NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Dr. Randy Smith with Apple Lane Animal Hospital notes that correct nutrition for your pet can be a lifesaver.
"If you're looking at what's the best quality of nutrition, you should talk to your veterinarian," Smith said. "The main thing to remember, I tell people all the time is, pets need nutrients, they do not need ingredients. What that means is, don't buy the shiny object. Don't buy what's popular on the internet or what you heard on the TikTok videos. Go to your veterinarian."
There is a specific heart condition that eating the wrong type of food can allow to happen.
"In 2019, the FDA was starting to research pet foods, specifically grain-free pet foods," Smith said. "They were starting to see an uptick in animals, specifically dogs that were having a condition causing an enlarged heart, which is called canine dilated cardiomyopathy. It is a non-reversible condition, for the most part and usually, it means an early end of life. They were finding it was associated with these grain-free foods. Most of them had like sweet potatoes, peas, lentils. They were starting to research that, showing proof that it was happening. It's kind of gotten lost. I think they did update it a couple years ago, but they're still finding it to be a problem. Unfortunately, we do see it around here."
Dilated cardiomyopathy is recognized as a genetic condition in dogs, typically in large or giant breeds, such as the Doberman Pinscher, Great Dane, or the Irish Wolfhound. It is also seen in Cocker Spaniels associated with taurine deficiency. This is why it's important to ask your vet what your pet needs and those needs will change.
"There are some animals that do need grain-free diets, but not all of them," Smith said. "That's the point, just because it's the bright, shiny object. We've got to remember that everything in that bag of pet food, the color, the shape, the size, what's on the bag, even the smell when you open the bag is geared toward the consumer. As far as I know, I haven't seen a dog or a cat yet drive to Dillons and pick up a bag of food out of the pet food aisle. That's their target. On the other hand, the other thing I'll tell people is that the food we recommend at the veterinary office. We don't get a kickback on it. People think we get rebates and stuff. We don't. We pay the same price as the local big box store, but we recommend products and sell products that we know are consistent in their quality and good nutrition for your pet."
Put more simply, don't decide on a pet food in the pet store without talking to your veterinarian first. It is that important.