Is your choice of dog food putting Fido at risk of deadly heart disease? A new study is one step closer to determining which ingredients are linked to canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), which a serious and often fatal condition that eventually causes congestive heart failure, especially in medium to large breeds.
So, what should pet owners do? Select major brands that are more likely to have a nutritionist on staff, Brian Bourquin of Boston Veterinary Clinic tells Meghan Ottolini of the Boston Herald.
Researchers examined dog foods previously associated with DCM to other foods for a comparative analysis. The study looked at more than 800 different compounds, including peas and lentils, also known as pulses, which are added to various dog foods. According to the study, “peas showed the greatest association” with compounds linked to DCM.
According to the research, DCM is “the second most common heart disease affecting pet dogs, with prevalence over 50 percent in some breeds.” It can cause congestive heart failure or “sudden death” in certain breeds with a genetic predisposition to the disease, including boxers, Great Danes, Doberman pinschers and cocker spaniels. Other research shows that nonhereditary forms can result from other factors, including existing medical conditions and diet, reports Maya Yang of the Guardian.
“I see this as a piece of the puzzle,” study author Lisa Freeman, a veterinary nutritionist at Tufts, tells NBC News. “This research helps us narrow down the targets to look at so we can focus on the most likely causes and get to an answer more quickly and prevent other dogs from being affected.”
Why you should be wary about feeding your dog the remains of your dinner: Study finds a link between vegetables and deadly canine heart disease – with PEAS found to be the most harmful
Feeding your dog the remains of your dinner can seem like a harmless thing to do, but a new study warns peas could increase their risk of getting heart disease.
Scientists in Massachusetts have found a link between canine consumption of peas and the development of canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) – an often fatal condition that causes a dogs heart muscle to enlarge.
As the heart dilates and becomes larger, it becomes harder to pump, which can lead to heart valve leaks or a build-up of fluids in the chest.
Worrying, peas and other legumes including lentils and chickpeas have been ingredients in some grain-free dog foods for years – and could be responsible for hundreds of dog deaths.
Grain-free dog foods containing legumes instead of grain have already been investigated by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Although the scientists have now revealed a link between canine consumption of legumes and DCM, they dont know how the former causes the latter.
The study suggests the dangers of giving your dog peas and other pulses, although many veterinary organisations say its fine to do so
The researchers specifically looked at compounds in grain-free dog food that have been flagged as the FDA as potentially causing DCM.
But they believe more research is needed into how pulses may cause the condition and arent advising a product recall for grain-free dog foods just yet.
Until we know the exact cause, we want to be cautious of all the ingredients the FDA is investigating, study author Dr Lisa Freeman and Tufts University told NBC News.
Canine dilated cardiomyopathy is a disease of a dogs heart muscle that results with an enlarged heart
As the heart dilates and becomes larger, it becomes harder to pump, which can lead to heart valve leaks or a build-up of fluids in the chest
DCM is prevalent in some breeds such as Doberman Pinscher, the Great Dane, the Golden Retriever, the Boxer and the Cocker Spaniel
Symptoms include decreased appetite, coughing, lethargy
DCM also affects humans and can be fatal.
Peas might be a good clue as to where we can be looking.
As one more piece of the puzzle, this doesn’t give us the final answer, unfortunately. But it gives us things to follow up on.
This research helps us narrow down the targets to look at so we can focus on the most likely causes and get to an answer more quickly and prevent other dogs from being affected.
The study suggests the dangers of giving your dog peas and other pulses – whether or not theyre an ingredient in dog food or fresh from your dinner plate – although many veterinary organisations say its fine to do so.
For example, American Kennel Club (AKC) says dogs are fine to eat peas on occasion, as long as theyre not tinned as these tend to have added salt.
AKC has a list of vegetables on its website that it says are either OK or not OK to give to your dog.
The UK charity Peoples Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) also says peas are safe to give to your dogs as long as theyre not tinned.
For their study, the Tufts University researchers compared 830 compounds in nine traditional dog foods to nine that have been associated with DCM by the FDA.
The DCM-linked dog food products were dubbed 3P/FDA in reference to the three pulses that they contain – pulses, potatoes and sweet potatoes – as a replacement for grains like rice and corn, to supplement the meat.
The Peoples Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) says peas are safe to give to your dogs as long as theyre not tinned
In all, 122 compounds were significantly higher in the 3P/FDA foods than in traditional foods, of which 24 were amino acid-related and 20 were plant compounds.
A legume refers to any plant from the Fabaceae family that would include its leaves, stems, and pods.
A pulse is the edible seed from a legume plant.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recognises 11 types of pulses: dry beans, dry broad beans, dry peas, chickpeas, cow peas, pigeon peas, lentils, Bambara beans, vetches, lupins and pulses nes (not elsewhere specified – minor pulses that don’t fall into one of the other categories).
Source: pulses.org
A machine learning algorithm called random forest analyses narrowed the number of suspect compounds to 30.
Peas were the most strongly associated with these 30 compounds, and its likely that the more peas that are in dog food recipes, the more likely a dog goes on to develop DCM, the FDA suggests.
Some of the suspect ingredients are in dog foods that haven’t been linked to DCM, the agency says, so it could be an issue of quantity.
Genetic factors may also play a risk. Its already known that DCM is prevalent in breeds such as Doberman Pinscher, the Great Dane, the Golden Retriever, the Boxer and the Cocker Spaniel.
Maybe if you have subpar nutrients and a particular genetic type, you might get the perfect storm, Dr Joseph Wakshlag, a professor of nutrition at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine who wasnt involved in the study, told NBC.
According to the FDA, from January 1, 2014 to April 30, 2018 there were 524 reports of DCM – 515 for dogs and 9 for cats – submitted to the FDA.
Between 2014 and 2021, more than 1,100 cases of diagnosed DCM have been reported to the FDA, at least 280 of which have died from the condition.
MailOnline has contacted the Kennel Club, the British Veterinary Association, the British Small Animal Veterinary Association, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association for comment.
British Veterinary Association senior vice president Daniella Dos Santos said: We’re following this investigation into the link between cases of DCM and certain pet foods with interest.
As the FDA has stated, this is a complex scientific issue that may involve multiple factors, though the overarching link appears to be grain-free diets.
The FDA is studying the link between pet heart disease – known as dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) – and certian grain-free dog foods
Dos Santos recommends caution for dog owners in choosing a grain-free diet for their pet
We always welcome pet owners taking an interest in the sourcing and ingredients of their pet’s food, but there is currently insufficient evidence to substantiate any of the beneficial health claims of a grain-free diet, he said.
We’d encourage pet owners to talk to their vet for advice on a healthy, nutritionally-balanced diet that is tailored to the animal’s life stage, breed, specific health needs and lifestyle.
A Pet Food Manufacturers Association (PFMA) spokesperson also pointed out that pulses have been used in pet food for many years, with no evidence to indicate they are inherently harmful to dogs.
PFMA, along with the European pet food federation FEDIAF, have been closely monitoring the situation from the offset, Sarah Hormozi, PFMAs head of science and education, told MailOnline.
Current research suggests that a variety of factors may influence the development of DCM in dogs and the FDA has currently no definitive information indicating that diets under investigation are inherently unsafe.
The Tufts University study has been published in Scientific Reports.
Pea protein and dog food
Dog’s bodies need protein. Pea protein provides amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. But studies show peas can cause an unusual heart condition called DCM. You also can’t feed peas and lentils to dogs with kidney diseases.
Peas and lentils are fillers in various pet foods. Occasionally, you can give your dog green peas, snow peas, chickpeas, garden peas, English peas, and sugar snap peas. Fresh and frozen peas are suitable for your dog, but you must avoid canned peas with added sodium.
Dog Food and Heart Disease: DCM Update
Most reported cases ate pet food containing peas, lentils, chickpeas, and different kinds of … [+] potatoes.Getty
Topline: Amid an ongoing investigation by the Food and Drug Administration into a possible link between heart disease in dogs and “grain-free” dog food often including “legumes such as peas and lentils,” the FDA listed 16 pet food brands that have been named most frequently in its investigation.
What to watch for: The FDA advises pet owners to bring dogs to the veterinarian if symptoms of DCM or other heart conditions are noticed, and to check with the vet before switching foods. If the dog is suddenly very weak or collapses, an emergency veterinarian should be immediately sought. If DCM is caught early, (and not related to the dog’s genetics) heart function can recover.
Crucial quote: “We know it can be devastating to suddenly learn that your previously healthy pet has a potentially life-threatening disease like DCM. That’s why the FDA is committed to continuing our collaborative scientific investigation into the possible link between DCM and certain pet foods,” said FDA veterinary director Dr. Steven M. Solomon.