US Study Finds Potential Link Between Dog Foods And Canine Heart Disease Dogs

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New Food and Drug Administration study highlights research linking certain dog foods to canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a serious heart disease.

According to a new report released Thursday, researchers compared traditional dog foods to those the FDA associated with DCM, looking at more than 800 compounds. Currently, peas are at the top of the list of ingredients related to compounds that may be related to DCM.

Diets reported to be associated with DCM are often labeled grain-free and typically contain certain ingredients, including peas and potatoes, which are used to substitute for other ingredients such as rice or corn.

Canine dilated cardiomyopathy is a fatal disease of the dog’s heart muscle and results in an enlarged heart and weak contractions. The disease has been largely linked to a genetic predisposition in certain breeds, including Doberman Pinschers, Great Danes, Boxers, and Cockers. However, recent research has indicated that non-hereditary forms of DCM can occur in dogs and are often the result of various factors such as underlying medical conditions and diet.

I see this as a piece of the puzzle, said Dr. Lisa Freeman, a professor and board-certified veterinary nutritionist at Tufts University, NBC News reported. This research helps us narrow down the targets to look at so that we can focus on the most likely causes and get a response faster and prevent other dogs from being affected.

After detailed analysis through a process called foodomics, the researchers found that the ingredient most strongly related to the suspect compounds was peas. However, the FDA is not yet considering banning peas in dog food. According to the agency, because pulses and legumes have been used in animal feed for many years, [there is] no evidence to indicate that they are inherently dangerous.

Rather, the problem may be one of quantity, as the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine indicates that legume ingredients are used in many grain-free diets in a greater proportion than in most formulas containing grains.

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