FDA warns an increase in canine heart disease might be linked to grain-free dog foods

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, if it's about taurine I do not understand this warning based on "grain free" dog food. The warning issued specifically states that dog foods based primarily on potatoes, legumes, etc. I wonder if they are simply talking about low quality feed in general with little to no meat.

A dog fed a diet that is based primarily on rice or sweet potato with meat way further down in the list of ingredients is probably not getting a good amount of taurine.

My guess is that this is it: some of these diets just don't have enough meat. But peas , chick peas, lentils, or whatever aren't causing the problem- dogs just cannot eat these in place of meat.

That sounds about right. Dogs can't eat a mostly vegetarian diet. They need meat.

[Anonymous]

We put hamburger, chicken, steak, salmon...really whatever we’re having for dinner that night...in our dogs’ bowls and people like to make fun of it for us but our dogs all love 14+ years...

[Anonymous]

We give our dogs meat off the table, too.

[Anonymous]

I am a vegetarian. There is no indication that my dogs are. They get canned meat as a topping over kibble- which happens to have sweet potato and peas...but chicken as a main ingredient, so I think that is ok .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We put hamburger, chicken, steak, salmon...really whatever we’re having for dinner that night...in our dogs’ bowls and people like to make fun of it for us but our dogs all love 14+ years...

Same here. Every dog I’ve had lives to at least 14. Some 15. Labrador. Beagles. I also give them some pieces of fruit or vegetables. (Like broccoli.).

[Anonymous]

We've been feeding our 10 year old lab Blue Buffalo's Grain Free/Limited Ingredient/Large Breed Lamb and Potato. She's been very healthy, no digestive issues at all, and maintaining a good weight (per our vet). Hope we don't need to change!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We've been feeding our 10 year old lab Blue Buffalo's Grain Free/Limited Ingredient/Large Breed Lamb and Potato. She's been very healthy, no digestive issues at all, and maintaining a good weight (per our vet). Hope we don't need to change!

If your dog has been fine on that food for 10 years, why would she not be ok for the next 4-5?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We've been feeding our 10 year old lab Blue Buffalo's Grain Free/Limited Ingredient/Large Breed Lamb and Potato. She's been very healthy, no digestive issues at all, and maintaining a good weight (per our vet). Hope we don't need to change!

If your dog has been fine on that food for 10 years, why would she not be ok for the next 4-5?

PP here. I should have clarified. We adopted her from a lab rescue group 3 years ago, so she's been on it 3 years and doing great.

[Anonymous]

I don't think theres been enough research done for me to take anything said here seriously. It’s more of passing observation that may or may not be true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We put hamburger, chicken, steak, salmon...really whatever we’re having for dinner that night...in our dogs’ bowls and people like to make fun of it for us but our dogs all love 14+ years...

Same here. Every dog I’ve had lives to at least 14. Some 15. Labrador. Beagles. I also give them some pieces of fruit or vegetables. (Like broccoli.).

My German Shepherd loves vegetables - cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, green pepper. We had to build a fence around the vegetable garden just to keep her out, lol.