Imagine shelling out extra money to give your pet the “best of the best,” only to learn the food could be the very thing harming them.
Is grain-free dog food deadly?
In a viral video with more than a million views, content creator Missy (@her.healing.era) shared the heartbreaking ordeal she’s currently going through with her beloved dog.
“I am having the worst day of my life. I just found out that my dog has heart failure,” Missy said.
In the video, Missy explained that her dog’s health had declined dramatically and out of nowhere. In just 48 hours, her entire body had swelled up, starting with her belly and spreading to her legs.
By the time she brought her dog to the emergency veterinarian, Missy said she could feel the swelling “all over her body.”
She initially thought the condition might be connected to the fact that her dog was not spayed. However, testing showed otherwise.
“They did an ultrasound right in front of me, and they showed me all the fluid in her stomach, her organs just floating around, and her heart is huge,” Missy said.
That’s when the veterinarian asked a question that shifted everything.
A possible culprit
“When they looked at the heart, I could tell something was wrong. And they looked at me and they said, ‘Do you feed your dog grain-free food?’ And I said, yes.”
Missy said she had been buying what she thought was a premium product labeled as a superfood for dogs. “I have literally fed my dog into heart failure,” Missy said. She blamed herself for something many pet owners likely aren’t aware of either.
“Why are companies allowed to sell grain-free dog foods? This is not OK. I may very well lose my baby because of a marketing ploy. I am so beyond angry. Who can actually do that and feel good about themselves, knowing that there is data to back up the fact that dogs can have heart failure from grain-free?” Missy said.
She added that she’s taking her dog to a cardiologist to determine the severity of the condition and whether treatment is possible. She shared that costs could range from $2,000 to $4,000.
“They have to figure out if they can save her or if she’s at a point where I have to make the choice to let her go,” she said, trying to hold it together.
At the end of the video, Missy urged other dog owners to avoid feeding their pets grain-free food.
What does the evidence say?
The Food and Drug Administration is investigating more than 500 reports linking “grain-free” dog foods to canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a form of heart failure, NBC News reported. Sixteen brands have been named, including Acana, Zignature, Taste of the Wild, Blue Buffalo, and Rachael Ray Nutrish.
Grain-free diets replace grains with ingredients like peas, lentils, and potatoes. Veterinarians suspect something about those substitutions may interfere with heart function. However, the exact cause is still under investigation.
Although the FDA has not advised owners to stop feeding these brands, some veterinary cardiologists are urging caution. “There’s no scientifically proven benefit to grain-free foods, so why take a chance?” said Dr. Anna Gelzer of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine.
Cases of DCM were once most common in large breeds. However, they have recently been reported in smaller dogs such as beagles and spaniels. Symptoms like low energy, shortness of breath, and difficulty exercising often don’t appear until the disease is advanced.
Experts say many owners turn to grain-free diets believing them to be healthier. However, Gelzer stressed, “It didn’t come from the science side… there’s no scientific reason for going without grain.”
The FDA urges pet owners to consult a veterinarian if their dogs show any signs of heart problems.
Commenters wish her pet a speedy recovery
“Swear the dogs that live the longest are the ones who eat regular kibble and family scraps or a family that constantly sneaks their dog food from the table,” a top comment read.
“Yep sadly the grain free dog food trend is just a trend..that sells,” a person said.
“As a vet tech thank you for sharing your story. I’ve tried telling owners for years not to feed grain free since it’s linked to heart issues but they wouldn’t listen. Thank you and I am so sorry for your baby,” another wrote.
@her.healing.era DON’T FEED YOUR DOG GRAIN FREE FOOD!!!!!! I don’t care what I look like. I don’t care that I’m crying. I don’t care that I sound desperate. I am. I want more than anything for this nightmare to go away. #grainfree #dogmom #dogsoftiktok #petparent #storytime ♬ original sound – Missy | Her Healing Era ✨
The Mary Sue reached out to Missy for comment via TikTok direct message and comment.
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