There has been a lot of buzz about the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) statements alerting pet owners about a possible link between dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a type of heart disease, in dogs eating diets containing peas, lentils, potatoes and other legume seeds as main ingredients. 25 мар. 2022 г.
What foods are linked to DCM in dogs?
In all, four diet ingredients distinguished the two diet groups: peas, lentils, chicken or turkey, and rice. But of the four, peas showed the greatest association with higher concentrations of compounds in DCM-associated diets. As of September 2020, more than 1,100 dogs with DCM had been reported to the FDA.
What is diet associated dilated cardiomyopathy?
The diets reported to be associated with DCM often are marketed as “grain-free” and often contain certain ingredients that became part of commercial foods relatively recently (e.g., pulses, potatoes, and sweet potatoes) and lack others (such as rice or corn).
Can diet related DCM be reversed?
Many cases of nutritionally induced DCM can be reversed if the nutritional deficiency is identified and treated. Similarly, patients with tachycardia induced DCM can show full reversal of the cardiac changes once the underlying arrhythmia has been treated and controlled.
Does grain-free food cause dilated cardiomyopathy 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).
