Between January 2014 and July 2020, 1100 cases of nutritional related DCM had been reported to the FDA. Out of roughly 76.8 million dogs in the United States using 2018’s figures provided by the AVMA.

That’s about 0.0014% of the total canine population in the United States at the time. Dr. Steven Solomon, director of the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine, told a conference that “A pattern emerged,” he said. “Dogs in cases submitted to FDA were reported to have consumed diets containing high proportions of pulse ingredients, which are dried legume seeds, including peas, chickpeas, and lentils.”

Nutritional related or non-hereditary DCM is generally linked to legumes, with peas that cause the highest concern.

Legumes have a protein that block the digestion of taurine. Particularly found in diets that contain beet pulp or dried alfalfa. Notably, legumes (lentils, navy beans, pinto beans, lima, yellow split peas, green split peas, soy, alfalfa, and flax meal) are also phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens act like the mammalian hormone estrogen, and fed enough of, will cause issues with the endocrine system (thyroid and reproductive systems especially).

According to the most recent study by Tufts University, “four of the main ingredients linked to nutritional DCM were in fact: peas, lentils, chicken or turkey, and rice. But of the four, peas showed the greatest association with higher concentrations of compounds in DCM-associated diets.”

Victor, Orijen, Acana, Purina, Earthborn, Zignature, Fromm, Honest Kitchen, 4Health, Taste of the Wild, Wellness Core, Hill’s Science Diet, Hill’s Prescription Diet, Instinct, Canidae, Merrick, Nutro Max, Blue Buffalo, Diamond, California Natural, Redford Naturals, Midwestern Propac, Iams, Holistic Select, Freshpet, Horizons, and American Journey were all reported.

The food that I have chosen, (Orijen Amazing Grains Original Recipe) does not include legumes, pulses, or phytoestrogens, and has not appeared on any recall or adverse reaction reports.