At Ciji's / Paws 'n' Play we are committed to helping you keep your pets stay healthy and happy. There has been a lot of information circulating recently about grains and DCM in dogs. We just wanted to provide some insight from one dog company and some useful links for your reading pleasure. We will continue to follow this research and help in the best way we can. Let us know if you have any questions...we are always here to help!
https://www.frommfamily.com/connect/fda20190702/
On June 27, 2019, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) issued its
third status report on its investigation into any potential connection
between certain diets and Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM), a type of
heart disease, in dogs. While DCM impacts less than one percent of
U.S. dogs, with .0007% being supposedly related to diet, we recognize
that these studies are of critical importance to those families whose
beloved dogs have been afflicted by this heart diseases.
As you review the FDA’s most recent report, it’s important to
understand the following:
· The American Veterinary Medical Association estimates that
there are 77 million pet dogs in the United States. Most dogs in the
U.S. have been eating pet food without apparently developing DCM.
· The FDA continues to believe that the potential association
between diet and DCM in dogs is a complex scientific issue that may
involve multiple factors and that the actual cause has still yet to be
determined.
· Among all the cases from all brands that were reported to the
FDA, the overwhelming majority of impacted dogs belonged to breeds
genetically predisposed to DCM, a disease that was first discovered in
the 1980’s well before the grain-free diets were available for pets.
· The DCM cases reported to the FDA included dogs who ate both
grain and grain-free diets.
· The FDA states that chicken is the number one protein of
affected dogs, as you know, Zignature does not use chicken. The FDA
also stated that no one animal protein was predominant, refuting the
earlier claim that this issue is caused by exotic proteins.
· The FDA issued the June 27th update, even though it has no
definitive answers yet, to solicit additional reports from pet owners
and veterinarians to help further it’s investigation.
To further efforts to fully understand these cardiac issues we have
created a dedicated customer care line. We encourage our customers or
their veterinarians to call (888) – 897-72-07 6:30 am – 3:00 pm PST.
This company was founded out of a passion and commitment to pet health
and we care deeply about animals. We continue to invest in our own
research to ensure we continue to make the safest and highest quality
pet food on the market today.
FAQ
What is Canine DCM?
DCM is a disease of a dog’s heart muscle and results in an enlarged
heart. As the heart and its chambers become dilated, it becomes harder
for the heart to pump, and heart valves may leak, which can lead to a
buildup of fluids in the chest and abdomen (congestive heart failure).
DCM is prevalent in certain breeds, especially larger dogs.
How do I know if my dog has DCM?
Please contact your veterinarian to determine if diagnostic tools such
as echocardiograms are deemed prudent for your dog. If your dog is
showing possible signs of DCM or other heart conditions, including
decreased energy, cough, difficulty breathing and episodes of
collapse, you should contact your veterinarian immediately.
Is this an issue only for boutique brands of dog food?
No. The pet food advocacy website, the truthaboutpetfood.com, has
taken a close look at the data that the FDA has released and found
that the FDA received a significant number of DCM reports from the
largest pet food producers.
Is there a link between exotic proteins and DCM?
Based on the most recent data released by the FDA, and contrary to
previous speculation, that does not seem to be the case. Most of the
cases (more than 50%) reported to the FDA were for foods containing
chicken, lamb and salmon.
How does Zignature formulate its food?
Our meticulously designed diets have been formulated by a
thought-leading team of veterinarians, PhD animal nutritionists and
veterinary research scientists to deliver the safest pet products on
the market that exceed the industry’s AAFCO guide for balanced and
thorough nutrition.
Has Zignature been contacted by the FDA? Are you cooperating with the agency?
We want to do all we can to help the scientific community determine if
there is any tie between a dog’s diet and dilated cardiomyopathy. We
intend to share any data we collect through our customer care line
with the FDA to help further their investigation.
Why are you continuing to use legumes in your diets?
Millions of dogs that suffer from severe allergies from gluten are
able to live healthy lives because of grain free solutions like
Zignature. As no one has been able to determine if or what the
association may be between a dog’s diet and this rare cardiac
condition, we believe it’s important that we continue to serve the
millions of dogs that thrive on our diets.
We remain confident that the pet products created by Zignature’s
expert formulation team of veterinarians, PhD animal nutritionists and
veterinary research scientists deliver the safest and most nutritious
dietary standards available today. Our diets have always included
taurine through meats and fish in all our products, which is important
given that taurine is a meaningful nutrient dogs are sometimes unable
to synthesize naturally. While taurine has always been included in our
diets, new studies have shown that extra taurine is important for dogs
cardiovascular health. Zignature further supplements all of its diets
with extra taurine and L-Carnitine, providing some of the highest
level of taurine available in the industry.
Zignature Statement in Response to FDA Findings
June 27, 2019
Our company was founded by pet parents who have a passion and
commitment to pet health. Our meticulously designed diets have been
formulated by a thought-leading team of veterinarians, PhD animal
nutritionists and veterinary research scientists to deliver the safest
pet products on the market that exceed the industry’s AAFCO guide for
balanced and thorough nutrition.
While the vast majority of our customers thrive with our high quality,
grain-free pet formula, we are taking the FDA’s recent announcement
very seriously.
As such, we have created a dedicated customer care line (888-897-7207
6:30am – 3:00pm PST ) so we can understand more to further ensure the
safety of all pets. As the FDA said in it’s release, it still does not
have enough information to fully understand these cardiac issues.
Any pet owners or veterinarians who have information on this matter
are strongly encouraged to contact our dedicated customer care line
backed by our team of veterinary experts and nutritionists. Ensuring
the health of all our pet customers continues to be our top priority.
Communication on the DCM concern and the current facts
June 7, 2019
We are committed to pets being their happiest and healthiest
Zignature was created 8 years ago by pet parents with a passion and
commitment to make the highest quality, most nutritious and safest pet
food on the planet. Our goal and devotion is to continue to formulate
the world’s safest pet food products that are nutritionally strong and
provide a path for pets to be their happiest and healthiest.
Meticulously designed diets by a team of veterinary research
scientists and nutritional experts
Interest in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs and the ongoing FDA
investigation into the long-standing pattern generated questions for
us at Zignature and our valued pet parents. Our desire is to
communicate our thoughts on the ongoing FDA investigation and share
with pet parents, like you, the immense confidence we have in our
meticulously designed diets formulated by Zignature’s thought leading
team of veterinarians, PhD animal nutritionists and veterinary
research scientists. Since the founding of our company in 2010, our
products are exactingly formulated by this team to deliver you and
your pets the safest, most nutritious pet products on the market and
meet standards far above the industry’s AAFCO guide for balanced and
thorough nutrition.
Taurine levels in Zignature products are some of the highest in the industry
We remain confident that the pet products created by Zignature’s
expert formulation team of veterinarians, PhD animal nutritionists and
veterinary research scientists deliver the safest and most nutritious
dietary standards available today. Our diets have always included
taurine through meats and fish in all our products, which is important
given that taurine is a meaningful nutrient dogs are sometimes unable
to synthesize naturally. While taurine has always been included in our
diets, new studies have shown that extra taurine is important for dogs
cardiovascular health. Zignature further supplements all of its diets
with extra taurine, providing some of the highest level of taurine
available in the industry.
The FDA is not advising any dietary changes
The FDA’s most recent position is that DCM is scientifically complex
and likely involves many components. The majority of factors talked
about include long-standing genetic predisposition (largely in golden
retrievers), appropriate diet of essential nutrients, and the ability
for nutrients to be synthesized by a dog’s physiology. In the most
recent FDA update on 2/19/19, it said “The reports include dogs that
have eaten grain-free and grain containing foods, and also include
vegetarian or vegan formulations. They also include all forms of
diets: kibble, canned, raw and home-cooked. This is why we do not
think these cases can be explained simply by whether or not they
contain grains, or by brand or manufacturer.”* The FDA also said, “At
this time, we are not advising dietary changes based solely on the
information we have gathered so far.”
Thus, the FDA is not advising dietary changes based on the data it has
gathered. From our own internal studies and the conclusion of many
experts in the industry it appears that the real cause for the
increase in DCM in dogs could take years to be discovered.
In parallel with the FDA investigation, our own third party internal
studies found no link between our high quality pet food products and
any of the other physical characteristics that correlate to DCM.
DCM was discovered 18 years ago in 2001 before 21st Century grain free diets
DCM is not a new problem with dogs. The connection between diet and
DCM in dogs was first discovered in a paper published in the Journal
of the American Veterinary Medical Association in 2001.12 cases of DCM
described in the paper were collected between 1997 and 2001, years
before grain-free dog food became available and popular on the market
this century.
We have great confidence in our naturally sourced grain-free diets
As we continue to have great confidence in our naturally sourced diets
that meet the needs of dogs who suffer from allergies and grain
intolerances, we are providing an exclusive line designed by our
expert formulation team that is nutritionally sound and
grain-inclusive. We feel as a partner to pet parents, it is important
for us to listen to and understand our valued extended family, and
offer a variety of pet food that most aligns with the needs of your
pet family.
We will continue to do whatever it takes to keep your pet safe.