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Do Grain-Free Diets Cause Heart Disease In Dogs?

iHeartDogs is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Grain-free dog food grew in popularity when dog parents realized that many corn, wheat, and grain fillers in dog food provided little nutritional value to their pups. Many cheap, unnecessary additives contribute to food sensitivities, allergies, obesity, and digestive problems. While grain-free dog food is best for dogs who have allergies or sensitivities to grains, many dog … Read more

No Need to Panic: Rational Steps to Take in Light of the FDA Update

iHeartDogs is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. The FDA is continuing to investigate a possible link between grain-free diets and the development of Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs. But there is no reason to panic! Although the link has not been proven to be conclusive, there is enough potential risk to warrant taking some rational, precautionary steps. Dr. Justin Shmalberg is a Board Certified … Read more

FDA Says Chinese Jerky Treat Issue Is “Resolved.” Pet Food Expert Disagrees.

Susan Thixton is the author of three books on pet nutrition and the founder of the website, TruthAboutPetFood.com. She strives to keep pet parents informed of food recalls and other nutrition related issues. She recently reported on the 2019 meeting of the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) where she says the FDA made a shocking announcement. According to Thixton, Dr. Steven Solomon, FDA director of the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM), “told the audience at AAFCO that FDA … Read more

CDC Issues Warning: Human Salmonella Outbreak Linked To Pig Ear Dog Treats

45 people in 13 different states have come down with a multi drug-resistant strain of Salmonella. 12 have been hospitalized, but as yet there have been no deaths. A link was made to pig ear dog treats after 34 people reported having contact with a dog prior to getting sick. Officials from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development gathered pig ear dog treats from retail locations where ill people reported buying the products. The exact outbreak strain was … Read more

Woman Blames Tainted Dog Food For The Death Of Her Beloved Schnauzer

Earlier this month, ABC 7 in Washington D.C. broke a shocking story. After several reports of dog food contaminated with the euthanasia drug, Pentobarbital, the station partnered with Ellipse Analytics to discover the truth. In the wake of their findings, one devastated dog owner believes she finally knows what caused the death of her beloved Schnauzer, Baby late last year. Rossie Judd of Fenton, Missouri was confused when 10-year-old Baby’s health began to decline this past October. She sought veterinary attention … Read more

FDA Investigating Report Of Euthanasia Drug In Dog Food

Just over a year ago, 5 dogs fell ill and one of them lost their life due to a can of Evanger’s dog food that was contaminated with pentobarbital, a drug that is commonly used to euthanize pets. The pet food industry has not made any significant changes since this tragic accident, so WJLA in Washington, D.C. recently worked with Ellipse Analytics to test a variety of dog food samples for pentobarbital contamination. They had the lab test 62 samples of wet … Read more

FDA Warns About The Dangers Of “Bone Treats” For Dogs After 15 Deaths

The FDA has issued a warning to pet parents about treating their pups to certain types of bones. Most dog owners know that cooked meat and poultry bones should never be given to our furry friends they can splinter and pose a serious choking hazard or cause internal injuries with their sharp ends. But the warning explains that store-bought versions – even those made just for dogs – can pose the same threat. In fact, about 15 canines have perished … Read more

New Pet Food Label Changes Will Make Reading Nutrition Facts Easier Than Ever

A task force convened by the Pet Food Institute (PFI) has been working for more than two years on a comprehensive project to improve the current pet food labeling system. They were inspired by 2013 consumer research conducted by Mars Petcare showing that pet owners find several sections of the current label confusing – and ignore other sections alltogether. The PFI task force is divided into four sub-groups, one for each of the areas identified by Mars research and chosen by … Read more

FDA: Evanger’s Can’t Donate Recalled Dog Food To Shelters

Evanger’s Dog & Cat Food Co. was the subject of a massive recall of several flavors of their canned dog food earlier this year after 5 dogs got sick from consuming it. One of the dogs eventually died. Subsequent testing showed that several lots of Evanger’s dog food were contaminated with pentobarbital, one of the ingredients used in pet euthanasia. Evanger’s spot checked random cans from the recalled lots and didn’t find any pentobarbital, so they asked the Food … Read more

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