IT'S NOT OVER! Grain Free Dog Food & Heart Disease│Twin Trees Vet Talk (FREE VET ADVICE PODCAST)
Do grain free diets cause heart problems (like DCM or dilated cardiomyopathy) in dogs?
On today’s episode of Twin Trees Vet Talk, we welcome our very special guest, Dr. Mark Harmon. Dr. Harmon is a Veterinary Cardiology Specialist at Boundary Bay Veterinary Specialty Hospital in Vancouver, BC (Canada).
We discuss the problem with trendy new diets ( vegan, vegetarian, grain-free), stemming from ingredients like chickpeas, lentils, peas, and dried beans that have been associated with dogs developing heart problems. Since the FDA warning against grain-free dog food, the FDA has halted its investigation but the problem has not gone away. Pet food manufacturers are still making diets with these problematic ingredients, so it is important to read the label on your pet’s food and discuss with your veterinarian. If your pet has been fed a diet with these ingredients and there is any indication of heart disease (even a very soft murmur, exercise intolerance, shortness of breath, cardiac arrhythmia, etc.) it very is important to have the heart evaluated. The damage can be reversed in the earlier stages, but in the later stages it is devastating. We hope you enjoy this episode! Please leave your questions and comments below!
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
-Diet-associated DCM update from Lisa Freeman (Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionist at Tufts University):
-Orthopaedic Foundation for Animals:
-AKC Guide to Responsible Pet Breeding:
RELATED CONTENT ON OUR CHANNEL:
-Congestive Heart Failure in a Dog / CHF
– 3 Tips from the Emergency Vet
-1.7 Preventative & Wellness Care for Pets (Dangers to Avoid #7 of 7):
-Genetic Heart Disease
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Teaser
0:43 Intro, Do grainfree diets cause heart problems in dogs?
0:58 Problematic ingredients: peas, lentils, chickpeas, dried beans
2:10 how it damages the heart- DCM ( dilated cardiomyopathy )
2:46 DCM can be missed until the very late stages when it is too late
3:30 early detection is key- you may be able to reverse the damage if caught early enough
3:57 what the research shows, side notes on taurine deficiency in cats
5:56 it’s very common even though FDA stopped investigating
6:15 read the pet food label and avoid those ingredients
7:08 not every dog is affected
7:22 how to prevent diet-associated DCM in dogs
FULL BLOG POST:
WELCOME TO TWIN TREES VET TALK! An informal chat with Dr. Lopez (Emergency Veterinarian) and friends to share our perspective on pet predicaments, being a veterinarian, our shared love for animals and more! Have a quick question? Want to run something by us? Or just need our two cents? This is your chance! Each week we select a handful of questions to answer.
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3 BEST PIECES OF ADVICE FROM THE EMERGENCY VET THAT COULD SAVE YOUR PET’S LIFE
1) DON’T WAIT TOO LONG TO GET HELP! If you wait too long, it could be too late. This is especially true for concerns such as laboured breathing, pale gums and weakness. You know your pet best, so if you are worried or concerned, “when in doubt, check it out!”
2) PREVENT THE PREVENTABLE. Learn as much as possible about dangers that face your pet, such as household poisons, seemingly harmless objects (like toys, clothing, garbage and rocks), other animals, and vehicles. Pets are like toddlers and they need a responsible adult/babysitter to protect them from danger.
3) BE PREPARED FOR THE WORST CASE SCENARIO. Have a plan in place, know your nearest emergency clinic, have the ASPCA phone number on speed dial. Know basic first aid training and CPR. But MOST IMPORTANTLY, BE FINANCIALLY PREPARED. The cost of medical treatment in an emergency, and the owners’ ability to pay for it, is probably the most important factor that determines whether a pet will receive the medical care it needs. The best way to protect yourself is to have good medical insurance for your pet. Do your research.
DISCLAIMER
The medical information on this site is provided as an educational resource only, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes.
#doghealth #grainfree #dognutrition #cardiology #veterinarysurgeon #veterinarian #goldenretriever #rottweiler #pethealth #pets
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