Do I Need to Feed Grain to Keep My Dog’s Heart Healthy?
Today let’s talk about an interesting subject: DCM, also known as dilated cardiomyopathy. A few years ago, the FDA made a big stink. They said that there had been more dogs than normal with non-hereditary DCM. Then the FDA tried to link that to grain-free, boutique & exotic ingredient dog foods. So, do you need to feed grain to keep your pet’s heart healthy? That’s what the FDA seemed to be saying, but is it true? Let’s dive in!
What is DCM?
To discuss dilated cardiomyopathy, we first need to have a general idea of what it is, how serious it is & how it affects our pets. DCM is a weakening of the heart muscle. In an attempt to compensate for the weakness, the heart muscle will enlarge. This makes it harder for the heart to do its work of pumping blood throughout the whole body.
If the heart is not able to pump blood effectively then the cells of the body are not going to be able to get the nutrients & oxygen they need to work. If the cells aren’t working, then the whole body will not be able to work well.
The symptoms of DCM are weakness & lethargy, along with respiratory issues & lack of appetite. Clearly, not something that you want your pet to have.
Who is Most Susceptible to DCM?
It’s true that some breeds of dog are more susceptible to DCM than others. Genetics is actually the most common cause of DCM in dogs. The following breeds have a genetic predisposition to the condition:
- Boxers
- Cocker Spaniels
- Doberman Pinschers
- Irish Wolfhounds
- Great Danes
- Newfoundlands
- Saint Bernards
Other things that can make a dog more susceptible to DCM include poor blood flow to the heart, heart inflammation, prolonged rapid heart rate, low thyroid levels & amino acid deficiencies.
The FDA & DCM
In 2018 the FDA announced that they were investigating a link between grain-free, boutique & novel protein kibble diets leading to DCM. Many vets & veterinary collages also became very outspoken about grain-free diets being a bad choice & causing heart issues in dogs. However, this may have been due to where their funding comes from. Most of those that have been outspoken about this topic have provided professional services to companies like Purina, Royal Canin, Hills Pet Nutrition & the like.
The FDA then started to investigate these reports of DCM. But there are so many variables out there that it is difficult to come to any real conclusions. Remember the dogs that were diagnosed with DCM are people’s pets. So, getting all the vital details to conduct a proper study would take a lot of time & information that the dog guardians may or may not have. What are the dogs being fed? What were they fed before? What is the age, breed, size, etc? How much exercise do they get? Are they walking with their leash attached to a collar or a well-fitted harness? Is their spine aligned? Vaccination & health history? Have they been genetically tested for DCM markers? What’s their health history? What is their bodies’ toxin load? And so many more questions!
It is also worth noting that the USA was the only country that seemed concerned with grain-free diets. Europe also has grain-free diets for sale, but they have never been linked to or investigated in connection to DCM.
In December 2022 the FDA announced the end of its study between grain-free diets & DCM. The FDA said that the reports of DCM were not enough to give sufficient data to establish a causal relationship between DCM & grain-free diets. Basically, there is no (nor has there ever been) scientific data to support the thought that grain-free diets cause DCM. The FDA is also saying, “While adverse event numbers can be a potential signal of an issue with an FDA-regulated product, by themselves, they do not supply sufficient data to establish a causal relationship with the reported product(s).”
So Does My Dog Need Grain?
In short, no. In fact, several grains have been linked, in different studies, to DCM. These grains include rice, rice bran & barley. Additionally, grains contain very few nutrients & are really just added to kibbles as cheap filler & to bind the end product together. Since dogs are carnivores, they also do not digest grain well & more often than not grains in the diet can cause a lot of inflammation in the body.
Being a raw feeder, you know that all kibbles are heavily laden with carbohydrates. Those carbs may come from grains or they may come from legumes or potatoes. Kibbles need carbohydrates in them to bind all the ingredients together to form the kibble. But the main point is, our dogs are carnivores & they need meat, not carbs, to thrive!
Natural Heart Nourishment
The good news is, if a pet’s DCM is caused by nutrient deficiency the clinical signs can be reversed with proper diet & supplementation–mainly making sure that the diet has plenty of amino acids, specifically taurine & l-carnitine. Both of which can be found in abundance in raw meat!
Diet alone may not be enough to keep a dog with a genetic predisposition from getting DCM but it sure can help! Raw meats especially heart, lung, tongue & organs are rich sources of taurine & other amino acids. Taurine is an amino acid that is essential for proper heart function. So, feeding a raw diet is an excellent way to support your dog’s heart health & overall health!
Other Ways to Support Heart Health
It is important to protect your dog’s neck & spine as these are connected to the entire body & can affect the heart. How do you do this? Walk your dog on a harness & not a collar. Use a bungy leash to offer a little more ‘give’ if the leash gets pulled. Avoid retractable leashes which are unpredictably jerky for our dogs. It can also be helpful to take your dog to a doggie chiropractor &/or acupuncturist to help keep your dog’s spine in good condition.
Exercise is also very important for keeping the heart healthy. Short bursts of exercise interspersed in your regular walk is very helpful for heart health. Strengthening the hide quarters is also important for the overall health of your dog. But you do not want to overdo it when it comes to exercise. Too much exercise can cause injuries & too much stress on the body. So, be mindful when you exercise your dog.
There are also lots of supplements & foods that you can add to your dog’s diet in order to support your dog’s heart. Things like raw fish (for the omega-3s), hawthorn, blueberries & raw heart are all wonderful additions to your dog’s diet to help support their heart health.
Summary
The FDA caused quite a ruckus when they announced that they were investigating a possible link between dilated cardiomyopathy & grain-free diets. A lot of marketing, vets & pet parents began to think & preach that grain-free foods cause heart issues. However, after some research & study, the FDA has not been able to prove in any way that a non-grain diets causes DCM in dogs.
The truth? Dogs are carnivores. They need a real meat, bone & organ diet to truly thrive! Feeding a diet filled with carbohydrates whether from grains, legumes, potatoes, or something else is not the ideal diet for any dog.
Resources
https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/dcm-in-dogs/
https://hemopet.org/fda-will-not-provide-updates-on-dcm-in-dogs-until-meaningful-science-is-provided-have-we-learned-anything-thus-far/
Dr. Judy Morgan – Raising Naturally Healthy Pets, 2023
https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/truth-grain-free-dog-foods-dcm/
https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/news-fda-reports-some-dog-foods-may-cause-heart-disease/
https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/taurine-diet-and-heart-disease-in-dogs/
https://drjudymorgan.com/blogs/blog/dcm-link-to-pet-food-unfounded?_pos=1&_sid=13fa7193d&_ss=r
https://truthaboutpetfood.com/no-grain-free-dog-food-heart-disease-in-europe-why/
https://drjudymorgan.com/blogs/blog/dilated-cardiomyopathy?_pos=2&_sid=13fa7193d&_ss=r
https://drjudymorgan.com/blogs/blog/conflict-of-interest-in-pet-food-research?_pos=3&_sid=13fa7193d&_ss=r
https://drjudymorgan.com/blogs/blog/death-by-dog-food?_pos=4&_sid=13fa7193d&_ss=r
https://perfectlyrawsome.com/raw-feeding-knowledgebase/dilated-cardiomyopathy-dogs-grain-free-diet/
https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/how-to-protect-your-dog-s-heart-health-3-key-tips-you-must-know?_pos=1&_sid=917d2df3d&_ss=r
Hey there. My name is Rilla Banks. I got my first dog, Wellingtin, in 2012 & discovered raw feeding in 2015. Wellingtin, taught me a lot & inspired an obession in me to learn about all things dog. So, that I could give him the best life possible. I am delighted to share with you what I am learning!
