DCM remains the second most common heart disease in dogs, with primary (genetic) and secondary (potentially nutrition- or environment-linked) forms. Primary DCM is largely inherited, seen in breeds like Dobermans, Boxers, Great Danes, and Irish Wolfhounds, and is not considered diet-related.
Secondary DCM can occur in any breed and may respond to dietary changes, medications, or other factors. Breeds like American Cocker Spaniels and Golden Retrievers have shown correlations with taurine deficiency, and supplementation of taurine or carnitine can support treatment, even if the disease isn’t directly dependent on these nutrients.
Early signals of diet-associated DCM were linked to kibble-based, grain-free diets with high inclusions of legumes or pea protein, though fresh and minimally processed diets have not been implicated. Data remains inconclusive, and DCM diagnosis rates have not tracked with the rise in grain-free diet sales. No definitive cause-and-effect relationship has been established, highlighting the need for careful diet formulation and ongoing research.
