Pleasant Meadows

2018 Grain Free Scare:

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Okay, so we want to touch on the controversial topic of the "grain free scare" that came to light in July of 2018 and is currently being investigated by the FDA to find out if it is a Taurine deficiency or if Legumes are the cause. We ourselves, have done extensive hours of research and all results are inconclusive at this time, however, grain free diets that seem to contain large amounts of Legumes (lentils, beans, peas, chickpeas, potatoes) within the first 10 ingredients show a higher rate of DCM (dilated cardiomyopathy) in dogs.  Although, researcher's admit that they are not certain of the cause at this time, and it is NOT just grain free diets that are causing DCM in dogs, and the majority of dogs are large breed dogs and older dogs. More investigation is needed to find the root cause for the increase of dogs with DCM and it's silly to hit the panic button on something when sufficient research has not been provided.

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We're not hitting the panic button over the dog food we're currently feeding our dogs and puppies (Instinct the RAW brand), as shown above, because our dogs are doing AMAZING on it and the FDA admits that not all grain free diets are linked to DCM.  Our dogs are cleared for heart issues prior to breeding, and any heart issues would come up in their annual exams.  We have worked alongside our veterinarian, and with a canine nutritionist with a background in Biology and Veterinary Pharmaceuticals to select the Nature's Variety Instinct the RAW brand food that our dogs and puppies are currently eating to ensure that we are providing biologically appropriate food that will meet all of their nutritional needs. 

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We do also supplement our dogs with Taurine rich foods, and have done so for over 10 years, even before we were raising Cavapoos!  And we did this from a purely nutritional stand-point to ensure that our breeding dogs received everything they needed to be healthy.  At this point in time it is only prudent to wait for the FDA to complete their investigation, but you will see many changes, particularly in the lack on brands listed here and for the canned food that we feed our dogs and puppies (and send home with our puppies).

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Dogs principally eat meat, and vegetables to a lesser extent. In this case, this is good because taurine can be found in foods of animal origin. Taurine can naturally be found in:
 

• Chicken, especially in the legs or liver, where there is a greater amount.

 

• Pork and beef. You can use the hearts of these meats and prepare a home-made diet supplement for your dog.

 

• Eggs (boiled) or dairy (cheese), always in small doses, also contain taurine and can be very helpful to your pet.

 

Here is a good link explaining what Taurine is and why it's important:

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https://www.b-naturals.com/newsletter/whats-all-this-about-dogs-and-taurine/

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Currently the ONLY food that the FDA and WSAVA is recommending are as follows:

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Hill's Science Diet

Eukanuba

Royal Canin

Purina

Iams

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Why aren't we jumping on the band wagon and recommending those foods? Because EVERY SINGLE ONE of those foods contain ANIMAL BY-PRODUCTS and/or CORN and there is not enough meat in those foods (or none at all) to support healthy pet.  We can agree that Legumes could be a concern, just as any ingredient would be, if they are a higher percentage than the meat content. But until there is proper evidence or the food industry changes -- there are only two options, feeding grain free or changing to a food that does not support a dog's health.  For every bag of garbage food vets sell like the Royal Canin or the others listed above -- they get a percentage of that sale which furthers their vet clinics, and they will argue that their food has been "tested" for optimal nutrition -- BULL ROAR! For those of our puppy customers who have Netflix -- watch "PET FOOLED" for an eye-opener!  A GOOD VET will tell you that the first ingredient should be MEAT (not meat meal or any other ingredient).

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Here are some interesting links about the link between grain free diets and DCM:

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https://www.heartdoghealth.org/

 

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http://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2018/11/dcm-update/

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https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/blog/Please-Dont-Panic-About-the-Grain-Free-Thing-21893-1.html

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https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/21_9/features/DCM-in-Dogs-Taurines-Role-in-the-Canine-Diet_21901-1.html

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Here is some info on Legumes, and an explanation as to why they are not necessarily bad:

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