There are no proven strategies for preventing the development of DCM, although many medical protocols and nutritional supplements have been proposed.
Can familial dilated cardiomyopathy be prevented?
You cannot prevent inherited types of cardiomyopathy. But you can take steps to lower your risk for conditions that may lead to (or complicate) cardiomyopathy, such coronary heart disease, high blood pressure and heart attack. Cardiomyopathy can be precipitated by an underlying disease or condition.
What dog foods cause dilated cardiomyopathy?
Diets reported to be associated with DCM are often labeled “grain-free” and usually contain certain ingredients, including peas and potatoes, which are used to replace other ingredients such as rice or corn.
What dog breeds are predisposed to DCM?
Breeds predisposed to DCM include the Doberman Pinscher, the Great Dane, the Boxer, and the Cocker Spaniel. Dietary carnitine deficiency may play a role in some cases of Boxer DCM, and taurine responsive DCM has been identified in Cocker Spaniels.
Can DCM be reversed in dogs?
Many cases of nutritionally induced DCM can be reversed if the nutritional deficiency is identified and treated. Similarly, patients with tachycardia induced DCM can show full reversal of the cardiac changes once the underlying arrhythmia has been treated and controlled.
Does dilated cardiomyopathy go away?
Dilated cardiomyopathy doesn’t go away. But it can be treated. Treatment can help keep cardiomyopathy from getting worse, and can reduce your symptoms. Treatment can also help prevent worsening heart failure, blood clots, heart valve problems, and arrhythmias.
Do dogs need grains in their diet?
Whole grains provide an important nutritional resource for your dog, including B vitamins, iron, magnesium, selenium, carbohydrates for energy, and fiber to aid in digestion. You may have heard that grain-free dog food has more meat because it makes up for the lack of grains.
Is grain free really bad for dogs?
Leaving grains out of your dog’s diet, however, might be a far greater health risk than keeping them in. According to a warning from the Food and Drug Administration released last week, grain-free food might be giving dogs a life-threatening heart problem called dilated cardiomyopathy, or DCM.
Does a grain free diet for dogs cause heart disease?
University of California, Davis, veterinarians led a team that has found a link between some popular grain-free, legume-rich dog diets and a type of nutritional deficiency and canine heart disease known as taurine-deficient dilated cardiomyopathy.
Can you reverse an enlarged heart in dogs?
Unless your dog is continually and severely affected by this condition, long term hospitalization is usually not required. However, depending on the underlying cause of your dog’s enlarged heart, it is often progressive and there is no cure.
How can I help my dog with cardiomyopathy?
Treatment of Cardiomyopathy in Dogs
- Diuretics to help remove excess fluid from the body.
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors to lower blood pressure and make it easier for blood to flow out of the heart.
- Digitalis glycosides to help slow the heart rate and strengthen contractions.
Is DCM treatable?
There is no cure for DCM but most of the symptoms can be controlled by medication and other treatments to help you live your normal life.
How can I shrink my dogs enlarged heart?
Treatment for DCM is multifaceted and typically includes several medications used to increase the heart’s pumping ability and manage any arrhythmias. A diuretic may also be administered to decrease fluid accumulation in various tissues, and a vasodilator may be given to dilate the blood vessels and improve circulation.
Can diet cause an enlarged heart in dogs?
Certain types of grain-free dog food seem to be involved, FDA says. Dogs fed “grain free” food based on peas, lentils or potatoes are developing an unusual condition that can cause an enlarged heart, the Food and Drug Administration warned Thursday.
Can dogs recover from dilated cardiomyopathy?
Some dogs with DCM do well with treatment for a period of time; however, some dogs will never resume a normal lifestyle. Doberman Pinschers have been shown to live as little as 3 months once diagnosed. Other dogs have been known to live between 6-24 months if they respond well to treatment.
