EPISODE 135 | RELEASED October 4, 2021

Grain Free Diets and Dilated Cardiomyopathy | Dr. Nancy Reese, DVM, PhD and Dr. Kendra Pope, DVM, DACVIM Deep Dive

Pat called in with two questions: why didn’t her vet find her dogs’ cancers sooner, and does grain-free dog food cause heart disease?

SHOW NOTES

Today’s episode touches on the challenge of diagnosing cancer, and then dives into diet-related dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

In 2018 the FDA reported an increase in DCM in dogs that do not fit the typical profile for breeds predisposed to this heart condition, and a correlation with grain-free, boutique diets that are high in legumes.

Research is still ongoing to find out exactly why these diets are associated with DCM in dogs. Dr. Nancy Reese, Dr. Kendra Pope, and vet tech Kate Basedow weigh in on the different factors you need to consider when choosing what to feed your dog.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Show:

The Dog Cancer Survival Guide: Full Spectrum Treatments to Optimize Your Dog’s Life Quality and Longevity by Dr. Demian Dressler and Dr. Susan Ettinger.

Volition’s Nu.Q™ Vet Cancer Screening Test at Texas A&M

Balance IT

Cummings Veterinary Medical School at Tufts articles on diet-related DCM

Related Links:

WSAVA Guidelines on Selecting Pet Food

FDA Investigation into Potential Link between Certain Diets and Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy

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