Taurine is an amino acid found 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. Symptoms include an enlarged heart, decreased energy, cough, difficulty breathing, and even episodes of collapse. It’s often linked to a deficiency in the amino acid taurine. What are the causes and symptoms of DCM?Ī. The affected dogs have mostly been eating a grain-free kibble diet with ingredients like legumes and potatoes, and although there is no conclusive evidence of a causal relationship, the FDA wants to investigate the correlation. There have been reports of an increased number of dogs developing a heart condition called dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Why is the FDA investigating a potential connection between grain-free diets and canine heart disease?Ī. FAQs about heart disease, taurine, legumes, and grain-free diets for dogs As always, with every food we carry, if we won’t feed it to our own pets, we won’t sell it for yours. Our pet care specialists would love to share ways to incorporate variety into feeding time, or suggest a high-quality diet for your pet that does not include any legumes or potatoes. We recommend feeding a varied diet to dogs and cats to give them the best nutritional foundation. Most of the DCM cases presented to the FDA reported kibble-only diets. It should be noted that neither grains nor legumes contain taurine. In the past, kibble diets 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. Although there is evidence suggesting diets low in meat can lead to heart disease, the jury is still out on what role legumes may play.Īt this point, we do know that taurine deficiency can cause DCM and is widely associated with the disease.
The FDA has stated that they do not know why certain diets may be associated with DCM in some dogs. If you suspect that your dog is affected, consult your veterinarian immediately.Īt All The Best Pet Care, we are closely following the FDA investigation but unfortunately, there isn’t any conclusive information available due to the complicated nature of the cause and effect relationship as well as many variable factors. 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. The agency stated based on the reports of DCM cases received, “ they do not supply sufficient data to establish a causal relationship with reported product(s).”ĭCM causes the heart muscles to weaken, which reduces the ability of the heart to pump blood through the dog’s body. On December 23, 2022, the FDA amended its press release with this information: The FDA has been and is currently investigating a link between grain-free diets and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs due to an increase in the number of dogs being diagnosed with the condition. CBD Oil for Dogs with Arthritis and Joint Pain.
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