Report Links 16 Dog Food Brands to Heart Disease

Attention dog owners. Your dog may be at risk for developing heart disease based on their food.

The Food and Drug Administration announced Thursday that it is continuing to investigate a potential connection between certain dog foods and cases of canine heart disease, which can result in congestive heart failure, according to USA Today.

Thursday’s announcement named 16 pet food brands most frequently identified in the more than 500 reported cases.

The report says large and giant breed dogs are most typically affected, with cases being most prevalent in golden retrievers, mixed breeds and Labrador retrievers. However, there have been cases of smaller breeds, too, suggesting “a lack of a genetic connection."

In most of the cases, the dogs ate dry food.

The investigation also looked into the ingredients or characteristics of the dogs’ diets. More than 90% of diets were “grain-free” and 93% had peas and/or lentils.,

The report notes that the FDA doesn’t yet know how certain diets may be associated with the disease.

Here are the brands and how many cases were reported to the FDA for each:

Acana: 67
Zignature: 64
Taste of the Wild: 53
4Health: 32
Earthborn Holistic: 32
Blue Buffalo: 31
Nature’s Domain: 29
Fromm: 24
Merrick: 16
California Natural: 15
Natural Balance: 15
Orijen: 12
Nature’s Variety: 11
NutriSource: 10
Nutro: 10
Rachael Ray Nutrish: 10

You are advised to contact their veterinarian as soon as possible if “a dog is showing possible signs of DCM or other heart conditions, including decreased energy, cough, difficulty breathing and episodes of collapse."

Source: USA Today