Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)

Dilated cardiomyopathy is a heart disease where the heart muscle weakens and the heart chambers enlarge, reducing the heart's ability to pump blood effectively. DCM has historically been associated with specific genetic predispositions in certain breeds (Doberman Pinschers, Boxers, Cocker Spaniels). In 2018 the FDA opened an investigation into a possible link between DCM and grain-free diets heavy in peas, lentils, and chickpeas. The investigation has not reached a definitive conclusion. The cautious position for healthy dogs is to feed grain-inclusive food from a feeding-trial-validated brand and avoid recipes where pulses dominate the ingredient panel.