Connection between Grain free dog food diet and heart disease Dilated Cardiomyopathy in dogs | Dr. Justine Lee, DACVECC, DABT, Board-certified Veterinary Specialist
Recently, a grain-free dog food containing legumes was found to be associated with a terrible type of heart disease in dogs – called Dilated Cardiomyopathy. There are ongoing studies about this at UC Davis. Below is the press release from the FDA also. Please check with your veterinarian when feeding a new diet!
I discussed this in my radio show on Pet Life Radio #ER VET. You can find some great informative blog links here:
A broken heart: risk of heart disease in boutique or grain-free diets and exotic ingredients
It’s not just grain-free: An update on diet-associated dilated cardiomyopathy
FDA Investigating Potential Connection Between Diet and Cases of Canine Heart Disease
July 12, 2018
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is alerting pet owners and veterinary professionals about reports of canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs eating certain pet foods containing peas, lentils, other legume seeds, or potatoes as main ingredients. These reports are unusual because DCM is occurring in breeds not typically genetically prone to the disease. The FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine and the Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network, a collaboration of government and veterinary diagnostic laboratories, are investigating this potential association.
Canine DCM is a disease of a dog’s heart muscle and results in an enlarged heart. As the heart and its chambers become dilated, it becomes harder for the heart to pump, and heart valves may leak, leading to a buildup of fluids in the chest and abdomen. DCM often results in congestive heart failure. Heart function may improve in cases that are not linked to genetics with appropriate veterinary treatment and dietary modification, if caught early.
The underlying cause of DCM is not truly known, but is thought to have a genetic component. Breeds that are typically more frequently affected by DCM include large and giant breed dogs, such as Great Danes, Boxers, Newfoundlands, Irish Wolfhounds, Saint Bernards and Doberman Pinschers. It is less common in small and medium breed dogs, except American and English Cocker Spaniels. However, the cases that have been reported to the FDA have included Golden and Labrador Retrievers, Whippets, a Shih Tzu, a Bulldog and Miniature Schnauzers, as well as mixed breeds.
Diets in cases reported to the FDA frequently list potatoes or multiple legumes such as peas, lentils, other “pulses” (seeds of legumes), and their protein, starch and fiber derivatives early in the ingredient list, indicating that they are main ingredients. Early reports from the veterinary cardiology community indicate that the dogs consistently ate these foods as their primary source of nutrition for time periods ranging from months to years. High levels of legumes or potatoes appear to be more common in diets labeled as “grain-free,” but it is not yet known how these ingredients are linked to cases of DCM. Changes in diet, especially for dogs with DCM, should be made in consultation with a licensed veterinarian.
In the reports the FDA has received, some of the dogs showed signs of heart disease, including decreased energy, cough, difficulty breathing and episodes of collapse. Medical records for four atypical DCM cases, three Golden Retrievers and one Labrador Retriever, show that these dogs had low whole blood levels of the amino acid taurine. Taurine deficiency is well-documented as potentially leading to DCM. The Labrador Retriever with low whole blood taurine levels is recovering with veterinary treatment, including taurine supplementation, and a diet change. Four other cases of DCM in atypical dog breeds, a Miniature Schnauzer, Shih Tzu and two Labrador Retrievers, had normal blood taurine levels. The FDA continues to work with board certified veterinary cardiologists and veterinary nutritionists to better understand the clinical presentation of these dogs. The agency has also been in contact with pet food manufacturers to discuss these reports and to help further the investigation.
The FDA encourages pet owners and veterinary professionals to report cases of DCM in dogs suspected of having a link to diet by using the electronic Safety Reporting Portal or calling their state’s FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinators. Please see the link below about “How to Report a Pet Food Complaint” for additional instructions.
My dog gets really itchy when he is not on grain free food. Do you have any suggestions or brands that would be ok? My vet did not know.
Do you know of any grain free food brands that are ok?
Any grain free foods from Eukanuba, Purina, Hills, Iams or Royal Canin are good choices. They all do feeding studies, and that means that they are nutritionally providing the levels of taurine needed for a healthy heart. Start with choosing one with the protein you’re feeding now. I have a dog that was not allergy tested, but appears to get itchy when he has anything with wheat in it. I was feeding GF primarily for him. He does OK on corn, so as long as the foods I pick don’t have wheat it seems to go OK. I found a couple kinds of Eukanuba (low calorie), Purina ProPlan (Sensitive Skin and Stomach Salmon – very high calorie though), Purina ProPlan Sport Chicken 30/20, and one variety of Hills (I think it’s something like vibrant maturity?) that are wheat free. I will say that to make this change, you will have to give up the marketing that has been pushed on us for the last 10 years about what constitutes a ‘healthy’ diet for dogs. What’s healthy is that which doesn’t make them sick, and that means staying with companies that do feeding studies. If you are ever in doubt about whether a food has had a feeding study done, it’s on the bag, either with or near the statement about the food meeting AAFCO guidelines.
Any NON grain-free diets from Eukanuba, Iams, Purina, Hills or Royal Canin are good options. Start with a food that has the same protein as the food you are feeding now. I have a dog that appears to be more itchy when he has wheat in his food. I was feeding GF primarily for him. I have since found several varieties of Eukanuba, ProPlan and Hills that have no wheat and are also relatively low calorie. Purina ProPlan Sensitive Skin and Stomach Salmon is a choice many of my friends are making. All of these manufacturers do feeding studies that establish that they are providing the nutritional level of taurine needed to maintain a healthy heart. Be aware that in order to make this change you will have to reject the marketing that has been pushed for the last 10 years. Ingredients don’t make a dog healthy, being able to use those ingredients to get proper nutrition does. If you are ever in doubt, companies that do feeding studies list this on the bags of food, it’s usually in or near the AAFCO guidelines statement.