Independent Pet Food Retailers of New Mexico
Perspective on FDA Report on Dilated Cardiomyopathy
(DCM)
Greetings
fellow animal lovers! We share your concern about Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)
as recently featured in the media. Our local group of Independent Natural Pet Food Retailers (INPFR) in New Mexico ventured
into the pet food industry based on our genuine love for pets. The same caring philosophy
applies to the high integrity pet food manufacturers we represent. Their
commitment to formulating pet diets and sourcing quality ingredients results in
a variety of healthful pet food products. To this day, we all continue to have
a vested interest in the well-being of your pets.
As
you may know, on June 27, 2019, the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA)
released a statement regarding DCM that has caused considerable confusion among
dog (and cat) parents. We hope this document will help clarify the situation.
What
is DCM? How common is it? Are there known causes?
DCM
is a serious, but uncommon heart condition that occurs in a genetically
predisposed set of dog breeds, as well as dogs deficient in the amino acid
Taurine. Over the last five years, an unknown percentage of the reported DCM
cases do not specifically fit these usual DCM parameters. This type of scattered
data reporting has inhibited DCM investigations. For example, approximately 10%
of reported dogs have heart disease, and approximately 8% of those cases are
myocardial disease, such as dilated cardiomyopathy, according to Dr. Ruth
MacPete, DVM, in an article on pethealthnetwork.com. In essence, dogs with a
variety of heart issues have been lumped together in the 500 reported cases
since 2014, making it difficult to differentiate between genetic DCM and this suspected
newer version.
It
is important to note that a great deal of other, more common diseases in dogs
occur in significantly higher rates than DCM. Up to 60,000 dogs are afflicted
with bloat annually and experience a 30% mortality rate. Serious allergies,
morbid obesity, diabetes and kidney disease affect thousands to millions of
pets annually. And nearly half of dogs reaching age 10 will succumb to cancer. Many
pet advocates feel these common and deadly diseases deserve much more consideration,
research and preventive measures.
Do
grain free diets cause DCM?
According
to the FDA, less than 1% out of 77
million dogs have developed DCM since 2014, meaning that 99% of dogs are consuming all types of pet
food, including grain free, without any link to DCM. In fact, the FDA
report states “It’s important to note
that the heart-related reports include dogs that have eaten grain-free and
grain-containing foods and also include vegetarian or vegan formulations.
Therefore, we do not think these cases can be explained simply by whether or
not they contain grains, or by brand or manufacturer.” (Q#17 REF1)
Should
I change from a grain free to a grain inclusive diet?
We recognize and understand how important your
companion animals are to you and your family. Ultimately, it is your decision whether
or not to change diets (from grain free), and we will support your decision.
Our collective group of
stores offer a wide variety of grain free as well as grain inclusive pet foods
which are professionally formulated and manufactured utilizing universally
accepted pet food manufacturing techniques as well as Association of American Feed Control
Officials (AAFCO) guidelines. Our experienced in-store pet industry
professionals can help select a food that will work well for your beloved pets.
In addition, our retail pet food experts would be
happy to help you implement a healthy rotational diet plan as well as
incorporate some high protein toppings or treats that are rich in Taurine
and its precursors. These types of dietary upgrades are highly recommended by
one of our esteemed pet industry mentors. Board certified veterinary
nutritionist Justin Shmalberg suggests these may be helpful in both reducing
DCM risks and improving overall pet health. In conjunction with
regular veterinary care, we all share the genuine intention of keeping your
furry family happy and healthy for years to come.
In
closing, our retail group is completely dedicated to the health and well-being
of your companion animals. Thankfully, researchers are now studying DCM at a
deeper level than ever before. As more information becomes available, you can
be sure that your Independent Natural Pet Food Retailers will continue to learn
more and help guide you in a beneficial direction.
Reference---
Thank you
for your time, we look forward to working with you and your pets.
Chad Autry,
Bath Brush and Beyond
Jeff Smith
and Lisa McKitrick, Boofy’s Best for Pets
Patrick and
Samantha Sanchez, Jack and Rascal’s
Norm Shrout
and Ken Wormser, Long Leash On Life
Susana
Vasquez, Pet Food Gone Wild
Arie Deller,
Arie's Dogland LLC
Laura Moore,
Critters and Me
Lisa Boegl,
Eldorado Country Pet
Laurie
Wilson, Teca Tu
Kelley Webb,
The Wild Birdhouse & Pet Supplies