Heart disease is common in our companion animals, affecting 10-15 % of all dogs and cats. However, the veterinary community has noticed an increase in a certain type of heart disease called dilated cardiomyopathy or DCM. The FDA has researched this and issued a warning regarding this heart disease and specific diets– BEG (boutique, exotic ingredient, grain-free). A new report shows the brands and contents that have been most often implicated. As a practice, we have strongly discouraged use of these types of diets without consultation with your veterinarian. Unfortunately, sometimes pets can have severe heart disease without many clinical signs until the disease is quite advanced. Therefore, many cases of dilated cardiomyopathy associated with BEG diets may still not be appropriately reported to the FDA.
There are a few companies that we are sure perform extensive testing of their products by running food trials to ensure quality. These include Hill’s/Science Diet, Royal Canin, Purina Pro-Plan and IAMS.
If you would like a specific recommendation or to go in more detail regarding the FDA warning, please contact us to set up a time to discuss your pet’s diet and health.
In addition, click on the links below for more information:
FDA Investigation into Potential Link between Certain Diets and Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy | FDA