What Happened With the FDA & DCM — And How to Choose Confidently

We Carry Both Grain-Inclusive and Grain-Free Lines Across Every Flagship Brand!

Temperature & Humidity Zones

Two Ways That Work (100% Stocked Store Options)

The 3 Questions to Ask When Deciding Between Grain-Inclusive & Grain-Free

Both styles are complete, balanced, and thriving in millions of bowls—pick what fits your pet and your peace of mind:

• 1. Has Your Veterinarian Diagnosed a Heart Condition?: If your dog has a diagnosed heart condition or is on a veterinarian's treatment plan, your vet's plan always comes first. Tell us what your vet asked for and we'll help you find an exact match.
• 2. Does Your Pet Do Best on Wholesome Grains or Grain-Free?: Many dogs thrive on gentle whole grains like oats, barley, and brown rice, while others do great on grain-free sweet potato or pumpkin recipes (especially cats or dogs avoiding specific grains).

Same Trusted Brand, Your Choice of Grain-Inclusive or Grain-Free

Almost every flagship maker on our shelves crafts both grain-inclusive and grain-free lines so you don't have to switch makers:

• Wholesome & Ancient Grain Favorites: Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain (spelt & oats), NutriSource Choice / Classic Grains (brown rice, oatmeal & barley), Fromm Classic / Gold / Four-Star, Nulo Challenger / Frontrunner, Acana Wholesome Grains, Orijen Amazing Grains, and Taste of the Wild Ancient Stream / Ancient Prairie.
• Grain-Free & High-Meat Favorites: Taste of the Wild (High Prairie, Pacific Stream), Stella & Chewy's Raw-Coated Kibble, NutriSource Grain-Free & PureVita, Fromm Grain-Free Four-Star, Zignature, Nulo Freestyle, Acana, and Orijen Original.

Check the First 5 Ingredients (Meat First vs. Carbohydrate Splitting)

Whether a bag has grains or legumes, the most helpful label check is looking at how much animal protein leads the recipe:

• Look for Named Meat & Named Meat Meal at the Top: Flip the bag over and read the first five ingredients. A recipe where #1 and #2 are named meats and meals (like deboned salmon + menhaden fish meal) is meat-led regardless of carb style.
• Spot 'Ingredient Splitting' on the Panel: If a label lists peas, pea protein, pea flour, and pea starch (or rice, brown rice, brewers rice, rice bran) separately, those carbs may outweigh the meat when added together!

Side-by-Side Brand Guide: Grain-Inclusive & Grain-Free Options

Want to Switch Between Grain-Free and Grain-Inclusive? You Can Often Stay Within the Same Brand!

• NutriSource & Fromm (Grain-Inclusive & Grain-Free): Both family-owned makers make it easy to move between grain-inclusive (brown rice, oatmeal, barley) and grain-free (lentils, peas, sweet potato) while keeping the same probiotic/digestive system.
• Farmina N&D, Nulo & Open Farm (Ancestral / Ancient Grains & Grain-Free): Farmina N&D offers Pumpkin/Quinoa (Grain-Free) alongside Ancestral Grain (spelt & oats, 'Low Glycemic Index'); Nulo and Open Farm offer high-meat options in both styles.
• Taste of the Wild, Acana & Orijen (Ancient Grains / Wholesome Grains & Original): Taste of the Wild Ancient Grains uses ancient sorghum, millet, quinoa, and chia seed; Acana Wholesome Grains and Orijen Amazing Grains pair high meat with oats, quinoa, and chia.

Important Rules on Heart Health & Supplements:

• Both Styles Supported: We stand behind both our grain-free and grain-inclusive shelves—pick what you feel best feeding!
• No Supplement Claims: We never sell taurine or supplements as a heart fix or quote unverified dosages—always read the label
• Emergency Heart Signs: Coughing, tiring fast on walks, fainting, or trouble breathing require an immediate veterinary visit
• Smooth Transitions: Switching from grain-free to grain-inclusive (or back)? Follow the new bag's gradual transition guide

Keeper Note: When to See Your Veterinarian: If your dog ever shows signs of coughing, tiring quickly on normal walks, fainting, or difficulty breathing, that calls for a veterinary exam right away—whatever food they are eating. For healthy pets, our crew is always happy to compare grain-inclusive and grain-free labels side by side with you!

Essential Keeper Rules & Pro Tips

• What the FDA Concluded: In December 2022, the FDA announced it would stop routine DCM updates unless new scientific evidence emerged, noting that the reports did not prove grain-free diets cause DCM.
• Easy Same-Brand Switches: If you'd feel more comfortable feeding grains (or switching off grains), ask us for the matching recipe inside your current brand so the protein stays familiar.
• Read the Whole Top 5: Whether you pick oats/barley or sweet potato/lentils, check that named animal proteins lead the first five ingredients.
• Cats Are Obligate Carnivores: Cats naturally have no dietary requirement for grains—moisture-rich, meat-first wet and dry diets remain the foundation of feline nutrition.

Complete Store Setup Checklist

1. Choose Your Carbohydrate Style

• Wholesome/Ancient Grains (Oats, Barley, Brown Rice, Spelt, Quinoa)
• OR Grain-Free (Sweet Potato, Pumpkin, Squash, Lentils, Chickpeas)
• Confirm With Your Vet If Your Dog Has Any Diagnosed Heart Condition

2. Verify the Label Together

• First 5 Ingredients Checked (Named Meat & Named Meal at the Top)
• AAFCO Complete & Balanced Statement + Life Stage Verified
• Check for Ingredient Splitting (Multiple Forms of the Same Carb)

3. Transition & Frequent Buyer Setup

• Follow the New Bag's Gradual Mixing Schedule
• Enroll Your Phone Number in Our Frequent Buyer Program at Checkout

How We Help With Pet Nutrition at All 6 Oregon Stores

• We Flip the Bag Over Together (AAFCO Rules & the Maker's Own Label): At Wilsonville Pet Supply, Critter Cabana (Newberg), Gresham Pet Supply, Tigard Pet Supply, Salem Pet Supply, and South Salem Pet Supply, we never rely on front-of-bag marketing slogans or make medical promises. Bring a photo of your current food bag and we'll compare the Guaranteed Analysis, the AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement, and the first five ingredients side by side.
• Frequent Buyer Program at Every Register: Just give your phone number at checkout at any of our 6 stores—buy 10 to 12 bags of most dog and cat food brands (Fromm, NutriSource, PureVita, Acana, Orijen, Nulo, Farmina N&D, FirstMate, Zignature, Open Farm, Stella & Chewy's, Primal, Northwest Naturals, and more) and your next bag of the same size is free! Because we track it by phone number in our POS, we can also look up the exact recipe your pet bought last time.
• Zero-Deposit Special Requests & Vet Referral Standard: Don't see the exact bag size or formula your pet eats on our shelf today? Ask at the counter and we'll log a special request in our Command Center with zero deposit. Remember: we carry over-the-counter and vet-formulated diets (not prescription diets), so always see your veterinarian first if your pet has signs of illness (vomiting, blood, not eating, or a cat straining in the litter box), a diagnosed medical condition, or takes medications.

Common Questions (FAQ)

How can I get help with Grain-Free vs. Wholesome Grains (The DCM Facts) at your stores in Oregon?

Stop by any of our 6 family-owned Oregon stores—Wilsonville Pet Supply, Critter Cabana (Newberg), Gresham Pet Supply, Tigard Pet Supply, Salem Pet Supply, or South Salem Pet Supply. Bring a photo of your pet's current food bag and our team will gladly walk the aisle with you and compare labels.

How does your Frequent Buyer Program work on dog and cat food?

Just give your phone number at the register at any of our 6 locations—there are no paper punch cards to keep track of. On most major kibble, raw, freeze-dried, and gently cooked brands, when you buy 10 to 12 bags of the same size, your next bag is free!

Do you sell veterinary prescription diets, or over-the-counter specialty diets?

We do not sell veterinary prescription diets (if your veterinarian has prescribed a therapeutic Rx diet for a diagnosed medical condition, follow your vet's instructions). We stock a deep selection of over-the-counter vet-formulated, limited-ingredient, novel-protein, wholesome-grain, grain-free, wet, freeze-dried, and frozen raw diets.

What if my dog or cat is a picky eater or has a sensitive stomach when switching foods?

Always follow the gradual transition schedule printed on the back of your new food bag—mixing a small amount of the new food into the old food over 7 to 10+ days—and never starve a cat to force a food switch. Ask our crew about single-ingredient toppers, bone broths, plain canned pumpkin, or fermented goat's milk to support a smooth transition.