[susan k]

Susan, thank you so much for filling me in — I’m happy to learn that Wellness Core isn’t on the list and neither are Cairn terriers.

Crazy4cats and Pitlove, thanks for your concern. But here’s why I’ve stuck with Wellness Core so far: first, the data are still not clear and we simply do not know what is causing the increase in DCM. Some dogs that have it have perfectly normal taurine levels, some are NOT on grain-free foods, and most, to date, are still Goldens and a handful of other breeds. I am still feeding Wellness because the “big brands” being recommended by most vets contain questionable additives, including various preservatives that may be carcinogenic (remember, DCM isn’t the only problem — there’s been an apparent increase in cancers in dogs in recent years), as well ingredients that may come from China (remember the melamine scare), and and inert bulk ingredients like “dicalcium phosphate,” which is a cheap, inorganic form of calcium that isn’t bioavailable. Calcium buildup in arteries is bad for the heart, of course — this is why people with high blood pressure take calcium channel blockers. I’ve looked at all of these high-end big-manufacturer brands and right now I don’t see anything I can enthusiastically feed my dog. In other words right now there is NO GUARANTEE that Purina ProPlan or any of the other high-end foods from big manufacturers is ANY BETTER than grain-free Wellness (which DOES have a nutritionist on staff and is AAFCO approved, if that means anything).

Since my dog is absolutely fine right now, since we simply don’t have answers to the DCM controversy in dog food yet, and since Wellness Core is free of questionable additives, I am waiting for more data before making any decisions. I would home-cook using BalanceIt powder and BalanceIt recipes (I have done that with previous dogs) but there’s actually no guarantee that that’s a better alternative, either, and my vet (I live in Madison, and my vet is at the UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine) isn’t a fan of home-cooking. Unfortunately, DOG NUTRITION IS STILL A BLACK HOLE.

It is my hope that DCM issue and the controversy it has stirred among dog people will force pet food manufacturers to make changes in the near future. In the meantime I am keeping an eye on the issue, and I may switch to the BalanceIt method of home cooking if there is no resolution in the near future — simply because at least I get some control over what my dog is eating if I cook for him.