16 Pet Foods Linked to Heart Disease

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released a list of 16 pet food brands that may be linked to increased risk canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The investigation, which began in July 2018, was conducted to determine a cause of the drastic increase in reports of DCM in dogs, including breeds without genetic predisposition.

Brands named in the report include Acana, Zignature, Taste of the Wild, 4Health, Earthborn Holistic, Blue Buffalo, Nature’s Domain, Fromm, Merrick, California Natural, Natural Balance, Orijen, Nature’s Variety, NutriSource, Nutro and Rachael Ray Nutrish. Many of the foods identified are labeled as “grain-free” and contain a high proportion of peas, lentils, other legume seeds and potatoes.

Although most commonly reported in larger dogs, some smaller dogs and a few cats have also developed the disease.

Due to the complexity of the issue, the FDA has announced it will continue to investigate the link between pet food ingredients and DCM.

To read the full report and learn more, visit the FDA website.