, of whether it old fashioned wisdom, experience or a published study, I am not sure. But he helped our dog live a great life to age 17.
Can you imagine how much stronger this PF activist movement would be if the AVMA was also behind it? As an association I fault their own self-interests. But I also take issue with the suggestion that individual Vets (as a majority) are callous and self-interested to the intentional</i< detriment of our pets. My mom suffered from a scattering of ailments as she aged. And never once did I ask, or receive advice from her doctor on what she should eat! And that was before the internet. Instead I researched through Health Food stores, literature, and support groups. We were self-taught, exchanged experience, provided mutual support. It's called information sharing.
Vets are heroes when they save a dog (perhaps) considered finished, or damned when one doesn’t survive as hoped for. But I can NOT imagine walking into my office every morning, preparing to give bad news to a family! Or dealing with an emotional roller coaster 24 hours a day. (No, they don’t forget about stuff overnight, and high one of the highest suicide rates as a profession). So I don’t think the infinite range of PF brand names out there has their full attention. But instead they understand treatment options available through the latest in changing technologies and emerging scientific studies. They go by published studies, statistics, and the commentaries exchanged around them. If WE (as consumers) don’t have access to truly objective third party feeding trials, and risk analysis, conducted on brand name PF, why would they? The best they can do is use the consultation services provided by prescription PF manufacturers.
While you’re assuming many more dogs would be healthy in the first place, if everyone advocated for best PF, I think that discussion has already been waged by those who see a direct link between obesity and smoking with heart disease and cancer. So how is that working out … .
It was my suggestion to acquire a database email list of Vets nationwide to be sent TAPF articles, to begin the education process. I don’t know about you, but it’s taken me a decade to understand a 10th of what’s really going on out there. At least I’m ready to accept the 90% of what’s still waiting. But wouldn’t be, if I was constantly damned for my ignorance. On this site, Vet bashing serves no purpose except to discourage information seekers, because it’s assumed the movement is so radicalized as to be disfunctional.
Blame the suffering of animals on corporate America and every purchase made by someone who continues to deny reality, once informed.
Shanna Blasingame
May 1, 2019 at 10:08 am
I do blame pet food manufacturers, but also vets, who are also part of corporate America, and tied in financially with the food and pills they prescribe in sales.
HL
July 8, 2019 at 1:19 am
I need to read this article. I’ve recently joined the DCM group and it was ridiculous. It was like a cult where you will be banned if you don’t believe in the Big 4. I posted an article from your blog and they blocked me stating that you are not trustworthy.
I don’t believe in the big 4 as I do my home cooked meals and air dried food which doesn’t contain grain, legumes, peas or potatoes. They deleted everything I posted asking about air dried food and only said to me to feed the big 4.
mizzemm
November 11, 2019 at 1:39 pm
This whole debacle is extremely frustrating. I have no idea what to feed my dog anymore. He was doing great on Acana plus primal freeze dried for a long time, but I switched to Purina Pro Plus salmon because my vet recommended switching and after researching the ingredients it seems the least offensive ingredients of all the big commercial brands. But now after reading and researching so much, it seems one can’t trust ingredient lists; can’t trust commercial brands; can’t trust boutique brands; can’t really trust the vets because they don’t know anymore than anyone else when it comes to the source of nutritional DCM increases; can’t trust the vet scientists behind the report because they seem to potentially be in bed with the big brands; can’t trust the FDA because they just threw out a bunch of stats based on a tiny sampling of dogs at some vet’s recommendation and despite officially recommending no change in diet at this time, by default created mass hysteria and a wave of pet owners moving from Acana and other brands listed on the report over to Purina and Hill’s….both of which happen to be all over the FDA recall list. And here I am returning Open Farm dry food and exchanging it for Purina again because I’m too scared to make a mistake and that’s what my vet is recommending – she won’t tell me what food she herself feeds her dogs but she recommends one of the big 5. Based on the comments here I’ll monitor the Purina for bug parts and other strange materials!
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Truth
October 15, 2020 at 2:34 pm
I posted an article from a veterinarian cardiologist , and that ” kim skibbie” removed it and blocked me. Apparently if you don’t post up gran free killed my pet, they don’t approve your post. Beyond censorship and highly unethical. How on earth she is a veterinarian is baffling. I guess she enjoys the kickback on selling recalled food.