My Lab and my weimaraner eat a dog food that is considered \u201cgrain free.\u201d<\/p>\n
I believe a grain-free diet for dogs makes sense, but I still worry a bit. I remember the headlines from 2018 about grain-free diets potentially causing heart disease in dogs.<\/p>\n
So I decided to look into this a bit further for my own reassurance. Hopefully, this will also help you decide if a grain-free diet is right for your dog.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Use this as part of your own ongoing research to help make the best decision for your own unique dog.<\/p>\n
What is grain-free dog food?<\/span><\/h2>\nGrain-free dog food is any type of food for dogs that is made without any grains (such as corn, wheat, barley, rye or rice). There are grain-free dry, canned, raw, freeze-dried and dehydrated<\/a> dog foods.\u00a0<\/p>\n\u201cGrain-free\u201d does not mean \u201ccarb free.\u201d Most grain-free diets provide carbohydrates for dogs through other sources such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, peas or lentils.<\/p>\n
I remember when \u201cgrain free\u201d diets became popular for pets in the 2010s. This was also a time when low-carb, paleo, \u201ccaveman\u201d and keto diets were starting to get popular for average people.<\/p>\n
Most dog food companies jumped on the \u201cgrain free\u201d trend and offered a grain-free option in addition to their regular options. Unfortunately, some companies did so as a way to increase their sales and not necessarily to make a healthier option.<\/p>\n
Nearly every dog and cat food brand came out with a grain-free option around 2010. Most companies still offer a couple of grain-free options.<\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.thatmutt.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Is-grain-free-food-bad-for-dogs.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.thatmutt.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Is-grain-free-food-bad-for-dogs.jpg.webp\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nGrain-free dog food and the potential link to heart disease<\/span><\/h3>\nIn 2018 the FDA said on its website that it had started investigating reports of canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs eating pet foods labeled as \u201cgrain free.\u201d DCM is a form of heart disease in dogs.<\/p>\n
There was a lot of fear mongering during that time. Various news sites and blogs tried to scare pet owners using click-bait headlines. They seemed to suggest a grain-free diet will kill your dog, which is not the case.<\/p>\n
The FDA never said there was a confirmed link between grain-free foods and heart issues in dogs. It was simply sharing \u201creports\u201d from consumers that listed their dog\u2019s breed and what the dogs were eating when diagnosed with DCM.<\/p>\n
Over about a nine-year period from January 2014 through November 2022 the FDA received 1,382 reports of DCM in dogs, according to its website.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s an average of 153 reports per year. Although, the majority of reports were between 2018 and 2020. This is when the FDA issued a couple of public updates on the potential link between grain-free diets for dogs and heart disease.<\/p>\n
Because the FDA\u2019s updates were focused on grain-free dog foods and not dog foods as a whole, people feeding grain-free diets were more likely to be aware of these reports and send in their own report.<\/p>\n
What is Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy?<\/span><\/h3>\nCanine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a disease that decreases the heart\u2019s ability to generate enough pressure to pump blood through the vascular system, according to Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.<\/p>\n
The college says on its website that the cause of canine DCM is not certain but \u201cnutritional, infections and genetic predisposition\u201d all seem to be factors. It is more common in certain breeds such as Dobermans, great danes, boxers and cocker spaniels.<\/p>\n
Historically, DCM has been linked to a genetic predisposition in certain breeds such as the ones listed above, according to the FDA\u2019s website. It appears there are also non-hereditary forms of DCM in dogs that may be affected by several factors such as underlying medical conditions, diet and genetics.<\/p>\n
What are the signs of DCM in dogs?<\/span><\/h3>\nYour dog may not show any signs of DCM early in the process, according to Washington State University\u2019s College of Veterinary Medicine. The dog might show signs of reduced exercise tolerance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As the heart\u2019s pumping ability worsens, blood pressure starts to increase in the veins behind one or both sides of the heart, according to the college. Lung congestion may develop and fluid may accumulate in the abdomen, indicating heart failure.<\/p>\n
Is grain-free dog food bad for dogs?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n![\"Is](\"https:\/\/www.thatmutt.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Remy-likes-I-and-Love-and-You.jpg\")
![\"Is](\"https:\/\/www.thatmutt.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Remy-likes-I-and-Love-and-You.jpg.webp\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nWe don\u2019t know.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There are about 1,300 reports to the FDA of canine DCM in dogs eating pet foods labeled as \u201cgrain free.\u201d This is enough of a concern for some dog owners to avoid feeding grain-free diets.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, there are no studies that prove grain-free diets are harmful to dogs. Thousands of dogs are eating grain-free diets with no known issues.<\/p>\n
What do veterinarians say? Is grain-free dog food bad for dogs?<\/span><\/h3>\nI emailed several veterinarians and asked them, is grain-free dog food bad for dogs?<\/p>\n
They do not have a clear answer and their general opinions are similar to how I believe most pet owners feel about grain-free diets. We don\u2019t know enough right now so it\u2019s OK to be cautious.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Dr. Cheri Honnas is the veterinary advisor to Bone Voyage Dog Rescue<\/a>. This rescue helps street dogs in Mexico find homes in the U.S. and Canada.<\/p>\nShe said that there is a notable correlation between grain-free, legume-rich dog diets and DCM in dogs but \u201cmore comprehensive studies are needed to definitively prove causation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some of the vets I emailed recommend feeding most dogs a food that contains grains since there are so many options to choose from. While a few dogs do have allergies to grains, most do not, they said.<\/p>\n
Other vets said it\u2019s OK to continue feeding grain-free foods if it\u2019s going well for your dog.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They all said this issue is complex, and we need more research on this topic.<\/p>\n
More research on grain-free diets and dogs<\/span><\/h3>\nThe FDA said on its website that it has called on the veterinary and academic communities to contribute research on various aspects of non-hereditary DCM in dogs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Many people from these groups participated in a scientific forum at Kansas State University in September 2020 and publicly shared their summaries or presentations. You can view them here<\/a>.<\/p>\nDogs that recovered from DCM with diet change<\/span><\/h3>\nFDA scientists also presented at the KSU symposium on a group of 107 dogs that had fully or partially recovered from DCM with diet change and veterinary care. Twenty three of the dogs fully recovered and 84 dogs were partially recovered. You can see a 30-page pdf of their report here<\/a>.<\/p>\nThe scientists looked at the ingredients lists of what the dogs were eating at the time of diagnosis and compared that to the diets the dogs were switched to leading to a partial or full recovery.<\/p>\n
Before diagnosis, 90% of the 107 dogs were eating foods labeled as \u201cgrain free.\u201d Ninety four percent of their diets listed peas or lentils in the top four ingredients.<\/p>\n
There was no animal protein that stood out as dominant in their diets, and 28% of the diets listed potatoes or sweet potatoes in the ingredients.<\/p>\n
Twenty three of the dogs had a full recovery after a diet change. Ninety six percent of those dogs switched to a diet containing grains. Only 8 percent of the dogs switched to a food with peas listed in the top four ingredients.<\/p>\n
Obviously, this is a very, very small group of dogs, but it is one of the reasons people began questioning diets that use peas for protein, especially foods with peas in the top four ingredients.<\/p>\n
Are peas and lentils bad for dogs?<\/span><\/h3>\nNo. There is no evidence that peas and lentils are bad for dogs and both have been used in pet foods for many years with no evidence that they are dangerous, according to the FDA.<\/p>\n
However, most of the reports that FDA has received on dogs with non-hereditary DCM were eating diets with peas or lentils high on the ingredients list, meaning the diets used them in greater proportion.<\/p>\n
2023 University of Guelph study on grain free diets<\/span><\/h3>\nThe University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, released a small study in 2023 using 28 Siberian huskies. The dogs were fed a balanced diet that contained up to 45 percent \u201cwhole pulse\u201d ingredients (peas, lentils and beans) and no grains for 20 weeks.<\/p>\n
The dogs were randomly divided into four groups and were fed diets with either 0%, 15%, 30% or 45% pulse ingredients. After 20 weeks, the study showed no change in cardiac function for any of the dogs.<\/p>\n
\u201cGrain-free\u201d does not mean \u201ccarb free.\u201d Most grain-free diets provide carbohydrates for dogs through other sources such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, peas or lentils.<\/p>\n
I remember when \u201cgrain free\u201d diets became popular for pets in the 2010s. This was also a time when low-carb, paleo, \u201ccaveman\u201d and keto diets were starting to get popular for average people.<\/p>\n
Most dog food companies jumped on the \u201cgrain free\u201d trend and offered a grain-free option in addition to their regular options. Unfortunately, some companies did so as a way to increase their sales and not necessarily to make a healthier option.<\/p>\n
Nearly every dog and cat food brand came out with a grain-free option around 2010. Most companies still offer a couple of grain-free options.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nGrain-free dog food and the potential link to heart disease<\/span><\/h3>\nIn 2018 the FDA said on its website that it had started investigating reports of canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs eating pet foods labeled as \u201cgrain free.\u201d DCM is a form of heart disease in dogs.<\/p>\n
There was a lot of fear mongering during that time. Various news sites and blogs tried to scare pet owners using click-bait headlines. They seemed to suggest a grain-free diet will kill your dog, which is not the case.<\/p>\n
The FDA never said there was a confirmed link between grain-free foods and heart issues in dogs. It was simply sharing \u201creports\u201d from consumers that listed their dog\u2019s breed and what the dogs were eating when diagnosed with DCM.<\/p>\n
Over about a nine-year period from January 2014 through November 2022 the FDA received 1,382 reports of DCM in dogs, according to its website.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s an average of 153 reports per year. Although, the majority of reports were between 2018 and 2020. This is when the FDA issued a couple of public updates on the potential link between grain-free diets for dogs and heart disease.<\/p>\n
Because the FDA\u2019s updates were focused on grain-free dog foods and not dog foods as a whole, people feeding grain-free diets were more likely to be aware of these reports and send in their own report.<\/p>\n
What is Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy?<\/span><\/h3>\nCanine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a disease that decreases the heart\u2019s ability to generate enough pressure to pump blood through the vascular system, according to Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.<\/p>\n
The college says on its website that the cause of canine DCM is not certain but \u201cnutritional, infections and genetic predisposition\u201d all seem to be factors. It is more common in certain breeds such as Dobermans, great danes, boxers and cocker spaniels.<\/p>\n
Historically, DCM has been linked to a genetic predisposition in certain breeds such as the ones listed above, according to the FDA\u2019s website. It appears there are also non-hereditary forms of DCM in dogs that may be affected by several factors such as underlying medical conditions, diet and genetics.<\/p>\n
What are the signs of DCM in dogs?<\/span><\/h3>\nYour dog may not show any signs of DCM early in the process, according to Washington State University\u2019s College of Veterinary Medicine. The dog might show signs of reduced exercise tolerance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As the heart\u2019s pumping ability worsens, blood pressure starts to increase in the veins behind one or both sides of the heart, according to the college. Lung congestion may develop and fluid may accumulate in the abdomen, indicating heart failure.<\/p>\n
Is grain-free dog food bad for dogs?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nWe don\u2019t know.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There are about 1,300 reports to the FDA of canine DCM in dogs eating pet foods labeled as \u201cgrain free.\u201d This is enough of a concern for some dog owners to avoid feeding grain-free diets.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, there are no studies that prove grain-free diets are harmful to dogs. Thousands of dogs are eating grain-free diets with no known issues.<\/p>\n
What do veterinarians say? Is grain-free dog food bad for dogs?<\/span><\/h3>\nI emailed several veterinarians and asked them, is grain-free dog food bad for dogs?<\/p>\n
They do not have a clear answer and their general opinions are similar to how I believe most pet owners feel about grain-free diets. We don\u2019t know enough right now so it\u2019s OK to be cautious.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Dr. Cheri Honnas is the veterinary advisor to Bone Voyage Dog Rescue<\/a>. This rescue helps street dogs in Mexico find homes in the U.S. and Canada.<\/p>\nShe said that there is a notable correlation between grain-free, legume-rich dog diets and DCM in dogs but \u201cmore comprehensive studies are needed to definitively prove causation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some of the vets I emailed recommend feeding most dogs a food that contains grains since there are so many options to choose from. While a few dogs do have allergies to grains, most do not, they said.<\/p>\n
Other vets said it\u2019s OK to continue feeding grain-free foods if it\u2019s going well for your dog.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They all said this issue is complex, and we need more research on this topic.<\/p>\n
More research on grain-free diets and dogs<\/span><\/h3>\nThe FDA said on its website that it has called on the veterinary and academic communities to contribute research on various aspects of non-hereditary DCM in dogs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Many people from these groups participated in a scientific forum at Kansas State University in September 2020 and publicly shared their summaries or presentations. You can view them here<\/a>.<\/p>\nDogs that recovered from DCM with diet change<\/span><\/h3>\nFDA scientists also presented at the KSU symposium on a group of 107 dogs that had fully or partially recovered from DCM with diet change and veterinary care. Twenty three of the dogs fully recovered and 84 dogs were partially recovered. You can see a 30-page pdf of their report here<\/a>.<\/p>\nThe scientists looked at the ingredients lists of what the dogs were eating at the time of diagnosis and compared that to the diets the dogs were switched to leading to a partial or full recovery.<\/p>\n
Before diagnosis, 90% of the 107 dogs were eating foods labeled as \u201cgrain free.\u201d Ninety four percent of their diets listed peas or lentils in the top four ingredients.<\/p>\n
There was no animal protein that stood out as dominant in their diets, and 28% of the diets listed potatoes or sweet potatoes in the ingredients.<\/p>\n
Twenty three of the dogs had a full recovery after a diet change. Ninety six percent of those dogs switched to a diet containing grains. Only 8 percent of the dogs switched to a food with peas listed in the top four ingredients.<\/p>\n
Obviously, this is a very, very small group of dogs, but it is one of the reasons people began questioning diets that use peas for protein, especially foods with peas in the top four ingredients.<\/p>\n
Are peas and lentils bad for dogs?<\/span><\/h3>\nNo. There is no evidence that peas and lentils are bad for dogs and both have been used in pet foods for many years with no evidence that they are dangerous, according to the FDA.<\/p>\n
However, most of the reports that FDA has received on dogs with non-hereditary DCM were eating diets with peas or lentils high on the ingredients list, meaning the diets used them in greater proportion.<\/p>\n
2023 University of Guelph study on grain free diets<\/span><\/h3>\nThe University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, released a small study in 2023 using 28 Siberian huskies. The dogs were fed a balanced diet that contained up to 45 percent \u201cwhole pulse\u201d ingredients (peas, lentils and beans) and no grains for 20 weeks.<\/p>\n
The dogs were randomly divided into four groups and were fed diets with either 0%, 15%, 30% or 45% pulse ingredients. After 20 weeks, the study showed no change in cardiac function for any of the dogs.<\/p>\n
Canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a disease that decreases the heart\u2019s ability to generate enough pressure to pump blood through the vascular system, according to Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.<\/p>\n
The college says on its website that the cause of canine DCM is not certain but \u201cnutritional, infections and genetic predisposition\u201d all seem to be factors. It is more common in certain breeds such as Dobermans, great danes, boxers and cocker spaniels.<\/p>\n
Historically, DCM has been linked to a genetic predisposition in certain breeds such as the ones listed above, according to the FDA\u2019s website. It appears there are also non-hereditary forms of DCM in dogs that may be affected by several factors such as underlying medical conditions, diet and genetics.<\/p>\n
What are the signs of DCM in dogs?<\/span><\/h3>\nYour dog may not show any signs of DCM early in the process, according to Washington State University\u2019s College of Veterinary Medicine. The dog might show signs of reduced exercise tolerance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As the heart\u2019s pumping ability worsens, blood pressure starts to increase in the veins behind one or both sides of the heart, according to the college. Lung congestion may develop and fluid may accumulate in the abdomen, indicating heart failure.<\/p>\n
Is grain-free dog food bad for dogs?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nWe don\u2019t know.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There are about 1,300 reports to the FDA of canine DCM in dogs eating pet foods labeled as \u201cgrain free.\u201d This is enough of a concern for some dog owners to avoid feeding grain-free diets.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, there are no studies that prove grain-free diets are harmful to dogs. Thousands of dogs are eating grain-free diets with no known issues.<\/p>\n
What do veterinarians say? Is grain-free dog food bad for dogs?<\/span><\/h3>\nI emailed several veterinarians and asked them, is grain-free dog food bad for dogs?<\/p>\n
They do not have a clear answer and their general opinions are similar to how I believe most pet owners feel about grain-free diets. We don\u2019t know enough right now so it\u2019s OK to be cautious.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Dr. Cheri Honnas is the veterinary advisor to Bone Voyage Dog Rescue<\/a>. This rescue helps street dogs in Mexico find homes in the U.S. and Canada.<\/p>\nShe said that there is a notable correlation between grain-free, legume-rich dog diets and DCM in dogs but \u201cmore comprehensive studies are needed to definitively prove causation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some of the vets I emailed recommend feeding most dogs a food that contains grains since there are so many options to choose from. While a few dogs do have allergies to grains, most do not, they said.<\/p>\n
Other vets said it\u2019s OK to continue feeding grain-free foods if it\u2019s going well for your dog.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They all said this issue is complex, and we need more research on this topic.<\/p>\n
More research on grain-free diets and dogs<\/span><\/h3>\nThe FDA said on its website that it has called on the veterinary and academic communities to contribute research on various aspects of non-hereditary DCM in dogs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Many people from these groups participated in a scientific forum at Kansas State University in September 2020 and publicly shared their summaries or presentations. You can view them here<\/a>.<\/p>\nDogs that recovered from DCM with diet change<\/span><\/h3>\nFDA scientists also presented at the KSU symposium on a group of 107 dogs that had fully or partially recovered from DCM with diet change and veterinary care. Twenty three of the dogs fully recovered and 84 dogs were partially recovered. You can see a 30-page pdf of their report here<\/a>.<\/p>\nThe scientists looked at the ingredients lists of what the dogs were eating at the time of diagnosis and compared that to the diets the dogs were switched to leading to a partial or full recovery.<\/p>\n
Before diagnosis, 90% of the 107 dogs were eating foods labeled as \u201cgrain free.\u201d Ninety four percent of their diets listed peas or lentils in the top four ingredients.<\/p>\n
There was no animal protein that stood out as dominant in their diets, and 28% of the diets listed potatoes or sweet potatoes in the ingredients.<\/p>\n
Twenty three of the dogs had a full recovery after a diet change. Ninety six percent of those dogs switched to a diet containing grains. Only 8 percent of the dogs switched to a food with peas listed in the top four ingredients.<\/p>\n
Obviously, this is a very, very small group of dogs, but it is one of the reasons people began questioning diets that use peas for protein, especially foods with peas in the top four ingredients.<\/p>\n
Are peas and lentils bad for dogs?<\/span><\/h3>\nNo. There is no evidence that peas and lentils are bad for dogs and both have been used in pet foods for many years with no evidence that they are dangerous, according to the FDA.<\/p>\n
However, most of the reports that FDA has received on dogs with non-hereditary DCM were eating diets with peas or lentils high on the ingredients list, meaning the diets used them in greater proportion.<\/p>\n
2023 University of Guelph study on grain free diets<\/span><\/h3>\nThe University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, released a small study in 2023 using 28 Siberian huskies. The dogs were fed a balanced diet that contained up to 45 percent \u201cwhole pulse\u201d ingredients (peas, lentils and beans) and no grains for 20 weeks.<\/p>\n
The dogs were randomly divided into four groups and were fed diets with either 0%, 15%, 30% or 45% pulse ingredients. After 20 weeks, the study showed no change in cardiac function for any of the dogs.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nWe don\u2019t know.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There are about 1,300 reports to the FDA of canine DCM in dogs eating pet foods labeled as \u201cgrain free.\u201d This is enough of a concern for some dog owners to avoid feeding grain-free diets.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, there are no studies that prove grain-free diets are harmful to dogs. Thousands of dogs are eating grain-free diets with no known issues.<\/p>\n
What do veterinarians say? Is grain-free dog food bad for dogs?<\/span><\/h3>\nI emailed several veterinarians and asked them, is grain-free dog food bad for dogs?<\/p>\n
They do not have a clear answer and their general opinions are similar to how I believe most pet owners feel about grain-free diets. We don\u2019t know enough right now so it\u2019s OK to be cautious.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Dr. Cheri Honnas is the veterinary advisor to Bone Voyage Dog Rescue<\/a>. This rescue helps street dogs in Mexico find homes in the U.S. and Canada.<\/p>\nShe said that there is a notable correlation between grain-free, legume-rich dog diets and DCM in dogs but \u201cmore comprehensive studies are needed to definitively prove causation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some of the vets I emailed recommend feeding most dogs a food that contains grains since there are so many options to choose from. While a few dogs do have allergies to grains, most do not, they said.<\/p>\n
Other vets said it\u2019s OK to continue feeding grain-free foods if it\u2019s going well for your dog.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They all said this issue is complex, and we need more research on this topic.<\/p>\n
More research on grain-free diets and dogs<\/span><\/h3>\nThe FDA said on its website that it has called on the veterinary and academic communities to contribute research on various aspects of non-hereditary DCM in dogs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Many people from these groups participated in a scientific forum at Kansas State University in September 2020 and publicly shared their summaries or presentations. You can view them here<\/a>.<\/p>\nDogs that recovered from DCM with diet change<\/span><\/h3>\nFDA scientists also presented at the KSU symposium on a group of 107 dogs that had fully or partially recovered from DCM with diet change and veterinary care. Twenty three of the dogs fully recovered and 84 dogs were partially recovered. You can see a 30-page pdf of their report here<\/a>.<\/p>\nThe scientists looked at the ingredients lists of what the dogs were eating at the time of diagnosis and compared that to the diets the dogs were switched to leading to a partial or full recovery.<\/p>\n
Before diagnosis, 90% of the 107 dogs were eating foods labeled as \u201cgrain free.\u201d Ninety four percent of their diets listed peas or lentils in the top four ingredients.<\/p>\n
There was no animal protein that stood out as dominant in their diets, and 28% of the diets listed potatoes or sweet potatoes in the ingredients.<\/p>\n
Twenty three of the dogs had a full recovery after a diet change. Ninety six percent of those dogs switched to a diet containing grains. Only 8 percent of the dogs switched to a food with peas listed in the top four ingredients.<\/p>\n
Obviously, this is a very, very small group of dogs, but it is one of the reasons people began questioning diets that use peas for protein, especially foods with peas in the top four ingredients.<\/p>\n
Are peas and lentils bad for dogs?<\/span><\/h3>\nNo. There is no evidence that peas and lentils are bad for dogs and both have been used in pet foods for many years with no evidence that they are dangerous, according to the FDA.<\/p>\n
However, most of the reports that FDA has received on dogs with non-hereditary DCM were eating diets with peas or lentils high on the ingredients list, meaning the diets used them in greater proportion.<\/p>\n
2023 University of Guelph study on grain free diets<\/span><\/h3>\nThe University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, released a small study in 2023 using 28 Siberian huskies. The dogs were fed a balanced diet that contained up to 45 percent \u201cwhole pulse\u201d ingredients (peas, lentils and beans) and no grains for 20 weeks.<\/p>\n
The dogs were randomly divided into four groups and were fed diets with either 0%, 15%, 30% or 45% pulse ingredients. After 20 weeks, the study showed no change in cardiac function for any of the dogs.<\/p>\n
She said that there is a notable correlation between grain-free, legume-rich dog diets and DCM in dogs but \u201cmore comprehensive studies are needed to definitively prove causation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some of the vets I emailed recommend feeding most dogs a food that contains grains since there are so many options to choose from. While a few dogs do have allergies to grains, most do not, they said.<\/p>\n
Other vets said it\u2019s OK to continue feeding grain-free foods if it\u2019s going well for your dog.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They all said this issue is complex, and we need more research on this topic.<\/p>\n
More research on grain-free diets and dogs<\/span><\/h3>\nThe FDA said on its website that it has called on the veterinary and academic communities to contribute research on various aspects of non-hereditary DCM in dogs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Many people from these groups participated in a scientific forum at Kansas State University in September 2020 and publicly shared their summaries or presentations. You can view them here<\/a>.<\/p>\nDogs that recovered from DCM with diet change<\/span><\/h3>\nFDA scientists also presented at the KSU symposium on a group of 107 dogs that had fully or partially recovered from DCM with diet change and veterinary care. Twenty three of the dogs fully recovered and 84 dogs were partially recovered. You can see a 30-page pdf of their report here<\/a>.<\/p>\nThe scientists looked at the ingredients lists of what the dogs were eating at the time of diagnosis and compared that to the diets the dogs were switched to leading to a partial or full recovery.<\/p>\n
Before diagnosis, 90% of the 107 dogs were eating foods labeled as \u201cgrain free.\u201d Ninety four percent of their diets listed peas or lentils in the top four ingredients.<\/p>\n
There was no animal protein that stood out as dominant in their diets, and 28% of the diets listed potatoes or sweet potatoes in the ingredients.<\/p>\n
Twenty three of the dogs had a full recovery after a diet change. Ninety six percent of those dogs switched to a diet containing grains. Only 8 percent of the dogs switched to a food with peas listed in the top four ingredients.<\/p>\n
Obviously, this is a very, very small group of dogs, but it is one of the reasons people began questioning diets that use peas for protein, especially foods with peas in the top four ingredients.<\/p>\n
Are peas and lentils bad for dogs?<\/span><\/h3>\nNo. There is no evidence that peas and lentils are bad for dogs and both have been used in pet foods for many years with no evidence that they are dangerous, according to the FDA.<\/p>\n
However, most of the reports that FDA has received on dogs with non-hereditary DCM were eating diets with peas or lentils high on the ingredients list, meaning the diets used them in greater proportion.<\/p>\n
2023 University of Guelph study on grain free diets<\/span><\/h3>\nThe University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, released a small study in 2023 using 28 Siberian huskies. The dogs were fed a balanced diet that contained up to 45 percent \u201cwhole pulse\u201d ingredients (peas, lentils and beans) and no grains for 20 weeks.<\/p>\n
The dogs were randomly divided into four groups and were fed diets with either 0%, 15%, 30% or 45% pulse ingredients. After 20 weeks, the study showed no change in cardiac function for any of the dogs.<\/p>\n
Dogs that recovered from DCM with diet change<\/span><\/h3>\nFDA scientists also presented at the KSU symposium on a group of 107 dogs that had fully or partially recovered from DCM with diet change and veterinary care. Twenty three of the dogs fully recovered and 84 dogs were partially recovered. You can see a 30-page pdf of their report here<\/a>.<\/p>\nThe scientists looked at the ingredients lists of what the dogs were eating at the time of diagnosis and compared that to the diets the dogs were switched to leading to a partial or full recovery.<\/p>\n
Before diagnosis, 90% of the 107 dogs were eating foods labeled as \u201cgrain free.\u201d Ninety four percent of their diets listed peas or lentils in the top four ingredients.<\/p>\n
There was no animal protein that stood out as dominant in their diets, and 28% of the diets listed potatoes or sweet potatoes in the ingredients.<\/p>\n
Twenty three of the dogs had a full recovery after a diet change. Ninety six percent of those dogs switched to a diet containing grains. Only 8 percent of the dogs switched to a food with peas listed in the top four ingredients.<\/p>\n
Obviously, this is a very, very small group of dogs, but it is one of the reasons people began questioning diets that use peas for protein, especially foods with peas in the top four ingredients.<\/p>\n
Are peas and lentils bad for dogs?<\/span><\/h3>\nNo. There is no evidence that peas and lentils are bad for dogs and both have been used in pet foods for many years with no evidence that they are dangerous, according to the FDA.<\/p>\n
However, most of the reports that FDA has received on dogs with non-hereditary DCM were eating diets with peas or lentils high on the ingredients list, meaning the diets used them in greater proportion.<\/p>\n
2023 University of Guelph study on grain free diets<\/span><\/h3>\nThe University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, released a small study in 2023 using 28 Siberian huskies. The dogs were fed a balanced diet that contained up to 45 percent \u201cwhole pulse\u201d ingredients (peas, lentils and beans) and no grains for 20 weeks.<\/p>\n
The dogs were randomly divided into four groups and were fed diets with either 0%, 15%, 30% or 45% pulse ingredients. After 20 weeks, the study showed no change in cardiac function for any of the dogs.<\/p>\n
The scientists looked at the ingredients lists of what the dogs were eating at the time of diagnosis and compared that to the diets the dogs were switched to leading to a partial or full recovery.<\/p>\n
Before diagnosis, 90% of the 107 dogs were eating foods labeled as \u201cgrain free.\u201d Ninety four percent of their diets listed peas or lentils in the top four ingredients.<\/p>\n
There was no animal protein that stood out as dominant in their diets, and 28% of the diets listed potatoes or sweet potatoes in the ingredients.<\/p>\n
Twenty three of the dogs had a full recovery after a diet change. Ninety six percent of those dogs switched to a diet containing grains. Only 8 percent of the dogs switched to a food with peas listed in the top four ingredients.<\/p>\n
Obviously, this is a very, very small group of dogs, but it is one of the reasons people began questioning diets that use peas for protein, especially foods with peas in the top four ingredients.<\/p>\n
Are peas and lentils bad for dogs?<\/span><\/h3>\nNo. There is no evidence that peas and lentils are bad for dogs and both have been used in pet foods for many years with no evidence that they are dangerous, according to the FDA.<\/p>\n
However, most of the reports that FDA has received on dogs with non-hereditary DCM were eating diets with peas or lentils high on the ingredients list, meaning the diets used them in greater proportion.<\/p>\n
2023 University of Guelph study on grain free diets<\/span><\/h3>\nThe University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, released a small study in 2023 using 28 Siberian huskies. The dogs were fed a balanced diet that contained up to 45 percent \u201cwhole pulse\u201d ingredients (peas, lentils and beans) and no grains for 20 weeks.<\/p>\n
The dogs were randomly divided into four groups and were fed diets with either 0%, 15%, 30% or 45% pulse ingredients. After 20 weeks, the study showed no change in cardiac function for any of the dogs.<\/p>\n
The University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, released a small study in 2023 using 28 Siberian huskies. The dogs were fed a balanced diet that contained up to 45 percent \u201cwhole pulse\u201d ingredients (peas, lentils and beans) and no grains for 20 weeks.<\/p>\n
The dogs were randomly divided into four groups and were fed diets with either 0%, 15%, 30% or 45% pulse ingredients. After 20 weeks, the study showed no change in cardiac function for any of the dogs.<\/p>\n