At Firehouse, we never recommended grain-free diets because we never saw any evidence that these diets provided a benefit for dogs. We spend a lot of time studying the science behind our veterinary recommendations so our patients can live long, healthy, and happy lives.
Recap of the findings:
In the last 18 months, veterinary cardiologists and the FDA have been monitoring an increase in a specific type of heart disease called Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM). About 20% of the dogs in the study died. The results confirmed an association between DCM and grain-free or boutique diets.
Now in English:
The heart is really just a strong organ of muscles that acts as a pump pushing blood throughout the pet’s body. When the heart muscle is healthy, it pumps very efficiently. However, in DCM, the muscle becomes thin and stretched out, so that the heart cannot pump blood around the body very well.
So, now what?
There’s no reason to panic. The negative health effects of a grain-free diet build up over time. Therefore, there’s time for you to contact your vet and ask for help switching diets.
Please call us to discuss your pet’s specific needs. We look forward to hearing from you!
