According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the transition toward “boutique” dog foods—often toting labels like “grain-free” and made with non-meat ingredients like peas, lentils, and potatoes—might be contributing to dogs across the nation dying of heart disease.
The FDA warned years ago that there was rapid spike in dogs dying from dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), or canine heart disease, which can result in congestive heart failure.
The disease is considered genetic in large breeds like golden retrievers, but in recent years, has appeared in several other breeds. The FDA can point toward specific ingredients as the culprit.
Pet owners are warned that “the common thread appears to be legumes, pulses (seeds of legumes) and/or potatoes as main ingredients in the food. This also includes protein, starch and fiber derivatives of these ingredients.”
Sixteen pet brands that are linked to the 560 cases of DCM in dogs over the last five years have been named by the FDA.