Grain-free dog food and heart disease (DCM)

What DCM is

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a disease of the heart muscle. The heart enlarges and pumps weakly, which can lead to heart failure. Some large breeds are prone to it genetically. What caught vets’ attention was DCM turning up in breeds that usually are not.

What the FDA found

In 2018 the US Food and Drug Administration began looking into reports of DCM in dogs eating certain diets. In its 2019 update, over 90% of the foods in those reports were grain-free, and most had peas or lentils high on the ingredient list.

The FDA has not shown that these foods cause DCM, and in 2022 it said it would only update the public again when there was meaningful new science. Research continues. So the honest answer is: there is a pattern worth taking seriously, but no proven cause.

Does my dog need grain-free food?

Usually not. True grain allergies are uncommon in dogs; food allergies are more often to proteins such as beef, dairy or chicken. Grain-free foods often swap grains for peas, lentils and potatoes, which is exactly the pattern in the FDA reports. If you think your dog has an allergy, ask your vet about an elimination diet rather than switching to grain-free.

How SnoutScan handles it

When a food has no grains in its first ten ingredients and three or more pea, lentil, bean or potato ingredients, the result shows a heart health note and the score is capped at 70. Treats are left out, since they are a small part of the diet. The cap means a grain-free food can still score well, but it cannot score excellent.

What to do if your dog eats grain-free food

• Talk to your vet, especially if your dog has eaten it for a long time or is a breed prone to heart disease.
• Watch for tiredness, coughing, fast or hard breathing, or fainting, and see a vet if you notice any.
• Do not switch foods suddenly. Change over a week or so to avoid an upset stomach.
• Read the label: the label guide shows how to spot legumes split across several names.