Does Your Yorkie Need A Grain
Whether or not your Yorkie has a grain-free diet should be discussed with your veterinarian. However, most dogs are absolutely fine to eat grains.
A grain-free diet is typically given to a dog that is believed to have an allergy, although its really not common for corn and other grains to cause allergies in dogs.
Some people choose to give their dog a grain-free diet because they believe that grains are an unnatural source of nutrition for dogs. However, a dogs anatomy has changed considerably since the days when they were purely carnivorous animals.
During the course of the dogs evolution, their genes have been modified to digest carbohydrates more easily. Therefore, a grain-free diet is not required in terms of their metabolism.
Nonetheless, although it is not common, it is still possible for a dog to have allergies to grains. Symptoms of this allergy include:
- Itchiness
- Excessive hair loss
- Inflamed skin
If you do notice these symptoms then you may have to adjust their diet. In which case you should consult a vet regarding the best course of action.
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Fda Names 16 Brands Of Dog Food Linked To Canine Heart Disease
Sixteen brands of dog food may be associated with a heightened risk of heart failure in dogs, according to the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA isn’t suggesting that pet owners stop feeding their dogs the particular brands yet, but some vets are already advising against “grain free” foods.
The FDA is currently investigating more than 500 reports that appear to link dog foods that are marketed as “grain free” to canine dilated cardiomyopathy. The FDA has been warning about the foods based on peas, lentils or potatoes since July 2018, but the statement released late last week is the first time the agency has identified the 16 brand names.
The brands are ordered by the number of cases linked to them, which ranged from a high of 67 to 10:
- Acana
- Nutro
- Rachael Ray Nutrish
Most of the reports were associated with dry dog food formulations, but raw food, semi-moist food and wet foods were included. The FDA has not suggested owners change their pets diets.
Were not saying dont use these brands, were just telling pet owners to work directly with their veterinarians because were still investigating, Lindsay Haake, a spokesperson for the FDA, said.
While the vast majority of cases have been in dogs, there have also been some in cats.
Veterinary cardiologists told NBC News that they arent waiting for the FDA investigation to conclude before advising owners to stop feeding the suspect pet foods.
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How To Choose The Best Grain
Lets take a look at a few important characteristics that high-quality grain-free dog foods should possess, and how this could impact the health of your pup.
- High in Meat Protein – High-quality grain-free dog food will list real meat as the main ingredient not unnecessary fillers such as potatoes and starches. Dogs are primarily carnivorous and thrive on a meat-based diet. When real meat is listed as the first ingredient, you can be sure your dog’s food contains a high ratio of a quality protein source that will support their overall health.
- Minimally Processed – The best grain-free dog foods are made with minimally processed, whole, and natural ingredients. Dry dog foods are cooked multiple times at high heat, which destroys nutrients and diminishes flavor. By comparison, minimally processed wet foods contain ingredients and nutrients closer to their original state.
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Moisture Rich – A dog’s natural, carnivorous diet contains around 70% moisture. High-quality, wet grain-free dog food mirrors mother nature by providing adequate moisture to help the body function. Unlike dry dog food, it’s biologically appropriate and can help prevent health problems including urinary tract infections, digestive issues, and obesity.
Are Other Factors Involved
So far, the FDA reports biggest finding is that nearly all dogs with DCM were fed grain-free diets. This suggests a strong link between grain-free foods and heart disease in these pets.
The FDA hasnt yet determined the exact mechanism for how the disease forms. To cover all bases, the FDA and partnering agencies are continuing to research any possible factors, such as genetics, heavy metal exposure and other toxicities, that are possibly contributing to DCM development.
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Do These Ingredients Have The Same Benefits For Dogs Should Dogs Eat Grains
Whole grains such as corn provide dogs with important digestible nutrients including energy, protein, vitamin E and linoleic acid. It is those nutrients that are crucial to a dog’s overall health. The most important thing to remember is to choose a food that provides your dog with complete and balanced nutrition. This is true whether or not the food contains grains.
You Want To Reduce Your Dogs Carbohydrate Consumption
Most commercial kibbles or dehydrated foods contain some level of carbohydrates from added ingredients. Switching to a product labeled grain-free doesnt mean your dog isnt getting carbohydrates it just means its getting carbs from sources other than traditional grains.
To go carb-free, you need to find a food product that doesnt contain any types of grains. In this case, youd be looking at raw food, which is usually sold in a format that looks like ground meat. Its made up of muscle, organ, and bone. Thats it. Its truly grain-free.
There are also raw food products available that include a serving of fruits and vegetables mixed in.
Another type of food that doesnt necessarily contain any grains are products labeled air-dried. High quality air-dried products are around 96 percent meat and may include a small amount of fiber to help bind the product.
Freeze-dried products often dont contain any grains either and can be between 95 and 98 percent meat, depending on the brand. Or, the only added carbs may come from fruits and vegetables.
Recipes are brand dependent, so read the ingredients to be sure youre eliminating or reducing carbohydrates if thats your goal. Although raw, freeze-dried, or air-dried products are typically grain-free, they arent always labeled as grain-free the same way kibble or canned grain-free products are.
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The Fdas Investigation Of Grain
Many of the cases of DCM have involved dogs that were fed grain-free diets, suggesting that diet may play a role in this disease. This alarming trend led the US Food and Drug Administration to launch an investigation into whether diet and other factors are putting pets at risk of developing DCM.
The FDA has since released a series of reports summarizing the investigations findings. You may be wondering what these findings mean for your pets, and which foods are safe to feed them.
Are grain-free diets bad for dogs? What is causing the recent outbreak of DCM cases? Although the FDAs investigation is still ongoing, heres what you need to know and what you can take away from the latest news on this serious disease.
Can Dogs Digest Grains
The argument against grains in puppy food stems from the idea that our pets ancestors never used to eat grains, so it was thought that dogs dont naturally eat them and arent capable of digesting them. This isnt true. Dogs have adapted to be able to eat grains in their diet now thats what eating scraps off our tables for a few thousand years will do! Grains provide valuable energy to a growing puppy. Of course, whether with or without grains, it is essential to feed your puppy food which is carefully formulated to their life stage so they are getting the right amount of essential nutrients. If you are not sure what to feed your puppy, you can find some great choices here.
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Transitioning To Homemade Dog Food
Most dogs dont have a problem making the switch to homemade food. If yours is prone to digestive issues, start slowly by mixing a little bit of the homemade food with the commercial food.
Over the course of a week or two, gradually increase the amount of homemade food while decreasing the commercial food.
If your dog vomits or has diarrhea, try introducing only a couple of new ingredients at a time until their systems are well adjusted to the fresh diet.
For dogs with health issues, please consult with a veterinarian if you arent sure what kind of supplements are needed. Use your best judgment, the way you would when feeding yourself or your family.
What Does Grain Free Mean
Grain free dog food is made using a recipe without cereal. That means no wheat, rye, barley, oats, maize, sorghum, millet, triticale or rice. However, this doesnt mean the food is any less delicious! We replace the cereals with a mix of tasty vegetables, including potatoes and peas, to ensure that the texture and flavour of your dogs food are still just as appealing. A common misconception about grain free dog food is that it is also low-carb or even carbohydrate free. However, as grain free dog food often uses carbohydrates such as sweet potato to replace grains, this does not make it a carb free dog food. Although ingredients like meat are the most important factor in a healthy dogs diet, carbohydrates can be a useful energy source for your dog.
It is possible for a dog to have an intolerance to anything.
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The Evolution Of ‘puppy Dog Eyes’
Generally when dogs develop a food allergy, its to a protein, Gelzer said. So, veterinarians will often switch to a food with a different protein source to treat the problem.
One of the big problems with DCM is that dogs dont show symptoms of the disease lethargy, exercise intolerance, shortness of breath until theyre very sick, Gelzer said.
She points to the example of clients who came in with a very sick dog that was diagnosed with DCM. The family had a second dog that seemed healthy, but because both were eating a grain-free dog food, Gelzer suggested bringing in the second dog to be checked.
What we dont know is if used in these diets in place of grains are causing the problem. Its also possible that could be some kind of toxin.
When we evaluated that dog, it also had decreased heart function, but it was still subclinical, she said. The dog didnt look abnormal because it was at an early stage.
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Our grain free formula features chicken meal, peas, and sweet potato along with a wide array of fruits and vegetables, making this no-corn, no-wheat, and no-soy formula a great choice for dogs with food sensitivities. Available in 6-lb and 30-lb bags. EnTrust Adult Dog. Lamb Meal & Rice Recipe.
Ingredients. More. Dog Food, Super-Premium, Lamb Meal and Potato Recipe. Grain-free. 100% complete & balanced nutrition. Rich source of high-quality protein. Top 4 ingredients: Lamb meal, peas, lentils, potatoes. Super seaweed. See back to learn about the nutritional benefits.
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Should I Be Avoiding Grain
With the rise of grain-free dog foods, veterinarians started to notice a worrying trend dogs eating these diets were found to be suffering from a rare heart condition. This illness, called Dilated Cardiomyopathy , causes the heart muscle to weaken and can lead to sudden death. It is traditionally only seen in a handful of breeds including the Doberman Pinscher, the Great Dane, the Boxer, and the Cocker Spaniel.
In 2018, an investigation was launched to figure out exactly what was causing this heart condition in the wider population of dogs. The fact that many DCM patients were consuming grain-free food pushed researchers to pursue diet as a potential cause.
Most Are Still Rich In Carbohydrates From Non
Many people believe that non-grain dog treats contain more protein than carbohydrates. The truth is that most non-grain dog foods are richer in carbohydrates than meat. While processed foods have starch, which helps in cohesion and creating a dry kibble, it is not uncommon to find grain-free dog treats made from cheap sources of carbohydrates without any nutritional value.
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Healthman’s Stressed Friend: Dogs Feel Owners’ Anxiety
Gelzer isnt sure what the results will be if those early stage dogs are switched to a different food. Some get better when the diet is changed, she said. Some stay the same and keep the status quo with medications and some die despite changing the diet and getting all the heart medications we can give.
While its clear that pet owners are feeding these brands because they are trying to do what they perceive as the right thing for their dogs, unless the dog has a documented sensitivity to grains, its probably not worth the risk at this point to feed these products, said Dr. Bruce Kornreich, a veterinary cardiologist in the department of clinical sciences at the Veterinary College of Cornell University and associate director of the Cornell Feline Health Center.
What we dont know is if used in these diets in place of grains are causing the problem, Kornreich said. Its also possible that could be some kind of toxin.
Kornreich suggests pet owners switch to a brand produced by a company with a long-standing history.
If a pet dog is showing any symptoms of the heart condition, including decreased energy, cough or difficulty breathing, the FDA urges owners to contact a vet as soon as possible.
Linda Carroll is a regular health contributor to NBC News and Reuters Health. She is coauthor of “The Concussion Crisis: Anatomy of a Silent Epidemic” and “Out of the Clouds: The Unlikely Horseman and the Unwanted Colt Who Conquered the Sport of Kings.”
In The Final Part Of Our Three
Throughout 2019, headlines about grain free pet foods and dogs with enlarged hearts circulated around the news and the industry in general. Manufacturers, distributors, retailers and consumers anxiously awaited any news as to whether or not there is indeed a link between grain-free diets and enlarged heart disease and DCM .
In response, the commotion has brought up an important discussion regarding grain vs. grain free pet foods and which is best to feed pets. Before we dive into what we know, lets take a look at where the DCM issue stands as of now.
DCM Update
To put things simply, there is still no dietary link between grain free pet food ingredients and DCM. And theres been no major update since we last checked in early last year. In June of 2019, the Pet Food Institute released a Q& A document that outlined the DCM issue along with questions from a consumers perspective. They instructed pet owners that the most important thing they can do is make sure your dog is receiving a complete and balanced diet that is formulated for his or her life stage. When asked if any ingredients or grain free food as a whole should be avoided, the FDA stated that they do not advise any dietary changes based on the information gathered so far.
The Result
Whats Next
Grain vs. Grain Free
The question many consumers have is whether formulas with grains are better for pets than formulas that are grain free.
Why Grain is Good
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What Does The Latest Research Tell Us About Grain
So far, we havent established the exact cause of what appears to be diet-related DCM, but the latest research is pointing to the possibility of grain-free diets as a factor. Studies have shown that many dogs given a diagnosis of DCM will often have an improvement in cardiac function, with a diet switch to a grain-inclusive food.
Grain-free foods often include a relatively high proportion of peas, lentils, legumes and/or potatoes to balance the diet. Whether these ingredients or the lack of grain is the cause is yet to be established.
Grain Free Diets Bulldogs And French Bulldogs Myth Or Fact
Grain Free Diets Bulldogs and French Bulldogs are very poplar among bulldog owners. In our day and age due to overwholming, accessible. instant, unflitered, online content, looking at a food bag lable it is a challange.
Bulldog and French Bulldog Grain-Free Diets the MYTH and FACTS
Grain Free Diets Bulldogs and French Bulldogs BULLDOGS CAN NOT DIGEST GRAIN MYTH: yes they can! During the domestication evolution, dogs genetically evolved as we humans did from being predominantly meat carnivore protein eaters to the present mixed-diet omnivore. Humans and dogs became better suited to digesting grain, fruit, vegetables, and other starch.
Over thousands of years of domestication, your bulldog and French bulldog puppy digestive tract has evolved and now possess the digestive tools to deal with variety of grains.
Grain Free Diets Bulldogs and French Bulldogs GRAINS ARE BAD FOR MY BULLDOG MYTH: In contrast to popular belief among bulldog and french bulldog owners, there are many nutritional benefits to grain portion in dog food. Grains stimulate the growth of beneficial, good gastrointestinal bacteria .
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