FDA cites Blue Buffalo and 15 other brands that might be linked to dog heart failure (2024)

Wilton-based Blue Buffalo Pet Products Inc. is one of 16 dog food brands cited by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as being a probable contributing cause of canine congestive heart failure.

Blue Buffalo, which was bought by General Mills in February 2018 for $8 billion, did not issue a public response to the FDA’s report.

The FDA did not call for any of the dog foods to be recalled, nor did it warn dog owners to avoid the brands, but instead asked dog owners to “work with their veterinarians, who have the ability to consult a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, to obtain the most appropriate dietary advice.”

FDA cites Blue Buffalo and 15 other brands that might be linked to dog heart failure (1)In July 2018, the FDA began to investigate whether canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) could be linked to dogs eating certain pet foods, including many that were labeled as “grain-free” and whose main ingredients contained high proportions of peas, lentils, other legume seeds and/or potatoes.

While the FDA acknowledged in a statement that “the potential association between diet and DCM in dogs is a complex scientific issue that may involve multiple factors,” it nonetheless noted that many of the 524 cases of DCM reported to the agency included the dog food brands that contained this ingredient formulation.

The FDA said it received 31 reports of DCM involving dogs that were fed the Blue Buffalo brand, which was the sixth highest number of DCM-related deaths among the 16 brands under investigation.

In addition to Blue Buffalo, the brands cited by the FDA are Acana, California Natural, Earthborn Holistic, 4Health, Fromm, Merrick, Nature’s Domain, Nature’s Variety, Natural Balance, NutriSource, Nutro, Orijen, Rachael Ray Nutrish, Taste of the Wild and Zignature.

FDA cites Blue Buffalo and 15 other brands that might be linked to dog heart failure (2024)

FAQs

FDA cites Blue Buffalo and 15 other brands that might be linked to dog heart failure? ›

In addition to Blue Buffalo, the brands cited by the FDA are Acana, California Natural, Earthborn Holistic, 4Health, Fromm, Merrick, Nature's Domain, Nature's Variety, Natural Balance, NutriSource, Nutro, Orijen, Rachael Ray Nutrish, Taste of the Wild and Zignature.

What dog food brands are causing heart problems? ›

Brands named in the report include Acana, Zignature, Taste of the Wild, 4Health, Earthborn Holistic, Blue Buffalo, Nature's Domain, Fromm, Merrick, California Natural, Natural Balance, Orijen, Nature's Variety, NutriSource, Nutro and Rachael Ray Nutrish.

What dog food is killing dogs in 2024? ›

971 Pet Food Complaints Reported to FDA January 2024
  • 886 reports were a Purina product.
  • 85 were other brands.
  • Some of the reports included more than one pet. ...
  • Total pet death reports received by FDA in (only) January 2024: 103 pets.
  • Four months later, the FDA has not warned pet owners.
May 10, 2024

Which FDA named 16 dog food brands most frequently reported in DCM cases? ›

As part of that investigation, the FDA has now identified 16 brands of dog food which had the most frequent reported cases of DCM. The top three brands, according to the FDA, are Acana, named in 67 reports; Zignature, named in 64, and Taste of the Wild, named in 53 reports.

What ingredients are linked to heart disease in dogs? ›

While pulses are part of the legume family, soy (another legume) has not been associated with this problem. Some research suggests that peas may be most associated with this form of DCM, but this may just reflect the fact that peas are used more commonly in dog foods compared to other pulses.

Why do vets not recommend blue buffalo dog food? ›

FDA cites Blue Buffalo and 15 other brands that might be linked to dog heart failure. Wilton-based Blue Buffalo Pet Products Inc. is one of 16 dog food brands cited by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as being a probable contributing cause of canine congestive heart failure.

What are the dog food brands to avoid? ›

10 Dog Food Brands to Avoid
  • 10 Dog Food Brands to Avoid. Your pup's presence is a gift in and of itself. ...
  • IAMS. ...
  • Purina. ...
  • Alpo. ...
  • Kal Kan. ...
  • Cesar. ...
  • Kibbles 'n Bits. ...
  • Beneful.
Jun 15, 2024

Is Blue Buffalo dog food safe? ›

Yes, Blue Buffalo Dog Food is good. The quality of ingredients used to produce the Blue Buffalo dry dog food and wet dog foods is excellent. All recipes feature real meat as the main ingredient, with no filler or poultry by-products used.

Is Blue Buffalo killing dogs? ›

But the facts remain…the FDA's own records evidence that within a one year time frame, the FDA received four reports of pet illness believed linked to Darwin's pet food and 87 reports of sick and dead pets believed to be linked to Blue Buffalo.

What is the Blue Buffalo controversy? ›

The false advertising of pet food lawsuits claimed that some Blue Buffalo products were not consistent with the company's “True Blue Promise,” which stated that the products are “formulated with the finest natural ingredients” and made with “no chicken/poultry by-products meals; no corn, wheat or soy; and no artificial ...

What is the number one most toxic food for dogs? ›

These are the top 10 most toxic foods for dogs that pet owners should avoid to keep their pets healthy and safe:
  1. Chocolate. The top food harmful to dogs is chocolate. ...
  2. Grapes, Raisins, Sultanas, and Currants. ...
  3. Artificial Sweeteners(Xylitol) ...
  4. Onions and Garlic. ...
  5. Caffeine. ...
  6. Alcohol. ...
  7. Macadamia Nuts. ...
  8. Dairy Products.
Sep 27, 2023

What is a high risk dog food? ›

The foods of concern are those containing legumes such as peas or lentils, other legume seeds, or potatoes listed as primary ingredients. The FDA began investigating this matter after it received reports of DCM in dogs that had been eating these diets for a period of months to years.

Who makes Kirkland dog food? ›

Kirkland Signature pet food is made by Diamond Pet Foods, a company that has been around for more than 50 years, having been established in 1970 by brothers-in-law Richard Kampeter and Gary Schell.

What dog food is not recommended by vets? ›

The brands are ordered by the number of cases linked to them, which ranged from a high of 67 to 10:
  • Acana.
  • Zignature.
  • Taste of the Wild.
  • 4Health.
  • Earthborn Holistic.
  • Blue Buffalo.
  • Nature's Domain.
  • Fromm.
Jul 2, 2019

What is the number one cause of heart disease in dogs? ›

There's no single cause of heart disease in dogs. Aging, obesity, breed, and nutrition can all play a role. Heart valve problems are the most common issue and typically affect small breed dogs that are five years or older. No matter what heart condition your dog has, it's important to spot the signs early.

Are eggs bad for dogs with heart disease? ›

To me, it is more an issue if raw egg (whites) are frequently in the diet. Note that these points apply to humans as much as dogs. Eggs were given a bad rap for a few decades for being a significant causal factor in cholesterol, now completely disproven. In fact, eggs are shown to be preventative in heart disease!

What foods can cause heart failure in dogs? ›

The underlying cause is most likely due to multiple factors, including an individual dog's genetics. We do know that many of the reported cases of diet-associated cardiomyopathy occurred in dogs eating foods with large proportions of lentils, peas, chickpeas, and other legumes.

What foods are linked to DCM in dogs? ›

More often, the affected dogs have been eating commercial grain-free diets that contain pulses (the category of plants that includes peas, lentils, chickpeas, and dry beans). Note that soybeans, a common ingredient in dog food, haven't been associated with diet-related DCM.

Is Nutro dog food linked to heart disease? ›

Compare your dog food

Warning In June 2019, the FDA implicated Nutro's dog food in at least 10 cases of Dilated Cardiomyopathy (or DCM), a potentially fatal heart condition.

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