Latest Insights on Diet-Linked DCM: What You Need to Know

Recent Advances in Understanding Diet-Associated Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Dogs

In the past year and a half, significant research has progressed concerning diet-associated dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs. This rare but serious heart condition has raised concerns among veterinarians and pet owners, prompting an influx of studies aimed at unraveling the complexities and potential dietary links to its development.

Understanding Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)

Dilated cardiomyopathy is a severe heart muscle disease impacting various species, including dogs, cats, humans, and even whales. Notably, it is the second most common heart disease among dogs. Certain large or giant breeds, such as Doberman Pinschers, Great Danes, and Irish Wolfhounds, are particularly susceptible to this condition.

DCM leads to enlargement of the heart and can result in severe symptoms including coughing, breathing difficulties, and even sudden death. Unfortunately, the disease typically progresses despite medication interventions.

Investigating the Connection Between Diet and DCM

In 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced an investigation into the potential correlation between diet and DCM, particularly focusing on grain-free diets that often include peas, lentils, and potatoes. As of July 2020, the FDA received over 1,100 reports of dogs diagnosed with DCM linked to dietary factors.

New Research Findings

In addition to earlier studies (Kaplan et al., 2018; Adin et al., 2019), five new studies have been published in the last year, shedding further light on this condition:

• Retrospective Studies: Recent studies by Freid et al. (2021) and Walker et al. (2021) confirmed that both typical DCM-affected breeds and atypical breeds could exhibit symptoms, with encouraging signs of heart improvement when transitioning from non-traditional to traditional diets.
• Heart Function Transitions: Dogs that switched to a traditional diet not only showed heart size reduction but also improved longevity compared to those with typical DCM.
• Emerging Concerns: Other studies indicated that non-traditional diets might create early negative impacts on heart health, as seen in studies of healthy Golden Retrievers and several other breeds (Ontiveros et al., 2020; Adin et al., 2021).

Key Findings from Recent Studies

Research indicates that heart function varies significantly among dogs based on their diet:

• In a study on Golden Retrievers, non-traditional diets were linked to larger hearts with diminished contraction strength.
• Another study highlighted that dogs on grain-free diets exhibited elevated levels of troponin, a marker of heart muscle damage.

While variations in dietary terms persist as researchers refine their definitions, this ongoing inquiry strives to identify the specific components that could lead to diet-associated DCM.

Future Directions in Research

The research group at Tufts University has made strides in identifying the causes of diet-associated DCM through their foodomics analysis, which detected over 100 biochemical compounds differing between diet types (Smith et al., 2021). These findings will help shape further research aimed at isolating the precise causes behind DCM and optimizing diet classifications for canine health.

The FDA’s Role in Protecting Canine Health

The FDA’s commitment to solving this issue has been evident through their ongoing studies and the presentation of data at conferences. Their findings have critical implications for both the understanding and potential prevention of diet-associated DCM in dogs.

Conclusion

As the body of research on diet-associated DCM continues to expand, each study contributes vital insights into this health challenge affecting dogs. The collaborative efforts of veterinarians, researchers, and regulatory agencies are essential for unraveling this complex condition and ensuring the well-being of our canine companions.

References

1. Kaplan JL, Stern JA, Fascetti AJ, et al. Taurine deficiency and dilated cardiomyopathy in golden retrievers fed commercial diets. PLoS One 2018;13(12): doi: 10.1371/journal.pone. 0209112.
2. Adin D, DeFrancesco TC, Keene B, et al. Echocardiographic phenotype of canine dilated cardiomyopathy differs based on diet type. J Vet Cardiol 2019;21:1-9.
3. Ontiveros ES, Whelchel BD, Yu J, et al. Development of plasma and whole blood taurine reference ranges and identification of dietary features associated with taurine deficiency and dilated cardiomyopathy in golden retrievers. PLoS One 2020;15(5): doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0233206.
4. Freid KJ, Freeman LM, Rush JE, et al. Retrospective study of dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs. J Vet Intern Med 2021;35:58-67.
5. Adin D, Freeman LM, Stepien R, et al. Effect of diet type on circulating taurine concentrations, cardiac biomarkers, and echocardiograms in four dog breeds. J Vet Intern Med 2021;35:771-779.
6. Walker AL, DeFrancesco TC, Bonagura JD, et al. Association of diet with clinical outcomes in dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure. J Vet Cardiol (Online, ahead of print). doi: 10.1016/j.jvc.2021.02.001.
7. Smith CE, Parnell LD, Lai C-Q, Rush JE, Freeman LM. Investigation of diets associated with dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs using foodomics analysis. Sci Rep 2021;11:15881. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-94464-2.