Does Grain Free Food Harm Your Dog’s Heart Health?
He was 6 years old when he collapsed in front of me. I picked him up, all 150#, and carried him to my car for the emergency vet. Diagnosis Dilated Cardiomyopathy. DCM.
6 weeks later, he was gone. The day before my birthday.
There was no early warning that it was coming. Nothing.
I got a crash course in DCM. But it was Bull Shit. Pardon My French.
You see, I was told by the Vets, Dane People, and others it was common.
The life expectancy for large male Great Danes is only 8-10 years.
There is nothing you can do.
That’s the bull shit. Why do we just accept that? And what’s more, if we know there is something the breed it predisposed too — we should begin the fight, early. Really Early. Not at diagnosis, or “IF” it happens.
Cole’s death is part of the catalyst that set me on a mission of learning more about nutrition and wellness — though it would be a few years later before I realized that. Now, I’m mad I wasn’t better educated by the vets I trusted. I’m heartbroken I didn’t know to do more. And I’m sad I lost him so early. When I started learning, that there were things I could have done to at least try, my only option now is to share with others.
I thought I was doing the best I could. I fed “high end” grain-free kibble, with “good” vet care when we needed it. I did all the things my “educators” told me to do. But my mistake was accepting what my vet and rescue peers at face value.
Should You Feed Grain-Free Dog Food or Not:
Some thought grain free foods were how we wound up with so many dogs in distress with DCM, though 10 years go the taurine deficiency wasn’t something I’d ever heard of. Now reading the textbooks from back in the day, this was a known issue. They new there was a problem with the diets. But it wasn’t the grains.
Dogs Need Taurine
Taurine is an amino acid important in several of the body's metabolic processes, is thought to have antioxidant properties. The body cannot produce this amino acid without the nutrients received through food sources. Food sources that allow the creation of taurine include Meat, Shellfish, and Dairy. Not grains.
When Dog Food Went Grain-Free
When grains were removed from dog foods, they were replaced largely with legumes and other plant proteins. Some of these legumes are believed to be inhibiting the body’s ability to absorb the amino acids properly.
We also know that plant proteins are calculated into the total tally of protein. Even if the first single ingredient on the bag is listed as a meat source. Unless it is supplemented, there simply may be a deficiency. It’s why you’re now seeing more kibble brands add a taurine supplement — but it’s most likely synthetic. Bodies don’t like synthetic products. They don’t get assimilated well.
So there was a big flaw in replacing grains with legumes and not getting the amino acid profile right.
They made a huge outcry about grain free diets — but when the facts came out about a few years later — they quietly spoke the truth. And many people still haven’t heard it.
But —
Not all grains are bad. In fact, good grains can be important to your dog’s health.
Many vets are recommending a return to grain-based foods. That’s really not the right answer. Certainly not a complete answer.
High quality, non-GMO grains like millet or oats may be beneficial to health when used in moderation.
Millet: is a gluten-free grain, acid-free, and source of copper, magnesium, phosphorus, and manganese. Which are excellent for maintaining a healthy life. A balanced diet full of nutritional properties will also help eradicate the risk of heart problems and other such life-endangering diseases.
Oats: also gluten-free, are rich in thiamin, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, manganese, selenium, and iron. They also support heart health, help manage sugar levels, contribute fiber, and offer antioxidants (Note: monitor oat quality for gluten contamination if processed in facilities with other grains)
Grains are NOT a source of nutrients needed for the dog’s body to make taurine
So What Can You Do If Your Dog Is At Risk
Going back to grain-based diets, and lower-quality kibble is not the right answer. In fact, you will be reintroducing other risks that the educators of wellness, raw and fresh diets have been trying to teach you regarding high levels of carbohydrates in diets, nutrition, and inflammatory issues in the body. Sources of disease.
Feed a Balanced Fresh Food Diet — raw or gently cooked. Do-It-Yourself with appropriate guidelines for calculations. Feed a product like Volhard Dog Nutrition (my choice for quality and convenience)
If you are sticking with kibble — upgrade to a high-quality brand. Stick to low carbohydrate diets. Avoid grains like corn and other filler grains. ADD a complete whole-food vitamin & mineral with a complete amino acid profile supplement to your dog’s diet. Everyone should do this.
I recommend Dr. Ruth’s Holistic Total Body Support - or Endurance from Volhard Dog Nutrition.
The Amino Acid Profile of Endurance far exceeds what is required for the NRC and AAFCO. The essential AA building blocks for a dog to make Taurine are Cystine and Methionine. Endurance has plenty of that available to the dog to make Taurine. Because it has liver, some taurine is there already naturally. There are no anti-nutrients in Endurance which would prevent naturally occurring absorption. We recommend that anyone feeding kibble add Endurance or a veggie pak to provide the necessary AA for good heart health. (Jennifer Carter VPM Volhard)
Some of you may be thinking of adding “something raw” to the bowl to supplement through something free. Be sure to read the comment in my Well Fed K9 Guide about keeping the balance of phosphorus to calcium in check. Very important!
Some of you are starting to see taurine being supplemented in your dog’s kibble. It’s listed as an ingredient. The question is, from what source? And is there still something remaining in the Kibble brand legumes that is inhibiting absorption? We just don’t know for sure yet.
If had to do it all over again
I would have made the switch to Raw Foods much sooner! Especially with a dog predisposed to any health concern like this.
Taurine is in fresh foods — meat, dairy and shellfish
Should you supplement Taurine? Maybe.
We would have titered vaccines — it was not even a thing I’d heard of back then.
We wouldn’t have used Flea & Tick Meds. I definitely would not have given ProHeart for HW.
We’d have gone harsh-chemical-free much sooner.
And I would have supplemented his heart health more:
Omega 3, CoQ10, Antioxidants — from the moment I had him, and Lexie, and later Vinnie. We KNEW DCM was common in the breed — but I didn’t know then what I know now about nutrition and wellness. So I want to share it with you. Do with it what you will or can.
With today’s supplement options, I’d add supplements from Standard Process for heart health.
Essential Oils. Daily. So that we can all stay as healthy as possible and drive for wellness more than we wait to respond to illness.
Get proactive.
It doesn’t matter what the breed is predisposed to. Joint Health, Allergies, Digestive Issues, Shorter Life Span, Heart Health, etc — fight back by getting proactive as soon as you can.
The more I have learned about epigenetics, the more I know we have the ability to influence whether those genes get activated or not. Can we control it 100% — no. Data tells us that as much as 95% of the disease and cancer our pets face is based on controllable, environmental factors. That includes food, toxins, and lifestyle. So feed fresh diets, reduce chemical load, manage stress, exercise appropriately, etc — we have our very best shot at longevity and changing the future generations. (Ok, I know most of you have spayed or neutered pets — but we want responsible breeding programs doing this work for future generations). Your effort in your dog’s life may mean the difference between a thriving long life, or not.
I failed my Cole. I thought I was doing the right things right. I followed the guidance I was given. I was just following the wrong educators. Today, my goal is to get you thinking, researching for yourself, and fighting back for your pet’s sake NOW. Not when you receive the news. It may be too late.
Lexie lived to be 2 weeks shy of her 12th Birthday — also a Great Dane.
Vinnie — passed at 6. If I only knew then what I know now about behavior and nutrition….
I am not a veterinarian. I am well-studied and certified in Holistic Pet Health Coaching, Canine Nutrition and Veterinary Medical Aromatherapy (VMAA - Aromacologist). And study wellness for dogs every day. This post is my educated opinion.'
Note: for seizure dogs and cancer dogs completely grain-free diets should be considered.
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