In our last blog we discussed what science has learned and more importantly not learned about Diet-Related Canine DCM since the scare in 2018, especially related to so-called “BEG” diets (boutique, exotic and grain-free). In this blog we’ll talk more about how to move forward to keep your dog healthier through better nutrition.
In 2019, Nicole Decrisantis from Northpoint Pets & Company wrote, “For owners and veterinarians concerned about grain-inclusive or grain-free foods, they are likely concerned about the wrong risk; instead concern should be centered around diets lacking in fresh food, formulation guidelines that are narrowly researched, outdated research, and foods full of toxic chemicals and by-products of food processing. These items on their own pose more of a risk, which is scientifically proven, over any isolated grain-free diet, to the health and longevity of our pets.”1 Decrisantis holds an M.S. in Nutrition and is currently working on a PhD in Comparative Biomedical Sciences (Canine Nutrition/Metabolomics).
I want to emphasize that at HPNW we believe non-hereditary DCM is a serious disease. However, it does not manifest overnight, instead taking years to develop. It is also related to and in many cases may even be caused by a number of other health issues like obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer. Remarkably, the same things that cause long-term health issues and heart disease in humans.
That is why we agree with Decrisantis that the “traditional” vs “grain-free” debate may be focusing on the wrong risk. Consider this: On average only about 3.9% (0.039) of dogs will develop DCM, which has remained relatively constant since the introduction of dry dog food.2 So while it is serious, it is hardly the epidemic that some have made it out to be.
We say that because the AKC sites an estimate from Dr. Skylar Sylvester, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology), and Assistant Clinical Professor of Medical Oncology at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine that about 30% of dogs, or one in three, will develop cancer in their lifetime. For dogs older than 10, that number goes up to one in two or 50%. According to the AKC, cancer is considered the leading cause of death in older dogs.3 In addition to cancer, illness rates in dogs for diabetes, kidney disease, and liver disease are all increasing at alarming rates.
So for all of us at HPNW the question is how we improve the overall health of dogs so they avoid the growing list of preventable diseases that are often the precursors to DCM? We believe that improving overall health would reduce and possibly even eliminate the risk of developing DCM. More importantly, it would help our dogs avoid the other preventable diseases that are becoming more common.
For dogs, just like with humans, science is showing that genes are not the sole determinant of future health or illness. Science is proving that lifestyle and diet play more significant roles in how genes are expressed than we previously suspected. Today, we have a better understanding of how a dog’s health is affected by food, activity level (exercise), social interactions, exposure to environmental toxins and more.
Science is showing us that feeding whole foods is an important ingredient in sustaining a dog’s health. Whole food nutrition It is an idea we have always embraced at HPNW. That is why we were one of the first pet supply stores in Portland to offer raw foods for both dogs and cats. (See our blog on “How Much Raw Is Enough?”) Today, we are excited about the fact that there are even more options available to get whole food into your dog’s diet. In addition to raw diets, we now offer freeze-dried raw, lightly-cooked, dehydrated and air-dried options. They each provide sources of whole food nutrition in ways that dry kibble cannot.
To be clear, we understand that dry kibble plays an important role in today’s fast-paced world. For most dogs and cats, it supplies the basic nutrients necessary to sustain life. However, we also recognize that dry kibble based on AAFCO’s minimum nutrient profiles is not necessarily designed to provide optimum nutrition. That’s why we believe, and research is showing, adding even small amounts of whole food nutrition to your pet’s diet can reap life-long rewards.
Just take a look at the FDA’s findings from the initial reports that started the DCM scare: Of the more the 500 dogs in the initial report, nearly 90% were eating kibble only diets. With dogs fed a mixed diet, (kibble and something else) the number drops to somewhere around 5% (.05).4 That represents a significant improvement in long-term pet health by broadening the types of food and ultimately the sources of nutrition dogs receive.
Ultimately, if your dog is eating a kibble diet, we recommend expanding that diet to include other sources of nutrition like canned or freeze-dried toppers at the very least. Based on the evidence so far available, adding whole foods to your dog’s diet appears to be a more effective way of preventing DCM than worrying about the “grain” or “grain-free” arguments. It will also lead to better long term health.
References
1. Nicole Decrisantis. Grain-Free Diets and DCM: Some Truths Behind the Hype; Northpoint Pets & Company Blog, November 11th, 2019.
2. Quest B. W., Leach S. B., Garimella S., Konie A., Clark S. D. (2022). Incidence of canine dilated cardiomyopathy diagnosed at referral institutes and grain-free pet food store sales: A retrospective survey. Front. Anim. Sci. 3 (3846227). doi: 10.3389/fanim.2022.846227