Important Update from the FDA and Grain-Free Diets
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced through their third status report on June 27, 2019that they are continuing to investigate a potential link between certain grain-free diets and a heart condition in dogs called canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). (Please see full release at https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/cvm-updates/fda-provides-third-status-report-investigation-potential-connection-between-certain-diets-and-cases.)
Our Rainier Veterinary Hospital medical team has been following this issue since it was first reported by veterinary cardiologists in 2018. Most recently, the FDA expanded on this early information by sharing a list of the top 16 brands of dog food that were confirmed to be linked to cases of DCM.
Concerns over your pet’s diet and nutrition alone can raise many questions. We understand that the latest announcement from the FDA deepens those concerns and may lead to many more questions. It is our understanding that this continues to be an area of ongoing research, and we will do our best to keep you informed.
In the meantime, we have compiled some outside resources for you that delve more deeply into this important topic:
TaurineDCM– An informational website sourced and moderated by volunteer veterinarians and researchers. The site’s FAQ page is a great starting point on this topic.
WSVMA – A great all-around resource on veterinary medicine and recent findings.
The initial articles posted by the Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine Clinical Nutrition Service
https://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2018/11/dcm-update/
Please do not hesitate to reach out to us by phone or email with any other questions or concerns you might have.
