Grain Free Diet For Dogs And Heart Disease

Grain free diet for dogs leads to canine heart disease alternative diets have long been a suspected cause of dcm.

Grain free diet for dogs and heart disease. 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. If your pet has been eating a grain free diet for several months to years we suggest having your dog examined by a veterinarian for a cardiac murmur and other systemic indications of heart disease. The fda s investigation of grain free dog food and heart disease many of the cases of dcm have involved dogs that were fed grain free diets suggesting that diet may play a role in this disease. The latest research on grain free dog foods and heart disease.

The heart becomes less able to circulate blood and over time fluid builds up in the lungs. The fda has been instrumental in alerting consumers to the potential for dcm with specialized diets. This study looks at other potential causes and how to communicate this information to clients. In the fda s july 2019 update on diet and canine heart disease they examined labels of dog food products reported in dcm cases to determine whether the foods were grain free defined as.

We strongly recommend an examination in those pets with a cough labored breathing lethargy or those showing a decreased willingness to exercise. If your dog eats a beg diet they should be closely monitored for any signs of heart disease by your veterinarian or even a veterinary cardiologist. If your dog has a food allergy there are alternatives to grain free diets and exotic ingredients that have no known health risks. Dogs with dcm develop an enlarged heart with weakening of the muscles.

In addition to diet they found that genetics and breed are also factors in which pets develop heart disease.