Is your dog’s food causing heart disease? What you need to know about the FDA report – Lebanon Daily News

On June 27, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration identified 16 brands of dog food linked to heart disease in dogs, updating its investigation into potential links between certain formulas of grain-free dog foods and canine dilated cardiomyopathy.

The Lebanon Daily News has been tracking the issue of grain-free foods and the relationship to DCM for the last several months. Here is what is known about the FDA’s findings up to this point.

Ingredients found in some grain-free formulas are the focus

Not all foods or even all grain-free formulas are at the center of the FDA’s report. From the beginning, the investigation has zeroed in on dry foods that list peas, lentils, legume seeds and potatoes in various forms (including sweet potatoes) as the primary ingredients. A primary ingredient is listed within the first 10 ingredients on the bag.

Of the confirmed DCM cases the FDA has studied so far, 91 percent of dogs were fed grain-free; 93 percent were fed products with peas and/or lentils; and 42 percent were fed products containing potatoes or sweet potatoes.

Most grain-free formulas also contain an animal protein. However, no protein source was dominant in the findings.

A small number of dogs – nine of the more than 500 reported cases – developed DCM while on raw food diets, per the report.

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Which dog food brands are safest?

Much of the reporting on the FDA’s latest update noted the list of 16 brands that were the most frequently identified in DCM cases. Acana topped the list with 67 cases, followed closely by Zignature (64), then Taste of the Wild (53), 4Health (32), Earthborn Holistic (32), Blue Buffalo (31), Nature’s Domain (29) and Fromm (24).

So what should you be feeding your dog?

One organization, the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) – billed as a “global veterinary community” – recommends brands such as Purina, Hill’s and Mars products (which includes Eukanuba, Iams, Pedigree and Royal Canin). These brands most often meet WSAVA’s criteria for healthy, balanced diets.

In general, WSAVA also recommends formulas containing grains when possible, and only feeding grain-free for veterinary-prescribed health reasons, which are uncommon.

The FDA cannot yet explain why this is happening

There appears to be compelling evidence certain grain-free formulas and brands are bad for dogs’ health. However, one sticking point is an apparent lack of explanation for the cause.

DCM is often associated with the deficiency of an amino acid known as taurine. But dogs’ bodies are usually able to synthesize taurine on their own – though some breeds are predisposed to deficiencies. And many brands began inserting taurine and other supplements into the formulas, yet DCM cases still persist.

On multiple occasions, the FDA has described the potential connection between diet and DCM as “a complex scientific issue that may involve multiple factors.”

“The FDA is still gathering information to better understand if (and how) taurine metabolism (both absorption and excretion) may have a role in these reports of canine dilated cardiomyopathy,” reads the report.

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The investigation is already one year in the making

If this is the first you’re hearing concerns about your dog’s food, you should be aware this isn’t a one-off report. Actually, it was the third bulletin from the FDA since the federal agency announced its investigation in July 2018.

In other words, this study has been in the works for quite some time already, and is still ongoing after the latest update. In fact, reported incidents spiked from a relatively small number of known cases to hundreds since the investigation went public.

Dog owners with confirmed or suspected cases of dietary DCM are encouraged to notify the FDA by using the agency’s electronic safety reporting portal or by contacting your state’s consumer complaint coordinators by phone.

Some breeds are genetically predisposed to DCM

Just because your dog develops a serious illness does not necessarily mean it was caused by an environmental factor. To the contrary, some breeds are known to be susceptible to DCM based on their genetic makeup, such as Doberman Pinschers, Great Danes, Irish Wolfhounds and Cocker Spaniels.

Researchers are examining whether Golden Retrievers may be genetically predisposed to DCM as well.

However, most dogs are not, making the array of breeds with more than one reported case of DCM in the study – now numbering over 50 – peculiar. The large variance in breeds, including their different sizes, is partly how the FDA is able to draw the conclusion food is a potential factor.

Few definitive conclusions drawn so far

Despite all the concerning evidence the FDA has presented to date, researchers involved with the investigation still have limited information to go on and have been careful not to make sweeping statements about any findings.

The report notes there are an estimated 77 million pet dogs in the United States, yet the number of confirmed DCM cases currently being tracked for this study is only in the hundreds.

That doesn’t mean there is no correlation between certain dog food formulas and heart disease. However, the small sample size might be making it difficult to prove.

“We suspect that cases are underreported because animals are typically treated symptomatically, and diagnostic testing and treatment can be complex and costly to owners,” reads the report.

How to protect your dog from DCM

Symptoms of DCM can be so mild initially, they might escape a pet owners’ notice until it’s too late. Dogs may develop coughs, experience difficulty breathing (especially during exercise), become lethargic or lose their appetite – though some seemingly healthy animals reportedly decline rapidly before exhibiting readily apparent signs.

If you’re concerned a grain-free diet may have put your dog’s health in jeopardy, your veterinarian can test for lower taurine levels.

Also consult your veterinarian about which dog food formulas are right for your pet. Again, some dogs are on grain-free diets for legitimate health reasons, while the FDA’s investigation focuses on formulas with very specific ingredients.

Did your dog eat grain-free food and develop dilate cardiomyopathy? Share your story with andrewkulp@ldnews.com.

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