![]() Why did they suspect a connection to legumes or grain-free diets?Ī. Taurine deficiency is just one potential cause of DCM. Some breeds appear to be predisposed to taurine deficiency from low-taurine diets or diets low in taurine’s precursors, cystine and methionine. Taurine is not considered an essential nutrient for dogs (as it is for cats) because they can synthesize it in their bodies from other abundantly available amino acids – cystine and methionine – which are present in a high-quality, rotational diet. Taurine is an amino acid found almost exclusively in meat. What is the role of taurine in dogs’ diets?Ī. If you suspect that your dog is affected, consult your veterinarian immediately. However, many dogs will not show symptoms of the disease right away. Other indicators include an enlarged heart or even episodes of collapse. ![]() Early signs of DCM may include lethargy, a persistent cough, difficulty breathing, weakness, or loss of appetite. As this condition progresses, it causes congestive heart failure. DCM causes the heart muscles to weaken, which reduces the ability of the heart to pump blood through the dog’s body. What are the causes and symptoms of DCM?Ī. However, they did not find a causal relationship with the products. The affected dogs had mostly been eating grain-free kibble diets with ingredients such as legumes and potatoes, and the FDA wanted to investigate a possible correlation. There were reports of an increased number of dogs developing a heart condition called dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Why did the FDA investigate a potential connection between grain-free diets and canine heart disease?Ī. As always, we continue to carefully evaluate every food we carry so you can know your pet is getting top-quality nutrition.įAQs about Heart Disease, Taurine, Legumes, and Grain-Free Diets For Dogs Our pet care specialists would be happy to share ways to incorporate variety into feeding time or suggest a high-quality diet for your pet. Additionally, we recommend feeding a varied diet to dogs and cats to give them the best nutritional foundation. We carry a number of taurine-rich treats and foods that your pet will benefit from, whether or not you’re concerned about the risk of DCM. It should be noted that neither grains nor legumes contain taurine. In the past, kibble diets that were low in meat content were known to cause taurine-deficient DCM in dogs. Many dogs diagnosed with DCM respond positively to taurine supplementation, even if they do not appear to be taurine deficient. We do know that some cases of DCM can be related to a taurine deficiency. Fortunately, the body of research continues to grow, though at present, there is no conclusion regarding any dietary causation of the disease. (3) The research did not find a causal relationship between grain-free diets and the development of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).Īt All The Best Pet Care, we continue to follow the research closely. (2) The results of the seven-month study were published in October 2023 in a peer-reviewed article in Frontiers in Animal Science. The FDA stated, “While adverse event numbers can be a potential signal of an issue with an FDA-regulated product, by themselves, they do not supply sufficient data to establish a causal relationship with the reported product(s).”Īdditional research was conducted by a group of veterinarians, animal nutritionists, and veterinary cardiologists with the consulting firm BSM Partners. ![]() The Food and Drug Administration announced plans to end routine updates on the investigation in December 2022. ![]() In July 2018, the FDA announced that its Center for Veterinary Medicine and the Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network had begun investigating reports of nonhereditary canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs eating certain pet foods, many labeled as “grain-free.”(1) These foods contained a high proportion of peas, lentils, other legume seeds or pulses, and potatoes as main ingredients. CBD Oil for Dogs with Arthritis and Joint Pain.
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