FROM TRENDY TO TESTED: EVALUATING THE SCIENCE BEHIND GRAIN-FREE DIETS FOR CANINES

A rise in what veterinary professionals refer to as ‘BEG’ diets, or boutique, grain free, and exotic diets, have veterinarians and nutritionists concerned about how many of these diets are actually backed in scientific research, and how they may affect the overall health of companion animals. Due to the exponential rise in media claims and marketing of BEG diets, recalls of different diets manufactured by major companion animal diet companies, and a growing awareness of the role that diet plays in the health of companion animals, owners have been drawn to BEG diets more so than before. There is significant concern regarding the companion animal diet industry due to the lack of a regulatory or governing agency that oversees manufacturing and production, and the lack of legal definitions of terms often used in marketing, such as ‘natural’, ‘organic’, and ‘human grade’. However, the link between diet and heart disease, specifically dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), has become a primary concern of veterinary professionals and owners alike. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a statement stating that by September 2020, over 1,100 cases of DCM had been reported in canines, prompting ongoing research into the possible correlation between diets with high volumes of legumes, lentils, pulses, and potatoes, characteristic of grain free diets, and the development of significant heart disease.