Pet nutrition is a big business and also one of the most important things pet owners can do to keep their pet healthy. But in June 2018, the FDA released a warning that there was a possible link between pet diets containing peas, legumes and potatoes and heart disease (dilated cardiomyopathy) in dogs. These ingredients are often found in ‘BEG’ diets (Boutique diets, exotic ingredient diets, or grain-free diets). The exact cause is not yet known and it is still under investigation, but some possible causes may include:
- Deficiency of taurine
- Improper processing of the food leading to the destruction of nutrients
- Lack of quality control by the food manufacturer
- Novel proteins not supplying adequate nutrition
At Wilderness Animal Hospital we believe in continuing to educate ourselves and our clients with the most up-to-date information when it comes to the health of pets. While we may not have specific answers of the cause yet, we do have recommendations based on current findings:
- If your pet is on a diet with peas, legumes or potatoes and DOES NOT have symptoms of heart disease:
- Consider changing to a diet without those ingredients, such as rice, wheat or corn.
- If your pet has food allergies, consider hydrolyzed diets. Did you know, proteins are common causes of allergies in pets, not grains?
- If you do not want to change diets, consider screening options: Taurine blood levels and/or Echocardiogram with a veterinary cardiologist.
- If your pet is on a diet with peas, legumes, and potatoes and DOES have symptoms of heart disease (coughing, lethargy), we recommend you:
- Perform screening tests: Taurine blood level and Echocardiogram (follow up echocardiogram in 4-6 months after initial screening)
- Change your pet’s diet to include rice, wheat, and corn
- Supplement with taurine (250-500 mg or 50m/k per day)
- File a report with the FDA
Want more food for thought? Check out Dr. McCoury’s article on how to read your pet’s food label. If you have any questions or concerns about your pet’s health or food, please give us a call to schedule an appointment to talk about options for your pet.