Prevalence and description of dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy eating hydrolyzed protein diets.

Hydrolyzed protein diets found in 1.3% of DCM cases; causative role remains unclear.

This retrospective study examined the relationship between hydrolyzed protein diets and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs. Medical records from 2,222 dogs diagnosed with DCM between May 2018 and October 2023 were reviewed, with 2,105 meeting inclusion criteria. Only 28 dogs (1.3%) were consuming hydrolyzed protein diets at the time of DCM diagnosis. The most commonly affected breeds were pit bull-type dogs, English Bulldogs, and Doberman Pinschers. Clinical presentation was consistent with DCM, with 60.7% presenting with arrhythmias and 60.7% with congestive heart failure. No significant differences in age, sex, or body weight were observed between dogs eating hydrolyzed versus nonhydrolyzed protein diets. Five dogs eating hydrolyzed protein diets underwent follow-up echocardiography after diet change, demonstrating significant improvements in left atrial-to-aortic ratio and normalized left ventricular internal dimension at end systole. While the study suggests a possible association between hydrolyzed protein diets and DCM, the small sample size and limited follow-up data prevent definitive conclusions. The authors conclude the role of hydrolyzed protein diets in DCM requires further investigation.

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