Is there a link between nutrition and heart disease in dogs?

Researchers found dogs eating some of these “boutique” diets are not making or maintaining enough taurine, an amino acid important for heart health. Taurine deficiency has been known for many years to lead to dilated cardiomyopathy, or DCM, a heart muscle disorder that can lead to congestive heart failure and death. todaysveterinarypractice.comImage: todaysveterinarypractice.comRecent headlines have drawn a lot of attention to Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs and a potential link the diet your dog eats. DCM is a type of heart disease which can lead to congestive heart failure. Some breeds are predisposed to DCM, meaning they are more likely to contract this disease than other breeds. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has identified more than a dozen brands of pet food it says are most frequently connected to a spike in reported cases of heart disease in dogs. The FDA is continuing to investigate more than 500 reports of dilated cardiomyopathy, or DCM, in dogs eating certain types of pet food.So far, the FDA report’s biggest finding is that nearly all dogs with DCM were fed grain-free diets. This suggests a strong link between grain-free foods and heart disease in these pets. The FDA hasn’t yet determined the exact mechanism for how the disease forms.Almost any dog with heart disease that leads to chamber enlargement or increased wall thickness has a failing heart, but the body usually is able to compensate in other ways for these physical changes. As a result, the dog has no signs and is not in heart failure or congestive heart failure.Chronic degenerative diseases, auto-immune diseases, allergies, kidney, pancreatic and liver disease are all rampant within pets feeding on commercial pet foods. Many independent reports have linked processed pet foods to cancer. Pets who do not develop any acute symptoms of poisoning from pet foods, still exhibit early aging and untimely deaths.

Can diet cause heart disease in dogs?

Sixteen brands of dog food may be associated with a heightened risk of heart failure in dogs, according to the Food and Drug Administration. ... The FDA is currently investigating more than 500 reports that appear to link dog foods that are marketed as "grain free" to canine dilated cardiomyopathy.2 июл. 2019 г.

What human foods cause heart disease in dogs?

The Federal Drug Administration has begun an examination of an association between such foods as bison and chick peas, wild boar and sweet potatoes, and kangaroo and lentils, for example, and the canine heart condition called “dilated cardiomyopathy”.

Do grain free diets cause heart problems in dogs?

As grain-free pet foods rose in popularity, vets started noticing a potential connection between dogs who were on a grain-free diet and a type of heart disease called canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). ... Another similarity is that many of the diets have been from smaller (boutique) pet food companies.22 апр. 2021 г.

What is the most common cause of heart disease in dogs?

There's no single cause of heart disease in dogs. Aging, obesity, breed, and nutrition can all play a role. Heart valve problems are the most common issue and typically affect small breed dogs that are five years or older. No matter what heart condition your dog has, it's important to spot the signs early.

Is there a link between dog food and heart disease?

potatoes. Topline: Amid an ongoing investigation by the Food and Drug Administration into a possible link between heart disease in dogs and “grain-free” dog food often including “legumes such as peas and lentils,” the FDA listed 16 pet food brands that have been named most frequently in its investigation.

Can grain-free diets cause heart disease in dogs?

Photo Credit: Jamie Warren University of California, Davis, veterinarians led a team that has found a link between some popular grain-free, legume-rich dog diets and a type of nutritional deficiency and canine heart disease known as taurine-deficient dilated cardiomyopathy. The study was recently published in the journal PLOS ONE.

Can a dog with heart disease have heart failure?

In general, dogs with heart enlargement are at greater risk for heart failure, but only 30% of dogs with asymptomatic DMVD develop clinical signs and require heart failure therapy.

What are the health risks of pet foods?

Pet foods containing peas, lentils, other legume seeds, or potatoes as main ingredients, are what’s being linked to DCM, which leads to reduced heart pumping function and increased heart size. The alterations in heart function and structure can result in severe consequences such as congestive heart failure or sudden cardiac death.