Dawgvet

Interesting. Based on their data, of all of the SEC teams, Texas' SOS is ranked below...all of them.

1- UGA
2- UF
3- Mississippi St
4- OU
5- LSU
6- UK
8- USC
11- Arkansas
13- Vandy
16- Bama
18- UTk
21- Missouri
25- A&M
29- Ole Miss
34- AU
38- Tejas

8 of the top 10 SOS are all in the SEC

I used to be an avid wildlife photographer and used Photoshop waaay back.
Decided to re-learn the system, so my first try after 15-20 years.



Should have added a 1998 reference somewhere
:banghead:

Was not familiar with that dog food and had to look it up.
My only (minor) concern, as you said, would be the peas. The one ingredient that has been mostly associated with the DCM issue.
However, I agree with you that I would not technically consider that food “grain free” because it has brown rice/rice bran, and they supplement Taurine. So, your dog may be a case of DCM not related to diet.
Ingredients in the food actually look pretty decent.

Ok. I will try to relate what I know so far, (private practice 33 yrs), not paid by dog food companies , and apologies, this may not be a short answer.

There is a definite correlation between what is called BEG (Boutique, Exotic, Grain free) diets and DCM.
It was noted a few years ago (2014) that cardiologists were starting to see an increase of reported cases of DCM in breeds that typically don’t have it “as frequent” or are genetically predisposed to it. Some breeds (Boxers, Dobes, Danes and to a lesser degree Labs and shepherds) are genetically predisposed to DCM.
In 2018, a cardiologist at Cal Davis vet school noticed a big increase in dogs being diagnosed with DCM, specifically in Golden Retrievers, a breed that is not overly predisposed to DCM.
He did a “retroactive” study (went back and looked at the dog’s data) and found a common data point in that the majority of these dogs were on a grain free diet and had low taurine levels. Low taurine level has been linked as probable cause of DCM for a while, even back in the late 80s/early 90’s when I was in vet school.

So at first, people thought that there was a link between legumes (peas/lentils) causing low taurine levels leading to DCM. A study raised questions about this cause and effect; however, it was only a 28 day trial (dogs were fed pea heavy diets for 28 days, their taurine levels checked and the hearts were checked with an echocardiogram and no changes were noticed).
However, another study where dogs were fed a pea/legume heavy diets for 3 months did show low taurine and early/mild changes.
Dogs get Taurine mainly through meat proteins in case you are wondering.

So, long story short. There is a correlation between grain free diets (primarily peas and to some extent, potatoes) and DCM.
There actually has been a slight decrease of reported cases but it is not known if it is because 1)food companies changed their formula, 2) fewer reported cases (novelty has worn off or 3) people are not feeding grain free diets as much.
4) No one has shown without a doubt WHAT is causing it.


My take (This is strictly a personal opinion)
The grain free dog diet movement was a brilliant marketing move by dog food producers. Everybody in the 2 legged world was going grain free/gluten free and they saw a chance to take advantage of this with the pets they owned and make money.
In a non-allergic dog, I haven’t seen any research that proves feeding grain free is better.
Dogs can be allergic to as many things as we can be.
Because your dog is on a grain free diet, it does not mean it WILL get DCM. I can guarantee you there are probably quite a few dogs out there on grain free diets that will never develop DCM.
HOWEVER, I have personally seen multiple dogs that developed DCM and most of those were on grain free diets. So, it does happen.
I have Golden Retrievers and I will not feed them a grain free diet because of their higher “possibility”. I also inform/educate clients that feed grain free to their pets of the possibility of this side effect and give them information for them to make an educated decision.
BTW: most of the studies I’ve read were not sponsored by dog food companies.
And before someone asks, I’ve fed my dogs Pro plan for years without issues.
Just look for the AAFCO label on the food bag you buy.

Apologies for the dissertation.

Had DirectTV, switched to YouTubeTV a few years ago. Don’t regret it at all.

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It’s national Rib Day!!! Anyone else partaking?

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Forgot about that, but by coincidence, happen to make ribs tonight.


St Louis ribs. Went more with a dry rub method, with a slight coating of KC style sauce. Red oak and hickory on an Lonestar Grillz offset smoker.
Swore off the 3/2/1 method years ago. I like a little bite to the ribs.

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Love BLTs in the summer. We have them 2 or 3 nights a week

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Love me a good home-grown tomato sink sandwich, with just salt & pepper.

Front came through the Woodstock area around 6:30 am. Fortunately just a heavy thunderstorm for about an hour.
Hopefully everyone else is ok.

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As of March 23, 2024, University of Tennessee football player Chandavian Bradley was cited for reckless driving. Bradley is a reserve defensive end and former four-star prospect from Platte City, Missouri.

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Bradley is the fourth UT football player cited for driving violations since October, according to UT police reports obtained by Knox News.

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Something, something glass houses?

OK maybe not Colquitt but he had 7 wins vacated at Valdosta Ga, 4 vacated wins at Hoover AL and he is the only coach in GHSA history to have a team banned from post season play in 2021 (something that had never happened in Ga before)
Accused of giving "pills" to his players:
"Propst was accused of dispensing “pills” to his players. Colquitt’s report said that he gave a pill to a player, who later seemed lethargic, during halftime of a 2012 game and later promised not to provide any more medication to his athletes. Efforts to eradicate the pill problem failed and Propst was accused of again dispensing (undisclosed) medication during the 2018 season"