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.

The Food and Drug Administration is investigating a potential link between certain brands of dog food, including Blue Buffalo, Merrick and Rachel Ray Nutrish, and an increased risk of heart disease in pets.

Owing to the potential presence of loose metal pieces in certain bags, Mars Petcare US issued a limited voluntary recall on May 17, 2024, for 315 bags of Pedigree Adult Complete Nutrition Grilled Steak & Vegetable Flavor Dry Dog Food. Only the 44 lb (19.9 kg) bag size has been affected, according to the company.

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.

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 is the Problem With Blue Buffalo Dog Food? In the past, Blue Buffalo Dog Food had to endure a series of accusations involving false advertising of their products. They were sued because they were accused of misleading their customers through their marketing campaigns.

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 ...

Raw Food. A raw diet for your dog might sound great, but vets say it's not safe. “The number one thing I would not feed my dog would be a raw food diet,” Cohen said. Studies on raw food diets show that many contain harmful bacteria, and some are multi-drug resistant.

Dr. Georgia Jeremiah, veterinarian, pet nutrition expert, and one of Wag!'s licensed veterinary consultants, personally recommends Blue Buffalo's products to her own clients. Here's what she has to say about Blue Buffalo: “Blue Buffalo dog food products cater to different life stages, sizes, and breeds of 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 most unhealthiest 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.

The definitive cause of canine DCM is the subject of debate, although a number of factors including nutritional, infectious, and genetic predisposition have been implicated.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a condition in which the left ventricle, the heart's main pumping chamber, is enlarged (dilated). As the chamber gets bigger, its thick muscular wall stretches, becoming thinner and weaker.

Dilated cardiomyopathy, or DCM, is when the heart chambers enlarge and lose their ability to contract. It often starts in the left ventricle (bottom chamber). As the disease gets worse, it may spread to the right ventricle and to the atria (top chambers).

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.

Unfortunately, Blue Buffalo Dog Food contains meat product meals and meat byproducts as well as synthetic ingredients, artificial preservatives, and fillers.

Some balanced diets include Royal Canin® Veterinary Diet Canine Cardiac, Rayne Clinical Nutrition™ Restrict-CKD™, or Hill's® Prescription Diet® h/d®. Your veterinarian will help you determine the most appropriate nutrient profile at each stage of your dog's heart disease progression.