FDA warning on grain-free food

ghggp said:
Thanks for this post Caro!
How eye opening! All the commercials these days focus on how their products are grain free as a plus to the pets health!
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The trend in grain free for dogs really surprises me. It seems to be following the trend in humans, or maybe bucking against the over-use of corn and some cereals in dogs food in the past, even though there's no evidence of a general problem with grains in dogs. Are peas really better than oats? Dogs have never been able to eat peas (the outer husk) but readily and naturally eat grass; and grains are just the seeds of grasses. So is the grain free trend really healthier? In Australia we have limited choice and have been swept up with the grain free trend without many alternatives.

I'm glad at least one manufacturer is being prompt. I just sent an email to Holistic Select to see what they say. You are so lucky to have FDA regulating your dog food. Over here it's self regulating, and manufacturers almost never recall. I had an indoor cat get sick on a food - cat food company didn't care. And Advance did nothing about all the dogs getting sick until it hit a lot of police dogs.
 
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I switch between several brands and flavors- the current food lists the protein sources- it says 67% from duck, 13% from peas and 13% from pumpkin. it also includes Taurine, minimum 0.05%
 
I put Beau on all grain-free including treats, now I am regretting it. After Shadow was diagnosed with Histiocytic sarcoma and I lost him in such an awful few months, I wanted to do everything to protect Beau's health :( Ugh Ugh Ugh :(
 
I just can't seem to pull the trigger on switching Lexi's food. She's done so well on it for years. I did do some searching and it looks like a good part of the other "good brands" of grain-free food supplement their foods with taurine. Just not Acana.

I have decided to add heart meat to her dinner and hope that works! (Can't hurt and she loves it!)
 
corbinam said:
Dr. Jean Dodds chimes in!

https://drjeandoddspethealthresource.tumblr.com/post/176405475391/fda-dog-heart-disease#.W2Detn4nb-b
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Thanks. Very interesting and even more concerning - beet pulp is in a lot (also suggests we should worry more about other ingredients than grains). Definitely means if your dog is suffering any conditions, get the aminos checked, and I'll make sure they are included in my dogs' next senior panel.

I'm pretty sure Deska has been deficient in something and that's why he's had skin problems. Tully doesn't so I don't think it's the food but rather meds or malabsorption. I had him on a skin supplement that made no difference, but when I put them on a senior supplement skin has improved massively. But who knows what the deficiency could be, didn't come up in a blood panel, dermotologist didn't pick it up. Was sheer fluke using that particular supplement. Going to go right now and check if it's got taurine.
 
Calliesmom said:
every time I click on the link I get redirected to Viglink Wayfair instead of whole dog journal article......
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I have some problem so ended up looking at the journal itself. It was a well balanced article I thought.

I thought it was funny the author mentioned a certain nutritionist who warns about exotic ingredients, including kangaroo. There's a US-centric view - not sure whether to laugh or be insulted. Roo is the number one pet meat choice over here and Australia has more of the longest lived dogs than any other country. It is hardly exotic.

Btw - in case you're interested I think this is the nutritionist she was referring to http://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2018/...e-or-grain-free-diets-and-exotic-ingredients/
 
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