Dogs on ‘caveman’ diet at risk of heart disease

Owners warned over the dangers of making their pets share their trendy eating habits

GOURMET dishes with bison, sweet potato and chick peas may seem like the perfect way for loving dog owners to treat their pets.

But a recent trend for extending the fashionable paleo – or caveman – diet to pets may be behind a rise in heart disease in dogs, it is feared.

The US Food and Drug Administration launched an inquiry into a “highly unusual” number of cases of canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs with diets high in lentils and protein.

Research published this year shows “natural” pet food makes up more than a third of the UK’S £940 million market, while grain-free food accounted for 15 per cent, prompting fears British dogs may face similar ailments.

Health-conscious pet owners have taken to giving their dogs meals that resemble their own in the belief they are providing healthy dishes.

With a rise in paleo plans that mimic ancient diets, dog owners have opted to put their pets on similar regimes.

Some makers advertise “wild” foods “based on your pet’s natural diet”, with ingredients such as wild boar, smoked trout and even venison.

The UK’S Pet Food Manufacturing Association confirmed to The Daily Telegraph that it is “closely monitoring” the US investigation.

America’s largest vet practice, Chesapeake Veterinary Cardiology Associates (CVCA), says it has seen a significant rise in DCM in recent years.

Dr Steven Rosenthal, a veterinary cardiologist with CVCA, said a high percentage of the dogs he is treating for DCM are on grain-free diets, with some owners feeding exotic meats such as kangaroo and alligator.

He said: “We were starting to see a trend of boutique diets.

“Our highly dedicated pet owners are seeking out diets that are marketed to be more healthy, grain-free, sometimes even vegan diets. There’s also a population of pet owners that are feeding their dogs raw food as well.

“What is the link with the diet is still a question but it’s a concern because we’re seeing this disease in pets that aren’t predisposed to these conditions.”

Dr Rosenthal said there had been a trend to believe that diets high in grains are not healthy. “If they perceive it to be unhealthy for a person, then it’s perceived to be unhealthy for a pet as well, he said. “And the dietary needs of a dog and cat are different to the dietary needs of a person.”

DCM causes a dog’s heart muscle to enlarge and can lead to congestive heart failure.

It is not usually seen in smaller breeds but cases reported in the US have included a shih tzu and miniature schnauzers.

A spokesman for the Food Standards Agency said: “We are not aware of any similar concerns with feeding animals grain-free pet food in the UK.

“However, following the decision by the US FDA to launch an investigation, we will be looking at their conclusions on the potential association between these diets and animal health.”