FDA Investigates How Diets Are Linked To Dog Heart Damage

Having to deal with a family member that is sick sometimes can be unthinkable, and it’s no different for our dogs or cats. For Martha Martin, hearing the news that her beloved black lab named Sophie was very ill, tore at her heart.

Sophie was brought to her vet to be treated for a minor snake bite when things took a turn for the worse. After taking care of the snake bite, Sophie’s vet detected that Sophie has an abnormal heart rhythm, and ordered some more tests. Upon receiving the results, Sophie’s vet asked Martha if she was fed grain-free dog food.

Martha has fed Sophie this type of grain-free dog food for the past 7 years, which has in the past been linked to the beginning of dilated cardiomyopathy, also known as DCM. Since Sophie’s diagnosis, Martha has switched dog food brands. Due to this scare, the FDA has warned dog owners that grain-free dog foods could potentially cause heart failure. Since then, more than 200 dogs have reportedly died from this rare condition.

It’s been discovered that some of the legumes that are used in dog foods were never proven to be healthy or not, and now, the FDA asks that all dog foods contain nutrition facts and in-dept ingredient details. Some researchers say that it might not just be the diet of dogs that have this disease, but it could be the sources of where food ingredients are made. No matter the cause, making sure to feed your dog foods that are trusted and recommended by vets is key.

Image Credit: Martha Martin