A new study, conducted by the University of Missouri included nearly 70,000 dogs and found no significant correlation between grain-free pet food sales and the incidence of DCM.
So, what does this mean for you and your furry friend?
Should you continue to feed them grain-free food?
We’ll dive into the details and provide some key takeaways to help you make an informed decision.
Key Takeaways
- Grain-free pet food sales do not significantly correlate with the incidence of DCM in dogs.
- Taurine supplementation and diet changes can improve symptoms of DCM in some dogs.
- Consider breed-specific risks and consult with your veterinarian before changing your dog’s diet.
Grain-Free Dog Food and DCM: A Retrospective Study
If you’re concerned about whether you should feed your furry friend grain-free dog food, you’re not alone.
The FDA published reports in 2019 about a possible link between grain-free dog food and a type of heart disease called dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). This led to a lot of questions about what to feed our dogs.
A new retrospective study sheds light on this issue.
The study, conducted by the University of Missouri over the last 20 years, included nearly 70,000 dogs and aimed to see if there was a correlation between the rise in grain-free pet food sales and the incidence of dogs diagnosed with DCM.
The study found that there was no correlation between the incidence of DCM and grain-free pet food sales.
The average incidence of DCM at the veterinary referral centers was 3.9%, and there was no significant change in the percentage of dogs being diagnosed with DCM between 2011 and 2019.
If your dog is doing well on a grain-free diet, switching to a different type of food is unnecessary according to this study.
Understanding DCM
If you’re concerned about DCM and its possible link to grain-free dog food, it’s important to understand what DCM is and how it affects dogs.
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a type of heart disease that affects the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively. It can lead to heart failure and other serious health problems.
DCM is the second most commonly acquired type of canine cardiac disease and can be difficult to treat.
Using Taurine for dogs diagnosed with DCM
If your dog has been diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), supplementing their diet with taurine may help improve their condition. Taurine is an amino acid essential for heart health, and some dogs with DCM may not get enough of it from their diet.
According to the retrospective study conducted by the University of Missouri, some dogs with DCM have been found to have low levels of taurine in their blood.
Supplementing their diet with taurine has been shown to improve their heart function and overall health.
Breed-Specific DCM Risk
If you have a breed of dog predisposed to DCM, you may wonder if you should be more concerned about feeding grain-free dog food. The breeds that are most commonly affected by DCM include:
- Boxers
- Doberman Pinschers
- Great Danes
- Irish Wolfhounds
- Newfoundlands
- Saint Bernards
However, it’s important to note that DCM can occur in any dog breed, regardless of whether or not they are predisposed to it.
If you are unsure what to feed your dog, it’s always best to consult your veterinarian. They can help you determine your dog’s best diet based on their needs and health history.
Questioning the FDA’s Response
After the FDA’s publication in 2019 about the apparent link between grain-free dog food and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), the media was quick to spread the news.
However, a new retrospective study from the University of Missouri suggests that there is no significant correlation between grain-free pet food sales and the incidence of dogs diagnosed with DCM.
This raises some questions about the FDA’s response to the initial reports.
How can a small number of reports (550 dogs) lead to such a widespread concern about grain-free dog food and DCM?
While there may be some link between diet and DCM, it appears that the risk is not as high as initially portrayed.
It’s understandable to be concerned about your dog’s diet and health, but it’s important to question the validity of information and not jump to conclusions based on limited data.
The new study sheds some light on the issue and may provide some peace of mind for dog owners who have been worried about the link between grain-free dog food and DCM.
To Wrap Up
In conclusion, the new retrospective study suggests that there may be no link between grain-free dog food and DCM.
If your dog belongs to a breed that is likely to develop DCM, you probably want to still steer off Grain-free diets as we need more evidence to back up this study’s claims, however, you can probably relax if you’ve ever fed your dog with grain free food and they seem to be healthy 😇.
