In the past 6 months, media outlets have published headlines indicating a link between grain-free diets and DCM. This has caused many consumers to express concern about the safety of grain-free diets in general. While the headlines focus on grain-free and heart disease, the studies are specifically researching how dogs metabolize taurine and the impact of taurine on heart health. It is important to note that Fromm has supplemented grain-free and grain-inclusive diets with taurine for several years and we want our retailers and consumers to feel confident knowing Fromm, has and will continue to supplement recipes with taurine.
According the the findings of the UC Davis Study, taurine deficiency and DCM in dogs is likely mulitfactorial, including a combination of dietary, metabolic and genetic factors. It is important to note that Fromm has supplemented grain-free and grain-inclusive diets with taurine for several years and that dogs also make their own taurine from sulfur-containing amino acids, primarily cysteine, but also methionine. While we carefully monitor the results of the various studies, we want our consumers to feel confident knowing Fromm, has and will continue to supplement recipes with taurine. In addition, feeding our dogs an appropriate amount of a well-balanced diet is vital to their overall function and health. Underfeeding, can result in lower than required amounts of essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals.
Without further studies and conclusive evidence the involvement of dietary characteristics cannot conclusively be defined due to the complexities of canine taurine metabolism.