With everything going crazy and the stores running low on stock you may have to face the decision of switching your dog’s food in a pinch because their usual brand simply isn’t available.
While this is tenuous generally, it’s important to also be aware of the latest science when it comes to dog foods. There have been recent studies that some major, surprising, brands are actually causing congestive heart failure in some dogs.
The majority of the issues were found in the dry varieties of these foods. Here we will give you the list of the top 6 dog foods that can cause canine heart disease and better alternatives.
What Are The Similarities in These Foods?
The commonalities between the foods were many. 90% of the foods on the list were considered grain-free, which means they do not contain any corn, soy, wheat, rice, barley, or any other grains.
93% of all the foods reported contained peas and/or lentils. Some of them also contained potatoes but it was a much smaller percentage. The most commonly reported protein in the problem foods is chicken.
Nutritional research on these foods showed a higher than average amount of methionine-cystine. The general minimum nutritional requirement is 0.65 percent for adult food. These cause an excess of taurine.
Studies are still being conducted and information gathered to have a better understanding of the role of taurine metabolism and canine heart disease.
1. Acana
This seemingly highly nutritious and high-quality dog food has a surprisingly high reported cases of dilated cardiomyopathy, or DCM.
While the brand is dedicated to authentic foods using quality ingredients it’s been cited as the highest reported dog food in these health cases. This brand has a line of Acana classics which are poultry, beef, or seafood flavored for adult dogs, as well as a puppy line.
2. Zignature
Zignature offers both grain-free and legume-free solutions for dogs. They offer a variety of different flavors from catfish to goat.
They use whole ingredients including chickpeas, green peas, whole meats and fish, and protein-rich broth as moisture. They also contain meat and fish meals which they claim are a “concentrated protein powder” that begins with the animal mentioned.
3. Taste of the Wild
Claiming to be based on your “pet’s ancestral diet”, Taste of the Wild provides dog and cat foods with high-quality proteins as the first ingredient.
They offer limited ingredient and grain-free variations, as well as ancient grain varieties. They include probiotics in the food to maintain a healthy digestive system. These are added after the cooking process so they remain viable.
4. 4Health
Marketed as premium pet food, 4Health offers original, grain-free, special care, and untamed diets for adult dogs and puppies. Their Untamed variety is limited ingredient-driven and includes a primary protein and lentils.
Their product also includes probiotics in the mix and comes in different varieties like salmon and potato, lamb and rice, chicken and rice, puppy mix and more.
5. Earthborn Holistic
Earthborn Holistic offers grain-free limited ingredient, ancient grain and superfoods, whole grain, and grain-free holistic dry dog foods with a few more wet dog food options as well.
They claim to not only care about the nutritional needs of your pet but also their impact on the environment. Their foods are made of protein, fruits, and vegetables with essential vitamins and minerals.
6. Blue Buffalo
Blue Buffalo is a major name in the industry and takes pride in using high-quality ingredients. They don’t use any poultry by-product meals and make combinations that seem to be nutritious.
They offer a variety of different blends including grain-free, chicken free, high protein, weight management, and more. They include additional “LifeSource Bits” in their foods which contain additional vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to support the entire system of the dog.
Pay Attention to What You’re Feeding Your Dog and Always Be In Contact With Your Veterinarian
The best way to make sure your pet is safe and healthy is to be vigilant and always have your vet on speed dial. To read the FDA’s entire report, with all 16 offending foods, click here.
If you’re looking for a new vet or have questions about your dog’s diet we would be happy to help you.
We can give you suggestions on different foods to try during a shortage or what is a good alternative to switch to if you’re currently feeding one of these foods and you don’t feel comfortable continuing.
