©Scott Sheaffer, CDBC, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA, USA Dog Behavior, LLC

In July of 2018 the FDA released a report that appeared to show a correlation between grain-free dog foods (also called limited ingredient diet dog foods) and the canine heart disease known as DCM (Dilated Cardiomyopathy). One of the theories is that these foods are deficient in taurine, an amino acid that is necessary for heart health. However, there are almost certainly other issues involved as noted in this article.

DCM is a disease of the heart muscle resulting in compromised contractions and poor blood flow. What are the signs of DCM in dogs?

“It’s important to note that the reports include dogs that have eaten grain-free and grain-containing foods…”

Loss of appetite
Labored breathing
Chronic cough
Lethargy
Exhaustion

If caught early, the prognosis is good for most dogs.

The FDA released an update to its report in June of 2019 that identified 16 brands of dog food most frequently eaten by dogs diagnosed with canine DCM in the sample. Most of these dog foods are well known brands. The implication was that these brands were the cause of DCM in dogs. Unfortunately, the FDA did not list which specific foods made by these manufacturers were causing the problem. Since most of these manufacturers make foods that do contain grain (which for the most part are not part of this controversy), this was an unfortunate oversight on the part of the FDA and has been injurious to these dog food manufacturers.

To say the public overreacted to this news might be somewhat of an understatement. There was virtual panic among dog owners and in the veterinary health community. I was getting calls from owners and veterinarians about this for a number of weeks. In an effort to address this frenzied response, the FDA stated in its June 2019 update, “Based on the data collected and analyzed thus far, the agency believes that the potential association between diet and DCM in dogs is a complex scientific issue that may involve multiple factors.”

Also included in an addendum to the FDA update was the following, “It’s important to note that the reports include dogs that have eaten grain-free and grain-containing [italics added for emphasis] foods and also include vegetarian or vegan formulations. They also include all forms of diets: kibble, canned, raw and home-cooked. Therefore, we do not think these cases can be explained simply by whether or not they contain grains, or by brand or manufacturer.” The addendum also included the following, “At this time, we are not advising dietary changes based solely on the information we have gathered so far.”

The only specific advice provided by the FDA in their June 2019 update to their original report was the following, “If a dog is showing possible signs of DCM or other heart conditions, including decreased energy, cough, difficulty breathing and episodes of collapse, you should contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.”

What is an owner to do?

The Whole Dog Journal, in a July 2019 article by Nancy Kerns, recommends avoiding foods that contain peas, beans or lentils until we know more about how these foods impact DCM.
Regardless of what your dog’s diet is, if you see any signs of DCM (or any other heart disease) in your dog, see a veterinarian as soon as possible.
The Whole Dog Journal, in the same July 2019 article by Nancy Kerns, also recommends feeding grain-free foods only to dogs who have a demonstrated allergy or intolerance of grains.
Consult with a trusted veterinarian for his or her input; this is especially true if your dog is on a special diet as recommended by your veterinarian.

It’s too early to know exactly what is going on; as additional information is provided by the FDA, I will share it.