Canine heart disease linked to food brands

Canine heart disease is reportedly linked to some popular food brands. Recent reports to the US Food and Drug Administration noted that more than 16 brands of dog food may be highly related to a disease that has been occurring in dogs in the area.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (heart problems), is the condition that dogs have been presenting.

In the past year, there have been more than 500 cases of cardiomyopathy, (disease, where a stretched heart muscle is involved causing it to weaken and be unable to contract again).

These cases occurred in dogs fed grain-free feed, what is referred to is that these foods omit or replace ingredients such as wheat and corn; by other components such as peas, lentils or potatoes.

The investigations identified some brands related to the cases such as:

- Acana

- Signature

-Taste of the Wild

-4Health

-Earthborn Holistic

-Blue Buffalo

- Nature's Domain

-Fromm

-Merrick

-California Natural

-Nature Balance

- Origin

-Nature's Variety

-NutriSource

- I nourish

-Rachael Ray Nutrish

The FDA presented a report to raise awareness on the issue. Although no specific links between the disease and the diets of affected animals (dogs) have been determined.

It is stated that they will continue with investigations that will allow them to find out the nature of the problem. And they follow dog owners to change the diet fed to their pets . No recall has been requested for the products possibly involved in these cases.