DCM

So what does DCM have to do with our fresh food community? We use peas in a number of our recipes to easily meet Zinc requirements. However, unlike grain-free dry foods which the FDA outline use large amounts of peas, lentils, other legume seeds (pulses), and/or potatoes in various forms (whole, flour, protein, etc.) as main ingredients, we use them in tiny amounts, typically at around 2% or less.

​

According to a research review of 150 studies on the topic, scientists feel more research is needed but right now the indication is that DCM is inherited in dogs.

​

 

They found:

​

 

• NO 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻-𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗺𝗲-𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗖𝗠.
   

 

• 𝗙𝗗𝗔’𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗖𝗠 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗲.𝗴. 𝗻𝗼 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗱𝗼𝗴’𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆, 𝗮𝗴𝗲, 𝗲𝘁𝗰.), 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝘄 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮.

 

The peer-reviewed article also discusses published research that looks at other factors that could contribute to the presence of DCM, including nutrient deficiencies, myocarditis, chronic tachycardia, and hypothyroid disease.
 

 

Study:

Review of canine dilated cardiomyopathy in the wake of diet-associated concerns

Sydney R McCauley, Stephanie D Clark, Bradley W Quest, Renee M Streeter, Eva M Oxford

Journal of Animal Science, Volume 98, Issue 6, June 2020, skaa155, https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skaa155