My dog has heart issues. Is grain-free food linked to DCM or taurine?

Question

This question is for David Elebeze. Recent studies have suggested that boutique and grain free diets and been linked to DCM in certain dogs. Ingredients such as peas, lentils and beans are being blamed for taurine deficiencies in particular dogs. Acana singles was mentioned in the study and how a number of dogs that were fed this diet developed DCM. My breed in particular is prone to heart issues, what should I do to insure my dog doesn't develop any problems? Pet's info: Dog | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | Female | spayed | 6 years old | 17 lbs

David Elbeze, DVM, MRCVS · Accepted Answer

I did read many articles on the subject but i have yet to find a serious study regarding this that is supporting those claims. generally most dogs (unlike cats) do not require taurine in their diets as the dog's body can produce it on it's own when it is lacking, but some breeds seem to have a predisposition for taurine deficiency and this is indeed a reasonable cause of concern in your case. i would recommend consulting your vet regarding the possibility to give Chloe a taurine supplement with her food on a regular basis in order to prevent a scenario of DCM in the future, even if we don't know for sure that all the factors are linked.

My dog has heart issues. Is grain-free food linked to DCM or taurine?

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