The Food and Drug Administration recently released the definitive list of brands that may be linked to heart attacks in dog. There are more or less 77 million dogs kept as pets in the United States and the agency was moved to investigate the link given the increase in heart attacks in cats and dogs since 2014.
The FDA has a strict protocol that makes reporting and investigation due when there are already 5 or 10 isolated incidents. Upon careful data analysis, ‘grain-free’ pet foods are the culprit. All 16 linked brands are branded as ‘grain-free’ and mainly have lentils, peas, potatoes or legume seeds as ingredients. Here are the said brands:
1. Acana
2. Zignature
3. Taste of the Wild
4. 4Health
5. Earthborn Holistic
6. Blue Buffalo
7. Nature’s Domain
8. Fromm
9. Merrick
10. California Natural
11. Natural Balance
12. Orijen
13. Nature’s Variety
14. NutriSource
15. Nutro
16. Rachael Ray Nutrish.
According to the report, the following brands are primarily associated and linked in reported heart attack incidents. The study involved 560 dogs that had dilated cardiomyopathy or DCM where enlarged heart muscles lead to heart failure.
DCM is often reported in golden retrievers. It usually affects large breeds but reported incidents showed instances where smaller dog breeds and cats were also affected.
As studies regarding the benefit of eating grain-free dog food have yet to be proven, dog owners are warned to be extra careful when it comes to altering their pet’s diet. It bears stressing that grain-free dog food brands recently came into popularity given the gluten-free movement in humans. So if you’re planning on opting for a ‘grain-free’ diet for your dog, it’s best to put that thought on hold.
If your dog has been eating any of the said dog food brands and has been coughing and showing signs of weakness and loss of appetite, it’s best to go for a check-up and consult your veterinarian.
The FDA is continuously investigating reported incidents.