Mill Creek Animal Clinic

Mill Creek Animal Clinic

Mill Creek Animal Clinic is a fully equipped veterinary facility with a small practice personal approach.

(708) 361-6002
Email: mcac@millcreekanimal.com

Mill Creek Animal Clinic
12944 South LaGrange Road,<br />Palos Park, IL 60464

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Grain-Free Diets: Good or Evil?

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Wednesday, September 19, 2018 / Published in Helpful Articles

Grain-Free Diets: Good or Evil?

Pet food companies have been marketing grain free diets in the past decade, and insinuate that these diets are much healthier for our pets, as though corn, wheat, and rice are harmful. Most veterinarians have been skeptical of these marketing gimmicks. They have made pet food companies a lot of money, but most veterinarians have been skeptical about benefit claims of these foods. Research is indicating that not only are they not beneficial, they could be downright harmful.

New research has indicated a link between grain-free diets and a heart condition called Dilated Cardiomyopathy. This is a heart condition that causes the heart to become enlarged and walls of the heart to become thin. In-turn, the heart can not function the way it is supposed to, and eventually leads to heart failure which can be life-threatening.

In grain-free diets, the grains are replaced with legumes, which are another plant. The most common legumes found in grain-free diets are peas, chickpeas, lentils and soybeans. The lack of grains in these diets cause a decrease in an amino acid called Taurine. Taurine is an amino acid that is found in high concentrations of the heart muscle. The lack of this amino acid in grain free diets is what newest research is indicating as being a possible link to developing heart disease.

Many times in our allergy patients, owners choose to put their pets on grain-free diets to help with clinical signs of allergies and believe that their allergies have improved. When in actuality, the allergy clinical signs have likely resolved because of the change to a novel protein (protein pet has never been exposed to before) in the diet that many limited-ingredients and grain-free diets encompass (IE: venison, rabbit, kangaroo, bison, salmon etc). Grain-allergies in dogs are very rare and majority of dogs food allergies are from the meat proteins in their diets.

Grains are a great source of proteins for your pets and do not need to be avoided. Much of this research is in the early stages but at this time, we are recommending that if your pet is on a grain-free diet to reconsider this dietary choice. Changing your pet’s diet is the most conservative action until more definitive research regarding this is emerging concern is recognized. If you do not wish to change your pet’s diet, an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) and blood Taurine levels is recommended to screen pets for changes related to Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM).

Dilated Cardiomyopathy is a devastating disease. Our goal is to give you the latest information on this emerging medical research so that we can keep your pet as healthy as possible.

If you have any questions about grain-free diets, switching your dogs diet or screenings for heart disease feel free to contact Mill Creek Animal Clinic.

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Clinic Hours

Monday - Tuesday7:00 AM — 7:00 PM
Wednesday7:00 AM — 8:00 PM
Thursday - Friday7:00 AM — 7:00 PM
Saturday8:00 AM — 1:00 PM
SundayClosed

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COVID 19 UPDATE- 11-3-2020

ALL CLIENTS ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR MASKS WHEN BRINGING YOUR PET TO THE DOOR OR PICKING YOUR PET UP.

MILL CREEK ANIMAL CLINIC WILL CONTINUE CONCIERGE CURBSIDE SERVICE FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. WE CONTINUE TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO MAKE THIS AN EFFICIENT STRESS FREE PROCESS.  WE WILL EMAIL YOU BEFORE YOUR APPOINTMENT FOR INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR PETS VISIT.  WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT MILL CREEK ANIMAL CLINIC, PARK IN FRONT OF THE CLINIC OR ONE OF OUR DESIGNATED SPOTS IN THE REAR OF THE BUILDING AND CALL 708-361-6002.  ONE OF OUR TECHNICIANS WILL CHECK YOU IN AND GET ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION NEEDED.  WE WILL THEN ASK YOU TO MEET US AT THE DOOR WITH YOUR PET . WE WILL BRING YOUR PET INTO THE HOSPITAL WHERE THE DOCTOR WILL  ASSESS AND PROVIDE TREATMENTS, THEN CONTACT YOU TO DISCUSS EXAM FINDINGS.  PLEASE WAIT IN YOUR CAR AND DO NOT LEAVE THE PARKING LOT!  ONCE ALL SERVICES ARE COMPLETE, THE TECHNICIAN WILL AGAIN ASK YOU TO MEET AT THE CURB AND RETURN YOUR PET TO YOU.

WE ARE ALL FEAR FREE CERTIFIED DOCTORS, SO REST ASSURED WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROVIDE THE MOST STRESS FREE VISIT POSSIBLE FOR YOU AND YOUR PET!

ALL FEES ARE DUE AT THE TIME OF SERVICE.  OUR RECEPTIONIST WILL STORE YOUR CREDIT CARD IN OUR ENCRYPTED COMPLIANT CREDIT CARD SERVER AND CHARGES WILL BE APPLIED AT THE COMPLETION OF THE VISIT.  RECEIPTS AND INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE EMAILED THE SAME DAY.

TELEMEDICINE, PHONE CONSULTATIONS AND PROGRESS CALLS, AS WELL AS EMAIL CONSULTATIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR EXISTING CLIENTS ONLY.  FEES WILL APPLY.

FOOD AND MEDICATION REFILLS ARE AVAILABLE FOR CURBSIDE PICKUP, OR USE OUR ONLINE PHARMACY (ON THE MENU BAR) FOR MEDICATIONS DELIVERED TO YOUR HOME.

PATIENCE PLEASE!  AS THE COVID CRISIS DRAGS ON, THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE IN SHORT TEMPERS.  WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU, AND WE ARE DOING OUR BEST TO MAKE THE PROCESS SWIFT AND EFFICIENT.  BUT THIS IS MEDICINE, AND EMERGENCIES HAPPEN.  RUDE BEHAVIOR IS NOT ACCEPTABLE ANYWHERE,  AND ANYONE WHO DOES NOT CONDUCT THEMSELVES ACCORDINGLY WILL BE ASKED TO SEEK CARE ELSEWHERE .

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FOR THE MOST UP TO DATE INFORMATION, PLEASE DOWNLOAD THE MILL CREEK ANIMAL CLINIC APP IN APPLE STORE AND GOOGLE PLAY.

—
Jay Whittle, DVM
Mill Creek Animal Clinic

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