UC Davis Advisory on Diet Related DCM (Important Read for Kibble Feeders)

[Rits]

My mom on the other hand has a golden retriever in the "Morris Animal Foundation’s Golden Retriever Lifetime Study" mentioned in the above article. The first dog to bring awareness to this all was also in this study and unfortunately passed away due to DCM because they were too late. This alerted a ton of Golden owners that something was going on, more got tested, and sadly more died...a disease not known in Goldens! This is why I knew about this a year ago and posted here as soon as possible to alert my fellow dobe friends (Low Taurine in Grain Free Foods).

Abbey had her blood drawn today and it is currently being shipped to UCDavis. She is on Nature's Variety Instinct. The results will be not only for her health, but to help many other dogs around the world. Fingers crossed all is well. Abbey turned 4 in June.

 

[MyBuddy]

She is on Nature's Variety Instinct.

I have been feeding Nature's Variety Prairie all of Buddies life. He's done well on it and I actually haven't even changed up the protein hardly at all. I see the ingredients do include peas and potatoes. Is that bad?

 

[Oh Little Oji]

Well, another trend that has its drawbacks. Grain-free.

I guess I will make a dog food switch away from TOTW, as I think it has potatoes, if not peas as well.

Legumes are mentioned. Is a pea a legume? I just think of beans when I think legumes.

I was considering switching foods anyway, and trying what Oji's breeder says is working for Oji's brother. Question is: Will I wait all the way through the 13th bag, which is free of charge?

 

[Rits]

Legumes are mentioned. Is a pea a legume? I just think of beans when I think legumes

Peas, lentils, chickpeas, beans, even alfalfa is a legume

This is what the FDA says are the common pattern ingredients: "These dogs had been eating pet foods containing peas, lentils, legume seeds, or potatoes as their main ingredients."

And UCDavis':

 

[Kaiser2016]

I have been feeding Nature's Variety Prairie all of Buddies life. He's done well on it and I actually haven't even changed up the protein hardly at all. I see the ingredients do include peas and potatoes. Is that bad?

The peas are ingredient number 8. It is said that the first 4 ingredients matter the most and they need to be named meats, but I recently read the top 10 ingredients matter the most. I can't recall if (was it Rits?) said that as a matter of preference or caution versus as a rule.

So much information and reading to do lately, even Doberman diets are mind boggling

 

[Kaiser2016]

"...main ingredients."

So top 4 or top 10?

 

[Rits]

I have been feeding Nature's Variety Prairie all of Buddies life. He's done well on it and I actually haven't even changed up the protein hardly at all. I see the ingredients do include peas and potatoes. Is that bad?
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Sorry I know its not what you would like to hear but only you can decide... You can get a taurine test done to check if you are concerned. It is $76 for UCDavis to read, plus what your vet charges to draw the blood, plus overnight shipping by FedEx.

 

[MyBuddy]

Sorry I know its not what you would like to hear but only you can decide... You can get a taurine test done to check if you are concerned. It is $76 for UCDavis to read, plus what your vet charges to draw the blood, plus overnight shipping by FedEx.

So you're saying it's bad? Is Instinct a better food even though it's the same brand? I mean, he's been on this all his life, he's never had a problem and he's 10 years old.

 

[Rits]

The peas are ingredient number 8. It is said that the first 4 ingredients matter the most and they need to be named meats, but I recently read the top 10 ingredients matter the most. I can't recall if (was it Rits?) said that as a matter of preference or caution versus as a rule.

So much information and reading to do lately, even Doberman diets are mind boggling

It is on what you feel comfortable with. Testing is the only way to know. You must test before switching. Dr. Stern says no to any of the pattern ingredients in the top 5. FDA says below the minerals on the ingredient list. This can be found under the files section in the FB group or on the web. Sorry I am but one person! Trying to help.

Read FDA's FAQs here: Questions & Answers: FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine’s Investigation into a Possible Connection Between Diet and Canine Heart Disease

 

[Rits]

So you're saying it's bad? Is Instinct a better food even though it's the same brand? I mean, he's been on this all his life, he's never had a problem and he's 10 years old.

Im saying I can't tell you, you know? This is why you would have to test if you really want to find out. My mom is testing. No, Instinct is not better as it also has legumes. Or take the information and advisories given by vets and scientists about the ingredients and decide for yourself what you are comfortable with feeding until more definitive information comes out. Testing the taurine levels is the only way to know if your dog is affected. Then you go from there based on the results, working with your vet and what you feel comfortable with feeding.

Edit: fixed auto correct lol

 

[Rits]

I mean, he's been on this all his life, he's never had a problem and he's 10 years old.

The problem is dog food companies change their ingredients all the time. There has been a recent trend to put more proteins in by the form of plants in dog food. Legumes has been a cheap way to do that. They split the ingredients by adding many different kinds of legumes and split the legume even further so it appears farther down on the list. Pea fiber, pea starch, and peas make up much more of the food before they split it into 3 separate ingredients! They aren't dummies and know pet parents are reading the ingredients and looking for meat as #1. We have to work even harder researching our food now...

So the recent trend of replacing protein with pea protein etc is possible why we are seeing such a pattern with dogs that are deficient in taurine all of a sudden.

 

[Rits]

Before it starts becoming two threads on the same thing, I'm going to close this thread and redirect everyone to discuss this in one thread. I'd still like to leave this separate thread up so others can come across it.

Let's continue discussing all of this here!
Low Taurine in Grain Free Foods