Don't panic yet about peas and potatoes in dog food diets

There is likely more to the canine dilated cardiomyopathy story than the current focus on only grain-free pet foods would suggest.

Greg Aldrich, Ph.D.

August 9, 2018

photo by MicrostockStudio, shutterstock.com

photo by MicrostockStudio, shutterstock.com

Whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) realized it or not, their recent warning letter (July 12, 2018) regarding dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs has implicated all grain-free diets, not just those fed to dogs suffering from this disease. The implication that all diets containing legumes and tubers are somehow suspect is a big stretch, but that is how the market is reading it.

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Spinach is a staple in the “superfoods” world among humans, and it seems to have great potential to serve the same purpose in pet foods. | (virtu studio | Shutterstock.com)

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Cruciferous vegetables do find their way into pet foods, but their health claims are based largely on human food research rather than the little-available pet research. | (Kira_Yan I Shutterstock.com)

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Apples get rave nutritional reviews in the human food space. Should they get getting equal consideration in pet foods? (Pasko Maksim | Shutterstock.com)

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Carrots are a palatable option for pet food formulations, though usually used in small amounts. | (Eveline Coquelet | Shutterstock.com)

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While peanut butter is well-established in the pet treat space, peanuts have not gained the same popularity in pet food formulations. | (benjamas11 | Shutterstock.com)

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