You have to actually read the articles. I can't do the work for you. Functional foods refers to fruits, veg, grains, etc., which contain carbs. I am leaving the argument. Feel free to have the last word, which I know you want, but despite the long-winded mansplaining, you have not provided any evidence or convinced anyone that you know what dogs need better than animal nutritionists do. From second link, just one example: Examples of functional foods studied in human nutrition include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, prebiotics, and probiotics. The results of these studies have highlighted numerous benefits of functional foods, including better digestive function, improved satiety, and enhanced antioxidant activity.

Great, there are a few links on my post, in addition to the many links I have provided that show the recommendations and conclusions by those who spend their lives studying canine nutrition.

It's really obnoxious that you request a study from us and claim there are dozens of studies on your side, but every link we send you is ignored and you have not provided a single study to back up your point. You ask us for studies, ignore what we share, then tell us to go find the studies you have read on Google Scholar. I'm going with what the consensus of experts in veterinary health, including my own veterinarian, recommend. I am feeding my dog Purina Pro Plan because it's been well-researched with long-term studies, and developed by animal nutrition experts. Here are some articles for those who are interested. The first discusses the raw food/all meat diets The two others discuss the health benefits of carbohydrate/grains in the canine diet. https://bmcvetres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12917-019-1824-x https://www.americanveterinarian.com/journals/amvet/2017/june2017/health-benefits-of-functional-foods https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0034528816303332

Hi everyone, Here is an informative link for understanding the DCM issue. I hope it helps some dog owners! https://taurinedcm.org/good-canine-nutrition-demands-good-science/?fbclid=IwAR1fxyeYYrfbN4lSDHyVFD6Z8-hRWSM9-rbMGde_cze2rxfo-iHA28s_4_c

Bill, your source did not show that carbohydrates are detrimental to dogs, quite the opposite. My understanding is that "PMR" diets are not recommended by animal health experts. I think it's a fad diet along the lines of "paleo" for humans, to be honest. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/canine-corner/201703/dog-owners-are-wrong-about-the-health-benefits-raw-diets?page=1 https://www.avma.org/KB/Policies/Pages/Raw-or-Undercooked-Animal-Source-Protein-in-Cat-and-Dog-Diets.aspx

Best of luck and please keep us posted!

Saying "full stop" is not the same as providing sources or references for any of your points. I am willing to believe that some dogs may not technically require carbohydrates in their diets, but do not believe that they are harmful as you say, and I believe they provide many benefits. Also, in my opinion, bone and organs is not really going to make an all-meat diet more balanced. We've asked you multiple times for any links to back up your opinions, but you have not given even one. I'm not going to continue arguing about it, and it's your right to feed your dog as you want, but please be careful in advising others without actual evidence to back it up. As I said, I will trust veterinary nutritionists on this issue.

Many of us did the same thing! We just wanted the best for our animals and believed these fancy brands were better. You are not alone!

The World's Small Animal Veterinarian Association suggests five different dog foods while the investigation is going on:1. Royal Canin2. Science Diet3. Eukanuba4. Iams5. Purina Pro Plan

I don't see Wellness on the list of foods the FDA has received reports about (scroll down and you can see the graph with brands listed), but it is also not one of the 5 currently recommended. I'd ask your vet! https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/news-events/fda-investigation-potential-link-between-certain-diets-and-canine-dilated-cardiomyopathy

I was not confused. The pamphlet says Dogs need several different kinds of nutrients to survive: amino acids from proteins, fatty acids and carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and water. Are you suggesting the full report found carbs to be harmful, and then they decided to change it to a nutrient necessary to survive for the public? What kind of research organization would do that? You still have not provided evidence to back up claims that dogs get everything they need from animal sources or that carbohydrates are harmful, but I promise I am willing to take a look if you provide the links. This link from VCA reflects to my knowledge the current consensus (text below) https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/nutrition-general-feeding-guidelines-for-dogs Since dogs are carnivores, doesn’t this mean that they need to eat a diet that is meat based? As a species, the dog is a member of the scientific order Carnivora, a large group of mammalian animals that share a similar tooth structure. The dietary needs of animals belonging to this order vary. Some members of this group have an absolute requirement for meat in their diet (called obligate or true carnivores), while others can meet their nutrient requirements through eating plant material (herbivores) or a combination of meat and plants (omnivores). Cats are an example of an obligate carnivore, cows are an example of an herbivore, and dogs and humans are two examples of omnivores. Because of the dietary needs of dogs, both their tooth structure and intestinal tract have become adapted to an omnivorous diet. This means that, under normal circumstances, dogs can meet their nutritional needs by eating a combination of plant and animal foods. The source of the proteins and fats is less important than the quality and digestibility of these essential components of the dog’s diet. Dogs can thrive if they are fed a properly balanced vegetarian diet. However, an all-meat diet would be unbalanced and would not meet all of a dog’s nutritional requirements. As research into basic and applied nutrition has expanded our knowledge of canine nutrition, we now know that a well-balanced diet must also include an appropriate amount of minerals, vitamins, certain essential amino acids (from proteins), and specific essential fatty acids (from fats). These components are needed to build and maintain tissue and carry out biological reactions, and the necessary amounts vary somewhat with the dog’s stage of life (puppy, adolescent, adult, pregnancy, senior). Feeding your dog an appropriate amount of a well-balanced diet is vital to its overall health and well-being. I was told that dogs cannot digest carbohydrates. Is this true? To meet their energy needs, dogs have evolved to use proteins and fats as their primary energy sources, but they can also use carbohydrates for energy. The fact that the dog’s digestive system produces enzymes that are specific for digesting starches and sugars shows that they are capable of digesting carbohydrates. However, complex carbohydrates such as grains are more digestible when they are cooked. I have heard that dogs should only eat raw foods and that dogs cannot properly digest cooked foods. Is this true? Domesticated dogs have adapted over millennia to consumption of diets provided by their human companions, including foods that have been cooked. As mentioned above, dogs can actually digest complex carbohydrates more easily once they have been cooked. What are the nutritional requirements for dogs? The six basic nutrients are water, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins. These essential nutrients are required as part of the dog’s regular diet and are involved in all of the basic functions of the body. The minimum dietary requirement has been established for many nutrients. The maximum tolerable amounts of some nutrients are known, and results of toxicity have been established. What is less understood is what may happen over time with marginal deficiencies or excesses.

It says right there, in the source you used to back up your point, that carbohydrate is an essential nutrient. Can you please link me to a scientific source for where you are getting your information? Your views are at odds with a large consensus of veterinary nutritionists and veterinarians, and unless there is something to back it up, it is just "bro science" to me. Sorry, but I've seen both humans and animals whose health has been at risk based on what they think sounds right or seems natural regarding nutrition rather than looking to the experts.

There is no grain-free food that is considered safe at this time, unfortunately. The pea protein/pulses is one possibility for the increase in DCM but they're still trying to figure it out. If you're on Facebook, you can join the group https://www.facebook.com/groups/TaurineDCM/ to learn more. The good news is that nutritional DCM can be reversed after switching to one of the recommended foods (not the grain-free versions): Iam's, Science Diet, Purina, Royal Canin, and Eukanaba are considered well-researched and safe--no dogs have been reported to nutritional DCM while on these foods.. Hopefully your pup is just reacting to summer heat, but I would switch foods right away if I were you. The only real way to know if diet has affected a dog's heart is through an echocardiogram. Many dogs had normal taurine levels but still developed DCM.

This is the pamphlet on the National Research Council site, which supports my belief that fat, protein, and carbohydrates are all necessary in a dog's diet. If you could link me to a study that you have read that shows carbs are detrimental to dogs, I am willing to keep an open mind, but all of the trusted sources stress a balance that includes carbohydrate in a dog's diet. http://dels.nas.edu/resources/static-assets/banr/miscellaneous/dog_nutrition_final_fix.pdf Quotes from National Research Council pamphlet linked above: Dogs need several different kinds of nutrients to survive: amino acids from proteins, fatty acids and carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and water. T Scientific research has shown that an adult dog’s daily diet can contain up to 50% carbohydrates by weight, including 2.5–4.5% from fiber. A minimum of approximately 5.5% of the diet should come from fats and 10% from protein. Q: Does my dog need to eat meat? A: Because dogs are descended from omnivores, they are not strict meat eaters. They are remarkably adaptable to a wide range of ingredients, texture, and form in terms of what they will eat. Though many dogs may prefer animal-based protein, they can thrive on a vegetarian diet. Regardless of whether the protein comes from plant or animal sources, normal adult dogs should get at least 10% of their total calories from protein. Older dogs appear to require somewhat more protein to maintain their protein reserves, perhaps as much as 50% more

Here is a link to the FDA report that came out very recently. Blue Buffalo, Taste of the Wild, Acana, Orijen, and more are all on the list of dog foods connected to nutrition-related DCM in dogs. They simply don't have the long-term trials and veterinary nutritionists on their staffs that bigger name brands have. For now, I would stay away from all of them. The only currently recommended foods are Purina, Iam's, Hill's/Science Diet, Eukanaba, and Royal Canin. I would strongly encourage everyone to switch to one of these until more is known. There is a FB group that gives a lot more information. Many, many people have lost their beloved pets due to these "BEG" foods (Boutique, Exotic ingredients, Grain-Free). Many more are seeing their dogs' health improve after switching to a tried and true brand. Here is a link. https://www.facebook.com/groups/TaurineDCM/

Where are you getting this information? There are a lot of misconceptions out there, and again most reputable veterinary nutritionists would say that dogs do need carbohydrates. There are some websiites out there that make unfounded claims and are run by people who are not veterinarians or veterinary nutritionists, like Whole Dog Journal, Dog Food Advisor, Dogs Naturally, etc. From vetnutrition.tufts.edu: Whole grains, rather than being fillers, contribute valuable nutrients including vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and fiber to diets while helping to keep the fat and calories lower than if animal products were used in their place. Even refined grains such as white rice can have beneficial health implications depending on the type of diet and the pet. The vast majority of dogs (and cats!) are very efficient at digesting and utilizing nutrients from grains. While some dogs are allergic to specific grains, these allergies are no more common than allergies to animal proteins such as chicken, beef and dairy and tend to reflect the prevalence of the ingredient in commercial diets rather than enhanced antigenicity. From American College for Veterinary Nutrition: http://dels.nas.edu/resources/static-assets/banr/miscellaneous/dog_nutrition_final_fix.pdf Other links: https://www.petmd.com/dog/nutrition/evr_dg_carbohydrates_key_to_balanced_dog_food https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/dog-nutrition#1 https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/nutrition-general-feeding-guidelines-for-dogs

I believe most veterinary nutritionists would disagree with this. What is your source for this information? Dogs, unlike cats, are considered omnivores rather than carnivores, and need to get nutrients from plant and animal sources. One of the Guiness world record oldest dogs in recent history was fed a vegan diet (not advocating that, just pointing out that dogs don't need meat as cats do, and an all-meat diet would not be optimal, in my understanding). Dogs have eaten grains as long as humans have.

Hi all, I've been following this issue closely because my family has a new golden retriever puppy, and I discovered to my dismay after buying a huge expensive bag of grain-free Orijen food because the pet store owner assured me it was "the best" that many of these foods are indeed tied to diet-related DCM and that many owners do not know anything is wrong until their dog dies suddenly. Very scary! I threw out the entire bag and switched to Purina Pro Plan (as others have mentioned, Royal Canin, Science Diet/Hill's, Iam's and Eukanaba are also considered safe). The exact reason is unknown and more research needs to be done, but after reading the many stories of families who have lost their beloved dogs on the facebook page Taurine-Deficient Dilated Cardio Myopathy, I am playing it safe until we know more. My understanding is that some homemade/raw diets can be safe, but have also been implicated in diet-related DCM, so if you choose to go this route, the recommendation is to work with a veterinary nutritionist. I really appreciate my vet made me aware of this issue! There is a lot of denial out there and people trying to discredit the findings, but in my view there is definitely enough evidence that these foods can cause serious issues. Many dogs have also seen their DCM reversed when they begin eating one of the five brands currently recommended.

We bought this and it is sooo comfortable. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CEMH2CQ/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&th=1

I do not think of it like this--I think of sight words as similar to learning math facts. When I say sight words, I really mean "trick" words--commonly used words like of, was, one, some, would, etc. that do not follow regular phonetic rules. In my years of teaching reading to children, I find it most efficient to teach these as separate trick words to memorize rather than sound out. There is little benefit to requiring application of more obscure phonics patterns to these oddballs in the early reading stage, and without having them automatic, kids can't access easy texts to practice their decoding of more phonetically regular words. While I am certainly pro-phonics, I disagree with the idea that teaching reading is just teaching phonics. There are a number of complex factors at play as a child learns to read.

I'm wondering if she could start an at-home tutoring business for children with reading disabilities, or work at a tutoring center. Experience with dyslexia is high-need right now. Perhaps she could start working toward a reading specialist certficiation.

Does she have a medical diagnosis? We have looked into this for my dd with type 1 diabetes, but they run up to 20k, so they are out of our reach for now.

Wilson's Fundations is a "prevention" phonics program for K-3, heavily focused on the encoding. Most schools do it whole-class, but it can be an intervention only. SPIRE is compatible with the O-G method.

Amity.

This has actually inspired me to send pretty old-school Christmas cards this year. Thanks!