Lately, there has been a lot of talk about DCM and dog food among the pet owners of the world. Even if you don’t own a dog, you might be familiar with DCM since it is a heart disease that affects humans as well. This disease is when the heart becomes weakened and pumping blood becomes difficult for the organ.
Within the past several years, there have been more cases of canine dilated cardiomyopathy than ever before. DCM has always been prevalent in large dog breeds, but even these predisposed breeds are developing the disease at a higher rate. But more research is pointing out the correlation between DCM and diet. It’s making a lot of pet owners wonder, Should certain dog foods be avoided?
Should Pet Owners Really be Worried About Diet and DCM?
As a pet owner, it is normal to feel a connection and unbreakable bond with a furry friend. It is easy to panic about something like this, but you might be wondering to yourself, do I really need to be concerned? In a way, yes, and in a way, no. If you own a small breed that has no history of DCM in its lineage, there isn’t much to be worried about.
But, if you own a large breed that is predisposed to dilated cardiomyopathy and there is a history of the disease in the family, you need to stay aware at the very least. Although it may be difficult, there is no need to worry day in and day out about your dog’s health. You don’t need to be worried per se, but it is important to schedule annual vet checkups to make sure your dog remains in good health.
What You Need to Know About DCM and Dog Food
In terms of DCM and how it relates to dog food, the main thing to keep in mind is that quality means everything. No matter if you’re feeding your dog the recommended amount of food and getting a good amount of exercise in, if the dog food is low in quality, you aren’t doing your pup any favors. Similar to human food, there is something called “empty calories” in dog food.
M and how it relates to dog food, the main thing to keep in mind is that quality means everything. No matter if you’re feeding your dog the recommended amount of food and getting a good amount of exercise in, if the dog food is low in quality, you aren’t doing your pup any favors. Similar to human food, there is something called “empty calories” in dog food.
Empty calories are consumed just for the sake of feeling full but don’t actually do any good in the long run. Most empty calories come from foods containing grains, such as wheat and rice. Try something new by feeding your dog a high-quality grain-free food that contains a healthy balance of meats, fruits, vegetables, and legumes.
You should be able to get a good gauge of a dog food’s quality by how much it costs. Generally speaking, the cheapest dog food brand on the shelf will bring no nutritional value to the table – or should we say dog food bowl. You don’t have to purchase the most expensive bag of kibble, but try to avoid the low-quality brands that only have a low price going for them.