{"id":45074,"date":"2026-01-17T01:25:17","date_gmt":"2026-01-17T01:25:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thefarmersdog.com\/digest\/?p=45074"},"modified":"2026-03-24T20:53:42","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T20:53:42","slug":"dcm-in-dogs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thefarmersdog.com\/digest\/dcm-in-dogs\/","title":{"rendered":"Myths and Facts about DCM in Dogs"},"content":{"rendered":"<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><p><strong>In this article:<\/strong><\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#h-what-is-dcm\">What is DCM?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#h-myth-grain-free-foods-cause-dcm\">Does grain-free dog food cause DCM?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#h-myth-legume-rich-foods-cause-dcm\">Does dog food with legumes cause DCM?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#h-myth-nutritional-dcm-is-a-new-problem\">Is DCM a new problem?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div><hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"><div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div><p>Dog owners only want the best for their dogs. And when it comes to diseases like dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a potentially fatal heart condition, it can be hard to distinguish truth from fiction.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Here&rsquo;s a guide to myths and facts about DCM, and how current veterinary research can inform your choices to give your dog the best chance at a long, healthy life.<\/p><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-dcm\">What is DCM?<\/h4><p>DCM is a degenerative and potentially fatal disease of the heart muscle. In dogs with the condition, a weakened heart muscle leads to stretching (dilating) of the heart chambers and reduces the heart&rsquo;s ability to pump blood. Over time, the cycle of an ineffective pump, over-filled chambers, and progressive stretching of the heart walls can lead to congestive heart failure&mdash;a buildup of fluids in the chest and abdomen. DCM can afflict dogs, cats, and humans.<\/p><p>Signs of DCM in dogs can include rapid or labored breathing at rest, coughing or gagging, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thefarmersdog.com\/digest\/what-color-should-my-dogs-gums-be\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">pale gums<\/a>, weakness, lethargy, and collapse or fainting. However, some dogs show no sign of illness at early stages, and some may die suddenly due to acute heart failure or an arrhythmia&nbsp;(irregular heart rhythm).<\/p><p>Veterinary researchers are still learning about the underlying mechanisms that drive the development of DCM in dogs, but <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/S1760273421000564?via%3Dihub\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">research shows that some breeds are predisposed to the genetic form of the condition<\/a>. It more frequently afflicts large and giant breeds, and is very rarely diagnosed in small dogs. High-risk breeds include Doberman pinschers, Great Danes, boxers, and cocker spaniels.&nbsp;<\/p><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-myth-grain-free-foods-cause-dcm\">Myth: Grain-free foods cause DCM.<\/h4><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-fact-research-has-found-no-causal-link-between-any-grain-free-diet-and-dcm\">Fact: Research has found no causal link between any grain-free diet and DCM.<\/h4><p>The myth that grain-free foods cause DCM spread with the publication of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/animal-veterinary\/outbreaks-and-advisories\/fda-investigation-potential-link-between-certain-diets-and-canine-dilated-cardiomyopathy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">June 2019 report<\/a> from the Food and Drug Administration.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Between January 1, 2014 and April 30, 2019, the FDA collected reports on 560 dogs afflicted with DCM, of which 119 died. These reports <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/animal-veterinary\/cvm-updates\/fda-provides-update-investigation-potential-connection-between-certain-diets-and-cases-canine-heart\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">led them to investigate<\/a> a potential link between diet and this disease. Their 2019 publication announced a &ldquo;potential association&rdquo; between diet and DCM in dogs.&nbsp;<\/p><p>However, the FDA investigation failed to find a link between grain-free diets and DCM. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/animal-veterinary\/cvm-updates\/interdisciplinary-scientific-cooperation-will-lead-way-understanding-non-hereditary-dcm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">FDA emphasized<\/a> that it hasn&rsquo;t &ldquo;declared any specific pet food products unsafe or definitively linked to DCM.&rdquo; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/animal-veterinary\/outbreaks-and-advisories\/fda-investigation-potential-link-between-certain-diets-and-canine-dilated-cardiomyopathy#diet\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">In December 2022, the FDA announced<\/a> that it wouldn&rsquo;t release further updates to their investigation &ldquo;until there is meaningful new scientific information to share.&rdquo;<\/p><p>Further, the small number of cases collected for the FDA investigation was not&nbsp; representative of the US pet dog population and their diets. In a 2020 paper published in the <em>Journal of Anim<\/em>a<em>l Science<\/em>, the authors wrote in the abstract that the veterinary community ought to be asked to provide information for <em>all<\/em> cases of DCM in dogs, regardless of diet. And in July 2022, the accountability organization 100Reporters <a href=\"https:\/\/100r.org\/2022\/07\/did-industry-funding-influence-an-fda-investigation-into-canine-heart-disease-and-grain-free-dog-food\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">published an article<\/a> that found some vets were instructed to submit <em>only<\/em> DCM cases implicating grain-free pet foods.<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/journals\/animal-science\/articles\/10.3389\/fanim.2022.846227\/full\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">A University of Missouri paper from 2022<\/a>&mdash;also published in <em>Frontiers in Animal Science<\/em>&mdash;noted that, although there had been a small&nbsp;increase in the number of DCM cases&nbsp; suspected to be associated with diet, there was not a corresponding increase in the overall number of DCM cases nationally&mdash;this despite a fivefold increase in sales of grain-free pet food between 2011 and 2019. Almost all major dog-food companies in the US now sell grain-free options.<\/p><p>In July 2025, the <a href=\"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/jas\/article\/doi\/10.1093\/jas\/skaf225\/8196486\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Journal of Animal Science <\/em><\/a>published a Hill&rsquo;s Pet Nutrition study. The paper&rsquo;s authors wrote that an 18-month feeding study showed no adverse cardiac effects in dogs fed a grain-free diet as opposed to a grain-inclusive diet.<\/p><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-myth-legume-rich-foods-cause-dcm\">Myth: Legume-rich foods cause DCM.<\/h4><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-fact-recent-feeding-studies-show-no-link-between-legumes-and-dcm\">Fact: Recent feeding studies show no link between legumes and DCM.<\/h4><figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"461\" height=\"589\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thefarmersdog.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/DCM-in-dogs-refined.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-45119\" style=\"width:403px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thefarmersdog.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/DCM-in-dogs-refined.jpg 461w, https:\/\/www.thefarmersdog.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/DCM-in-dogs-refined-235x300.jpg 235w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 461px) 100vw, 461px\" \/><\/figure><p>In September 2020, Kansas State University hosted a virtual scientific forum for academic, industry, and veterinary medicine experts to share research on potential causes of non-hereditary DCM in dogs. One <a href=\"https:\/\/ksvdl.org\/resources\/documents\/dcm-forum\/DCM-Workshop-Presentation-AGT-Foods.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">presentation<\/a> explored the history of pulses&mdash;the edible dried seeds of legumes&mdash;and <a href=\"https:\/\/ksvdl.org\/resources\/documents\/dcm-forum\/DCM-Abstract-rev01.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">their use in pet food<\/a>. Pet foods have incorporated pulses since the 1980s. As the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/animal-veterinary\/animal-health-literacy\/questions-answers-fdas-work-potential-causes-non-hereditary-dcm-dogs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">FDA later noted<\/a>, &ldquo;it is important to note that legumes and pulses have been used in pet foods for many years, with no evidence to indicate they are inherently dangerous.&rdquo;<\/p><p>The same 2025 Hill&rsquo;s study referenced above included a group consuming pulses, and found no adverse effect on cardiac function in dogs eating them.<\/p><p>In 2023, the University of Missouri <a href=\"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/journals\/animal-science\/articles\/10.3389\/fanim.2023.1271202\/full\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">published a paper<\/a> in the journal <em>Frontiers in Animal Science<\/em>. Over seven months, researchers fed 65 dogs four test diets: two grain-free diets with pulses and potatoes, and two grain-inclusive diets without pulses and potatoes. None of the dogs developed DCM, and the authors wrote that the study &ldquo;was unable to identify any dietary correlation to DCM.&rdquo;<\/p><p>It&rsquo;s also worth noting that, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, there are about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.avma.org\/news\/evolving-pet-owner-economics-what-data-reveal-veterinary-teams\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">87.3 million pet dogs in the US as of 2025<\/a>. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/animal-veterinary\/outbreaks-and-advisories\/fda-investigation-potential-link-between-certain-diets-and-canine-dilated-cardiomyopathy#diet\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">FDA acknowledged<\/a> that &ldquo;most dogs in the US have been eating pet food without apparently developing DCM.&rdquo;&nbsp; It is difficult not only to know the true number of dogs suffering from DCM, but what factors may ultimately cause this condition in these dogs, including their diet.<\/p><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-myth-nutritional-dcm-is-a-new-problem\">Myth: Nutritional DCM is a new problem<\/h4><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-fact-nutritional-dcm-has-been-a-problem-for-decades-at-least-and-research-is-ongoing\">Fact: Nutritional DCM has been a problem for decades, at least&mdash;and research is ongoing<\/h4><p>While <a href=\"https:\/\/www.avma.org\/news\/until-more-science-available-fda-will-end-public-updates-potential-link-between-certain-diets\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reports<\/a> of canine DCM between January 2014 and November 2022 made headlines, the disease is by no means a recent problem, or one that arose after the increased popularity of dog food without grains.<\/p><p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/avmajournals.avma.org\/view\/journals\/javma\/223\/8\/javma.2003.223.1137.xml\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">paper published<\/a> in 2003 in the <em>Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association<\/em> analyzed 12 cases of canine DCM between 1997 and 2001. The dogs included in this retrospective study all ate a commercial dry diet containing lamb meal, rice, or both as primary ingredients.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thefarmersdog.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/DCM-in-dogs1-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-45082\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thefarmersdog.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/DCM-in-dogs1-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thefarmersdog.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/DCM-in-dogs1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.thefarmersdog.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/DCM-in-dogs1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thefarmersdog.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/DCM-in-dogs1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.thefarmersdog.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/DCM-in-dogs1.jpg 1733w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>A crucial result from this paper was that consumption of certain commercial diets may be associated with low blood or plasma concentrations of a compound called taurine. Taurine is an amino acid, which are the body&rsquo;s building blocks for protein, that is highly concentrated in certain tissues, including in the heart. Natural sources of taurine include fish and shellfish, meat (both muscle and organs), dairy, and eggs. Critically, taurine isn&rsquo;t found in plants, including legumes and grains.<\/p><p>This paper also reveals that the presence of grains&mdash;in this case, rice&mdash;isn&rsquo;t necessarily a factor in developing or preventing DCM. And meat meals aren&rsquo;t made with the sort of muscle or organ meat that&rsquo;s packed with taurine.<\/p><p>While nutritional DCM does occur, it is a rare diagnosis and is likely multifactorial&mdash;influenced by genetics, individual animal metabolism, diet, and more.<\/p><p>We&rsquo;ll all benefit from more evidence-based research on DCM, and from an ongoing commitment to distinguishing myth from fact when it comes to our dogs&rsquo; wellbeing. We will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available.&nbsp;<\/p><p>The Farmer&rsquo;s Dog food is always formulated by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thefarmersdog.com\/digest\/meet-our-on-staff-board-certified-nutritionists\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">on-staff, board-certified nutritionists<\/a>. We&rsquo;ve also conducted<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thefarmersdog.com\/digest\/does-the-farmers-dog-do-aafco-feeding-trials\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> AAFCO feeding trials<\/a> on multiple recipes and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thefarmersdog.com\/digest\/the-farmers-dog-and-the-cornell-university-college-of-veterinary-medicine-partner-for-a-long-term-feeding-study\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">partnered with the Cornell University School of Veterinary Medicine on a long-term feeding study<\/a>.<\/p><p>If you have any questions about what diet is right for your dog, talk to your veterinarian&mdash;they&rsquo;re the person who&rsquo;s most qualified to make a recommendation that accounts for your best friend&rsquo;s particular needs and medical history.<\/p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n\n{\n    \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n    \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n    \"mainEntity\": [\n      {\n        \"@type\": \"Question\",\n        \"name\": \"What is Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs?\",\n        \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n          \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n          \"text\": \"DCM is a degenerative and potentially fatal disease of the heart muscle in dogs. It causes a weakened heart muscle, leading to stretching of the heart chambers and reducing the heart's ability to pump blood effectively. This can eventually lead to congestive heart failure.\"\n        }\n      },\n      {\n        \"@type\": \"Question\",\n        \"name\": \"What are the signs of DCM in dogs?\",\n        \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n          \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n          \"text\": \"Signs of DCM in dogs can include rapid or labored breathing at rest, coughing or gagging, pale gums, weakness, lethargy, and collapse or fainting. Some dogs may show no signs in the early stages, and some can die suddenly from acute heart failure or an irregular heart rhythm.\"\n        }\n      },\n      {\n        \"@type\": \"Question\",\n        \"name\": \"Are certain dog breeds more prone to DCM?\",\n        \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n          \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n          \"text\": \"Yes, research shows that some breeds are predisposed to the genetic form of DCM. It more frequently affects large and giant breeds, and is rarely diagnosed in small dogs. High-risk breeds include Doberman pinschers, Great Danes, boxers, and cocker spaniels.\"\n        }\n      },\n      {\n        \"@type\": \"Question\",\n        \"name\": \"Does grain-free dog food cause DCM?\",\n        \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n          \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n          \"text\": \"No, research has found no causal link between grain-free diets and DCM. While the FDA investigated a potential association, their investigation did not find a definitive link, and they have not declared any specific pet food products unsafe or definitively linked to DCM. Studies have also shown no adverse cardiac effects in dogs fed grain-free diets compared to grain-inclusive diets.\"\n        }\n      },\n      {\n        \"@type\": \"Question\",\n        \"name\": \"Do dog foods with legumes cause DCM?\",\n        \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n          \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n          \"text\": \"No, recent feeding studies show no link between legumes and DCM. Legumes have been used in pet food for many years without evidence of being inherently dangerous. Studies that included dogs consuming pulses found no adverse effect on cardiac function.\"\n        }\n      },\n      {\n        \"@type\": \"Question\",\n        \"name\": \"Is DCM a new problem in dogs?\",\n        \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n          \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n          \"text\": \"No, DCM is not a new problem. Although there was a recent increase in suspected cases, there hasn't been a corresponding increase in the overall national number of DCM cases, despite a significant rise in grain-free pet food sales.\"\n        }\n      }\n    ]\n}\n<\/script>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Here\u2019s the truth about this potentially fatal heart disease.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":45080,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[416,418],"tags":[349,184,221],"class_list":["post-45074","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-wellness","category-science-research","tag-conditions","tag-dog-food","tag-safety"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thefarmersdog.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45074","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thefarmersdog.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thefarmersdog.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thefarmersdog.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thefarmersdog.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=45074"}],"version-history":[{"count":35,"href":"https:\/\/www.thefarmersdog.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45074\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":45731,"href":"https:\/\/www.thefarmersdog.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45074\/revisions\/45731"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thefarmersdog.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/45080"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thefarmersdog.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=45074"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thefarmersdog.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=45074"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thefarmersdog.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=45074"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}