John Fowler of Summermist Standard Poodles

On 27 June 2019, the FDA released a report showing dogs and cats are developing dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and are relating it to grain-free dry food. There are mixed causes including genetic predisposition and ignorance. 560 Dogs affected and 14 cats. Many are assessed to be due to a nutritional deficiency due to lack of taurine. Since most dry pet feed is listed as grain-free, it gets the blame. But, grain-free is NOT the problem. We lived through the days of grain in the dog food and it caused bloat. Once they took the grains out, a lot less bloat. It is essential that all dog/cat owners learn how to feed the species under their care. Today’s dry dog feed has split the supplied protein into animal and vegetable. But, mammals cannot make taurine from vegetable protein. Hence, over time and for various reasons some dogs develop dietary DCM. This may mean a deficiency of taurine. In this case, the DCM is reversable. In your breeding & Rescue programs, make sure your clients are given a Care & Feeding Guide that clearly explains the need for taurine and to supplement with RAW. While the symptoms that are signs of DCM are shortness of breath and a nagging cough that also means the disease has been developing for a while. So, study dog food ingredients and taurine to avoid dietary DCM.

Here are our feeding guidelines:

1. Dogs and cats are carnivores, so feed them as carnivores, not humans.

2. Taurine is essential for BOTH cats AND dogs.

3. Read and understand the label of any commercial feed.

4. Feeding raw is essential, but not commercial sources; e.g. buy human grade chicken thighs and grind yourself to control the process.

5. Variety is the spice of life! Our dogs see a variety of raw foods, never only dry feed.

6. For Bengal cats, we feed raw chicken thighs daily, never dry feed; for dogs we feed raw ground chicken thighs and/or ground beef and selected dry food + taurine supplementation

7. It is unknown how much taurine is needed by cats and dogs for a quality life

8. Never depend on commercial animal feed, i.e. have a plan to feed sources you can control.

9. Taurine supplementation may be necessary: 1,000 mg/day/animal; all taurine is made in China, so use a US supplier who filters any potential contaminants (e.g. Kirkman).

10. Starches can bind taurine in the stomach and prevent its use, so don’t feed potato, sweet potato, etc.

11. Taurine synthesis cannot occur without vitamin B6 (Pyridoxal Hydroxide); B6 is in chicken thighs as well as the vegetables they put in dog feed today (peas, squash, garbanzo beans)

12. Feeding RAW is time consuming and must be done carefully by controlling the source of the meat, the temperature (never above 40 degrees F) and freeze after grinding to kill any latent parasites.

FDA Findings: https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/news-events/fda-investigation-potential-link-between-certain-diets-and-canine-dilated-cardiomyopathy

The FDA will continue to attempt to find the reasons why so many cats and dogs are developing DCM while being fed commercial dry feed. This will take some time. In the meantime, take precautions and feed raw and supplement with taurine. This will remove the issue of developing nutrition-based DCM due to lack of taurine.

I found six Standard Poodles and one Miniature Poodle in the list of complaints ((#X) are the order in the complaint list):

SP1 (#44) was fed Earthbound Holistics Coastal Catch, basically fish protein (ethoxyquin); .05% taurine

SP2 (#77) was fed California Naturals Salmon, basically fish & vegetable protein; taurine, but no %, died 9 yrs.

SP3 (#80) was fed Kirkland’s Signature Natures Domain Beef Meal & Sweet Potato Formula Dry Dog Food; basically, beef and vegetable protein, no taurine, but this 1-year male was found to be taurine deficient; DCM was reversed!

SP4 (#237) was feed Fromm then GO! Sensitivity & Shine LID Salmon; basically fish and vegetables, no added taurine. 4-year male was euthanized; Vet said likely taurine deficiency. Food recommended by feed store staff.

SP5 (#241) was fed Acana Grain Free Pork and Butternut Squash; basically pork & vegetable protein, no added Taurine. 4 Year male improved on taurine supplementation even though blood taurine was not low (264)

MP1 (#312) was fed Nature’s Domain Organic Chicken & Pea; basically chicken & vegetables, has taurine, butno % given; 9-year female died of DCM.

SP6 (#433) was fed Fromm Large Breed Adult; basically chicken & menhaden fish meal (ethoxyquin) & grains; no taurine; 16-year male diet changed to Iams Mini Chunks (chicken & vegetables (corn, peas); two other SPs checked ok; will recheck in 3 months, no further information.

Summermist Standard Poodles & Bengal Cats
San Marcos, CA 92069