Headlines and Healthy food: The Get Joy Perspective
If you follow pet wellness like we do, you’ve probably seen a headline about the FDA investigating a potential link between certain dog foods and canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Basically, the implication in the article was that some foods labeled as “grain Free” or those containing peas or lentils. Fresh, healthy dog foods like Get Joy were NOT implicated in the possible link.
All headlines related to dangers in food are alarming to pet owners. And while Get Joy is 100% confident in the nutrition, digestibility, and overall balance of our food, we’d like to take this opportunity to address some of the concerns we all share as pet owners. So here are a few things to keep in mind, based upon evaluating the FDA’s own report.
First, let’s not get hysterical.
What did the FDA Have to Say?
1) While the report from the FDA shows they are investigating a possible link between food and DCM, it stops short of establishing that link. The FDA’s current position is that the emergence of DCM is a “complex scientific issue that may involve multiple factors”. They have a lot of studying to do.
2) The total number of DCM cases reported in the US between 2014 and 2019 is about 515. Nearly all of these reports came out AFTER the FDA announced the study. According to the report, “the vast majority of the reports were submitted after the agency notified the public about the potential DCM/diet issue in July 2018.”
3) The American Veterinary Medical Association estimates that there are 77 million pet dogs in the US. So the odds are 1 in 1.5 million. Versus, say, getting struck by lightning, around 1 in 50 thousand… This is nothing like an epidemic.
But absolutely DO keep your dog’s diet in mind.
1) The report recommends consulting a vet-nutritionist if you have any questions or concerns about your dog’s diet and DCM. At Get Joy, we are already there. A vet nutritionist developed and quality-checked all of our recipes.
2) Beyond DCM, there are a host of potential health, risks associated with a kibble diet, as well as countless anecdotes about the myriad health and healing results from a fresh, balanced diet.
3) You know that if you eat less processed food and more fresh, whole ingredients, you’ll feel better, think better, and stay healthier. And the same is true for your dog.
But we take heart in the FDA report. That's because it means that we are thinking the right way. Focusing on health and wellness for dogs is our passion and our job. As a result, we’re vigilant in staying on top of the latest studies and the latest information.
In case you read the study more deeply, we’d also like to remind you a few things about Get Joy food.
- Get Joy makes dog food from human grade ingredients, and formulated by a vet nutritionist.
- Our Get Joy Complete Nutrition supplement contains supplemental Taurine.
- Our primary protein sources are Turkey, Beef, and Chicken, and our recipes are legume and potato free.
