FDA identifies potential link between grain-free dog food and heart disease

Sixteen grain-free dog food brands have been potentially linked to heart problems, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The three brands that have been linked to the disease most frequently by the FDA are Acana, Zignature and Taste of the Wild.

Dr. Steven Marks of North Carolina State University's School of Veterinary Medicine said the fatal heart disease is called canine dilated cardiomypathy (DCM). This disease can lead to enlarged heart muscles in dogs, causing them to become lethargic and have breathing difficulties.

"I don't know if there's any research that shows a grain-free diet is beneficial for any specific disease," Marks said.

Besides grains, these dog foods also are heavy in carbohydrate substitutes, like peas, potatoes and lentils.

"We don't know what component of the diet is actually really contributing," Marks said. "I think there needs to be more research to find out why this is happening."

With 95 reports, Golden Retrievers have been linked to this condition most frequently, according to the FDA. The FDA reports there have been a total of 515 reports of this disease in dogs and 119 deaths since Jan. 1, 2014.

For the time being, Marks suggests that owners who feed their dogs grain-free food should transition them to a new diet and talk to their vet about diet and health conditions.

"Introduce a little bit of a new diet," he said. "You know, a couple cups of the new diet every day mixed in with the original diet.

It is important to remember that these dog foods have not been recalled yet.