What ingredients are implicated in diet-associated DCM in dogs?
Answer
High inclusion of pulse ingredients like peas, lentils, and chickpeas.
There has been significant concern regarding diet-associated dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs that are not genetically predisposed to the heart condition. While grain-free diets were initially suspect, current data suggests the primary issue is not simply the absence of grain. Instead, the focus has shifted to the high level of inclusion of pulse ingredients, which are commonly used as carbohydrate replacements in these specialized formulations. Ingredients such as peas, lentils, and chickpeas have been specifically implicated in the development of DCM in susceptible dogs, highlighting that carbohydrate source substitution matters significantly for cardiac health.
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