What’s a “BEG diet,” and why should I worry about them?
Two years ago, the FDA released a warning about BEG diets and the danger they can pose to a dog’s heart health. BEG (which stand for Boutique manufacturer, Exotic proteins, or Grain-free) diets have become increasingly popular over the past ten to fifteen years. Many of them are marketed as being better for dogs than traditionally formulated diets, even though these claims are not based on nutritional science. In the 2019 warning, the FDA stated that dogs fed BEG diets are at risk of developing diet-related dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), also called non-hereditary DCM.
DCM is a condition in which the muscle of the heart stretches and weakens, leading to decreased blood flow to the body and congestive heart failure. It can be very difficult to diagnose from an exam alone; signs such as heart murmurs may not show up until end stages of the disease. Certain breeds are predisposed to develop DCM, and can pass the high risk to their puppies. This is called hereditary DCM. Predisposed breeds include Great Danes, Irish wolfhounds, other giant breeds, and Doberman pinschers.
Diet-related DCM first began appearing in breeds that were NOT known to have hereditary DCM, and in mixed-breed dogs. All dogs reported were fed a BEG diet. Many cases have been fatal. Fortunately, diet-related DCM is possible to reverse if the signs are caught early and if the pet is placed on appropriate heart medications AND changed to a traditional diet. By contrast, hereditary DCM DOES NOT improve.
Since the FDA’s original announcement in 2019, very little new information has come out. A single dietary cause of the disease has yet to be found; as a result, no recalls have been issued. Current information indicates that the presence of certain ingredients in BEG diets (especially peas, lentils, and legumes) cause disease in some dogs—but not all dogs. It is believed that affected dogs have a non-hereditary genetic predisposition to DCM, and being fed a BEG diet is the triggering factor in disease development.
How does it work?
Think of a dog’s heart health as a boulder perched on a hillside, the dog’s genetics as the ground underneath it, and the food they eat as a bird that comes to perch on the rock. Traditionally formulated diets would be a sparrow, and BEG diets would be a big, fat goose. (This metaphor is going to get a little screwy. Stay with me).
If a dog’s genetics are NOT predisposed to heart disease, then the ground underneath the boulder will be solid, packed earth, holding the boulder in place. In that case, it won’t matter which “bird” lands on the boulder—whether it’s the sparrow or the goose, the boulder will stay perched on its hillside.
But if the dog’s genetics ARE predisposed to heart disease, the ground beneath the boulder won’t be so solid. It’ll be loose sand, or have holes in it. If that’s the case, if the sparrow (traditional diets) lands on the boulder, the boulder will still stay in place, because the sparrow’s weight isn’t enough to make it shift. But if it’s the goose (BEG diets), it’s too much weight for the boulder when the ground underneath isn’t solid, and the boulder will start to tip—or in a worst-case scenario, start rolling down the hillside.
So, what does this all mean for our dog friends?
Certain breeds are considered at higher risk (e.g., Golden retrievers and breeds that are known to have hereditary DCM), but remember, diet-related DCM can show up in ANY breed, and in mixed breeds. Even though the reported cases make up a relatively small number—thousands rather than millions—there is currently no way to know if any given dog might develop diet-related DCM. Making the issue even more complicated, there does not seem to be a consistent length of time that BEG diets need to be fed to have an effect. Some reported dogs have been on BEG diets for eight years or more, and others less than two years.
Given the huge number of unknowns involved, it is currently recommended that no dog be fed a BEG diet. The risk to their health is small, but impossible to predict. Instead, feed your dog a high-quality, traditionally formulated diet; this, combined with regular vet care, is the best way to safeguard your friend’s health as much as possible.