Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs weakens the heart muscle, causing symptoms such as weakness, coughing, and weight loss. It can be life-threatening.
Alcohol is toxic to pets, causing GI upset, reduced appetite, coordination issues, breathing difficulties, tremors, coma, and even death. Never give alcohol to dogs or cats.
The case reports also included information about the pet food brands being fed to dogs diagnosed with DCM. More than 90 percent of foods named in DCM reports submitted to the FDA were labeled grain-free and contained high percentages of ingredients like peas, lentils, and sweet potatoes.
In June 2019, the FDA released an update, which concluded: “The FDA is continuing to investigate and gather more information in an effort to identify whether there is a specific dietary link to development of DCM and will provide updates to the public as information develops.”
The connection between grain-free dog food and DCM is still under investigation. While there are associations, the exact cause and effect relationship is not well understood.
“In cats, we know that DCM is related to taurine [deficiency] and I think that’s why we jump on that with dogs, thinking, ‘Oh, it’s taurine.’ Because, with cats, we know taurine is a big part of it and we just haven’t established it yet in dogs,” she adds.
The Pet Food Institute (PFI) states that the FDA has not recalled any pet food products or recommended diet changes for healthy dogs. PFI acknowledges the complexity of the issue, suggesting that factors such as dog physiology and genetics may be involved in the reported cases of DCM associated with grain-free diets.
DCM is one of the most commonly acquired heart diseases in dogs, according to the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
– Is my dog at risk for DCM? – Are there symptoms of DCM I should watch for? – How is the disease diagnosed?
– What treatment options are available? – What is the prognosis for a dog diagnosed with DCM?