Hey, Tyler.

Sorry to hear about your pooch — before going further, I’m compelled to recommend getting her checked by the vet if you’re noticing troubling symptoms. DCM can be treated if caught early.

I appreciate your comments regarding boutique foods, GMOs and organic produce.

I completely agree with your points about GMO foods. The majority of things we eat have been genetically modified, whether through direct alterations of the organism’s genome or — more commonly — simple artificial selection (which is also why I have a Rottweiler and you have a Great Dane, instead of us having roughly identical forms of Canis familiaris).

As a lifelong environmental educator, I would, however, argue that organic farming techniques do provide value; but this value comes in the form of reduced pesticides and herbicides washing into our watersheds, not health benefits for the consumer. However, as you mention, these benefits come at the expense of increased water consumption and reduced yields.

I bring this up to point out that everything is about trade-offs.

And this gets us back to dog foods.

Fromm foods are unquestionably made with superior ingredients than (as you called them) “gas station” foods. They’re also made in higher-quality facilities too. But, by leaving out taurine-rich grains in lieu of lentils and legumes, Fromm and other boutique foods may (causality has still yet to be established) cause our pups health problems.

So, what’s a dog owner to do? Stick with a high-end boutique-style food that is packed with great ingredients and nutritional “extras,” but lacks grains? Or should we opt for low-quality, low-cost foods full of less-than-impressive ingredients but plenty of corn or rice?

We all have to make the best decisions we can on behalf of our four-footers. So, the standard advice always applies: Talk to your vet, consider your pet’s specific needs, learn all you can about canine nutrition, and do your best to pick a good recipe for your pooch.

Personally, I strongly considered going with Fromm before ultimately landing on another choice. Essentially, I try to get the best of both worlds: I feed an (arguably) boutique-caliber food, but I pick one with rice. So far (knocks wood), so good.

Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts! Best of luck with your Dane!

Hey, Richard.
Just to be clear: We aren’t affiliated with Fromm. These are our unbiased thoughts about the food.
Thanks for reading!