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Dear Dr. Fox: I have a 15-pound, 9-year-old mixed-breed beagle/Chihuahua/terrier and a 20-pound, 2-year-old mixed-breed beagle/Boston terrier/pom.
I have been feeding them Fromm dry food. My older dog is now on Gold reduced-calorie (basically Fromm’s senior food) that is not grain-free. The other dog is on Fromm’s Surf and Turf, which is grain-free.
A study just came out that Fromm is one of 16 dog foods that can cause DCM (canine dilated cardiomyopathy) in dogs. I am at my wits’ end!
My vet carries Science Diet, which I have not heard good things about either. I do not know what the best food for my beloved dogs is and do not have a lot of time to prepare homemade food for my dogs. I also need something that travels well and needs no refrigeration. Can you tell me the best solution? — L.P., West Palm Beach, Florida
Dear L.P.: I am surprised that a list of some of the pet food manufacturers whose dry dog food has been linked to heart disease in dogs has been publicized while experts still debate why, and other dry dog food brands from other manufacturers containing the same or similar ingredients are not listed (for details visit bit.ly/DCMFDA).
My theory is that some ingredients (high in lectins) may block the uptake of some essential nutrients like Taurine, which plays a role in heart health even though this nutrient is added by manufacturers. Many such additives, needed to make up for poor nutrient quality of basic ingredients, spoilage and loss during heat processing, especially with dry dog and cat foods, are manufactured and imported from China, where quality controls are questionable.
I strongly advise against feeding dogs an all-dry kibble dog food for many reasons, from obesity to inflammatory conditions like arthritis. Make the dry a part of the meal that includes canned, freeze-dried, raw frozen or homemade, plus a little cottage cheese, kefir or lightly boiled egg. As a backup, give your dogs a few drops of fish oil and 250 mg Taurine, available in drug stores.
Dear Dr. Fox: Our rescue cat, Cashmere, is eating, licking and chewing everything in sight — paper, walls, tile, people, plastic, you name it. We can’t keep these things from him. Of course, he vomits a lot. Is there a name and cure for this affliction? — R.C., Fargo, North Dakota
A full wellness evaluation is called for with a veterinarian. Your cat could have a chronic inflammatory bowel problem, internal parasites, early stage thyroid disease or lymphatic cancer. In some instances, boredom or anxiety is a factor, or nutritional deficiency as from lack of roughage in the diet or too much, or too little quality protein and fats.
Let me know what the veterinarian comes up with and how effective the treatment is. As a first step, I would feed five small meals daily of a good-quality, grain-free canned cat food. Also, incorporate lots of active playtime in the evening.
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Saturday, Sept. 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day. If you or someone you know is at risk, trained counselors with the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can help. Call or text 988.
Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee eked out a victory in his Democratic primary on Tuesday, beating back strong challenges from a pair of opponents as he seeks his first full term in office. The former lieutenant governor became the state’s chief executive a year and a half ago when two-term Gov. Gina Raimondo was tapped as U.S. commerce secretary. McKee will be the heavy favorite in the liberal state in November against the Republican nominee, Ashley Kalus, a business owner and political novice. McKee edged out former CVS executive Helena Foulkes in spite of her late surge in the polls and a last-minute endorsement from The Boston Globe’s editorial board. Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea finished a close third.
Artificial sweeteners are a popular way to try to keep slim, but French researchers suggest they may also increase your risk for a heart attack or stroke. Heres that and more recent health news.
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Buckingham Palace says Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, has died. She was 96. Elizabeth spent more than seven decades on the throne as the U.K. rebuilt from war, lost an empire, transformed its economy and both entered and left the European Union. She was a constant presence, the only monarch most Britons have ever known, and she guided the institution of the monarchy through choppy waters. She likely met more people than anyone in history, and her , which adorned stamps, coins and bank notes, was among the most reproduced in the world. But her inner life and opinions remained largely an enigma. The impact of her loss will be huge, and unpredictable.
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Dear Amy: We are “Pat” and “Leslie.” We were both retired when we married two years ago, and we signed a prenuptial agreement that keeps our finances separate.
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Everywhere, it seems, the return to school has been shadowed by worries of a teacher shortage. The U.S. education secretary has called for investment to keep teachers from quitting. A teachers union leader has described it as a five-alarm crisis. In reality, there is little evidence to suggest that educators are leaving in droves. Certainly, many schools have struggled to find enough educators. But the challenges are related more to hiring, especially for non-teaching staff positions. Schools flush with federal pandemic relief money are creating new positions and struggling to fill them at time of low unemployment and stiff competition.
List of Fromm Pet Food Recalls
Cause: Inadequate levels of vitamins and minerals. Announcement: Company recall announcement dated March 18, 2016 (archived here). What was recalled: All lots of the following 12 oz. Fromm Gold canned dog foods:
If you have not done so already, we urge you to sign up now for Petful’s FREE recall alerts by email. Our free alerts are saving pets’ lives.
A study just came out that Fromm is one of 16 dog foods that can cause DCM (canine dilated cardiomyopathy) in dogs. I am at my wits’ end!
Artificial sweeteners are a popular way to try to keep slim, but French researchers suggest they may also increase your risk for a heart attack or stroke. Heres that and more recent health news.
Everywhere, it seems, the return to school has been shadowed by worries of a teacher shortage. The U.S. education secretary has called for investment to keep teachers from quitting. A teachers union leader has described it as a five-alarm crisis. In reality, there is little evidence to suggest that educators are leaving in droves. Certainly, many schools have struggled to find enough educators. But the challenges are related more to hiring, especially for non-teaching staff positions. Schools flush with federal pandemic relief money are creating new positions and struggling to fill them at time of low unemployment and stiff competition.
Dear L.P.: I am surprised that a list of some of the pet food manufacturers whose dry dog food has been linked to heart disease in dogs has been publicized while experts still debate why, and other dry dog food brands from other manufacturers containing the same or similar ingredients are not listed (for details visit bit.ly/DCMFDA).
Buckingham Palace says Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, has died. She was 96. Elizabeth spent more than seven decades on the throne as the U.K. rebuilt from war, lost an empire, transformed its economy and both entered and left the European Union. She was a constant presence, the only monarch most Britons have ever known, and she guided the institution of the monarchy through choppy waters. She likely met more people than anyone in history, and her , which adorned stamps, coins and bank notes, was among the most reproduced in the world. But her inner life and opinions remained largely an enigma. The impact of her loss will be huge, and unpredictable.
Based on the FDA alert and the summary of the ongoing studies there seems to be a focus on taurine and the potential link between diet and DCM.
In a separate, but related matter, University of California Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine is conducting a study to better understand the impact of Taurine-deficient Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) in Golden Retrievers. On July 19, 2018 UC Davis issued a press release referencing the above study.
As you may be aware, the FDA issued an alert on July 12, 2018 in regards to the potential connection between diet and cases of canine heart disease.
It is important to note that Fromm has supplemented grain-free and grain-inclusive diets with taurine for several years. While we carefully watch for further FDA notifications and monitor the results of the various studies, we want our retailers and consumers to feel confident knowing Fromm, has and will continue to supplement recipes with taurine.
Recently, 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.
FAQ
Does Fromm gold cause DCM?
Why did chewy stop selling Fromm?
- Acana.
- Zignature.
- Taste of the Wild.
- 4Health.
- Earthborn Holistic.
- Blue Buffalo.
- Nature’s Domain.
- Fromm.
Does Fromm dog food have taurine in it?