Keeping PETS out of vets since 2011

Important Notes on Thiamine (Vit B1) for Dry and Raw Feeders…

fish with or without thiaminase

Thiamine (Vitamin B1): Why Dry Pet Food is so Deficient so Regularly and a Warning to Raw Feeders Concerning Raw Fish…

Thiamine (vitamin B1) is an essential nutrient for dogs which means they can’t make it themselves. It functions in the energy department. A lack of it can result in fatigue, weakness and weight loss in your dog. Over time a deficiency it can result in neurological issues such as an abnormal heartbeat, seizures and paralysis, death too. Known as beriberi in humans, a Polish physician with the rather envious name of Cashmir Funk first discovered thiamine via deficiency experiments in dogs in 1912.

Thiamine deficiency is one of most common reasons for dry pet food recall…

It thus should come as with some alarm to dry feeders that a thiamine deficiency is one of the most common nutrient deficiencies in ultra-processed pet food. Taken from my forthcoming book “Raw Science”…

Thiamine (vitamin B1) appears to be one of the trickiest nutrients for manufacturers. AAFCO (2008) states “because processing may destroy up to 90% of the thiamin in the diet, allowance should be made to ensure the minimum nutrient level is met after processing”

Manufacturers are aware of this and so include lots of thiamine mono-nitrate to replace all the vitamin B1 that they know will be destroyed during processing. Sadly, analysis of major pet food recalls over the eight years to 2017, for just vitamin deficiency/excess, all of which occurred in dry and canned pet food, reveals that thiamine is at the centre of five of them. (For more details see www.fda.gov “Animal and Veterinary Recalls Archive.”)

  • 2017 J.M. Smucker Company (twice). Possible low levels of thiamine (Vitamin B1)2016 Addiction Pet foods, elevated levels of Vitamin A
  • 2016 Fromm Family Foods, elevated levels of vitamin D2016 Nestlé Purina, “may not contain the recommended level of vitamins and minerals”
  • 2015 Ainsworth Pet Nutrition voluntarily recalled their cat food for “potentially elevated vitamin D levels”
  • 2014 Natura Pet recalled cat food due to vitamin insufficiency
  • 2013 Premium Edge, Diamond Naturals and 4health dry cat food formulas voluntarily recalled due to possibility of low levels of thiamine (Vitamin B1)
  • 2012 Nestlé Purina voluntarily recalls their therapeutic canned cat food due to a low level of thiamine (Vitamin B1)
  • 2011 Wellpet LLC voluntarily recalls canned cat food less than adequate levels of thiamine (vitamin B1). WellPet decided to recall “out of an abundance of caution”
  • 2010 Blue Buffalo Company recalls their dry dog food because of possible excess of vitamin D. Blue Buffalo learned of this potential condition in its products when it received reports of 36 dogs diagnosed with high Vitamin D levels after feeding on these products
  • 2010 P&G recalls canned cat foods due to low levels of thiamine (Vitamin B1)
  • 2009 Diamond Pet foods announces recall of Premium Edge Adult Cat and Premium Edge Hairball Cat Food for the potential to produce thiamine deficiency. 21 cases confirmed in cats eating this product

Of course, this is only IF an issue is detected. For example, it was astute researchers at Michigan State University’s Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health (DCPAH) that led to the recall of Blue Buffalo dry food in 2010 for dangerously high levels of vitamin D. They began receiving samples from all over the country from hypercalcemic dogs. DCPAH endocrinologist Kent Refsal thankfully noticed a pattern and the team investigated further by telephoning the individual vets in charge of each case. Once the common factor was identified, they alerted the FDA who sprang into action. Four years on the situation is no better. Markovich et al. (2014) observed a wide range of thiamine concentrations in pet foods evaluated. 12 of 90 pet foods were below the minimum protocol set out by AAFCO. They concluded that clinicians should consider thiamine deficiency as a differential diagnosis in cats with acute neurologic dysfunction.

While there is LOTS of thiamine in most raw pet foods, certain fish will cause problems…

There’s loads of thiamine in most raw foods as they are not processed. However, some fish contain an enzyme called thiaminase which, as the name suggests, breaks down thiamine, making it unavailable to the body. Even small amounts of this enzyme can play havoc with thiamine levels. Hence it is strongly recommended that no raw feeders or “complete” raw product are based on fish that contain thiaminase. I did a quick list of the more common types below in a chart, hope it helps.

fish with or without thiaminase

So, if your premade says it contains “whitefish” you need to ask them what species are in there.

Salmon is OK thiaminase-wise, but then you are feeding large amounts of the most intensively, drug-treated animal out there. Watch this Panorama exposé and tell me that’s something you want your dog eating full time.

farmed salmon is poor quality meat

Then there’s the issue of what they’re fed. Salmon are top predators. They eat other fish. Most farmed fish are fed meal pellets made up of an assortment of garbage but some of the better kinds to grind up lots of really small fish in there. What results is a bioaccumulation of nasty crap in the salmon fat, including heavy metals and PCB’s and all sorts that we have poisoned our oceans with.

I recommend not using too much of it (in their diet or yours, toxic crap and destroying the environment).

Share This Article

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
WhatsApp
Email

Categories

Need Advice?

1-to-1 Online Consultations

Should you need a little hand holding, I’m here to help. Consultations are typically 1 hour in length: 15 minutes to read your presubmitted questionnaire and prepare for your pet, 30-40 minutes with you directly via Zoom / Skype and 10-15 minutes to write your summary email, including all necessary tips and their diet plan. It also includes a follow up email should you need it.

MY BEST SELLER

5/5
"Finally! A well-written, well-referenced thorough examination of the raw dog food debate. A fantastic gift for your favourite veterinarian."
Dr. Karen Becker

Subscribe

For the most up-to-date advice, support, tips and ticks from Dr. Brady and his team, please subscribe below .

Related Articles

Raw feeding

Power Paste Recipes

In this article we give you four simple recipes that you can make at home in minutes, that will be better than any pre-made raw dog food on the market, a fraction of the price!

Read More »
Dog Health

Seizures and Epilepsy in dogs

Witnessing your dog having a seizure can be a scary and upsetting experience. It will leave you with many questions, especially about supporting your dog and  how to avoid it

Read More »