Making Sense of
Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)
FDA Update Reassures Pet Lovers
At ACANA, we’re committed to making nutritious, healthy, and safe food for pets everywhere. That’s why we are pleased the Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Veterinary Medicine, has shared it will not provide any further updates on Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) in connection with grain-free food until there is meaningful new information to share, because data up until this point has been insufficient in establishing a connection between the two.
DCM is a rare and scientifically complex disease that impacts approximately 1% of dogs in the U.S. Previously, Dr. Steven Solomon, former Director of FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine, underscored:
- No pet food has been declared unsafe or linked to DCM: “FDA has not taken regulatory action against or declared any specific pet food products unsafe or definitively linked to DCM”.
- DCM is a complex medical condition about far more than diet: “Historically, DCM has been primarily linked to genetic predisposition in certain breeds, but in the context of these atypical cases, emerging science indicates that non-hereditary DCM is a complex medical condition that may be affected by the interplay of multiple factors such as genetics, underlying medical conditions and diet”.
Dr. Solomon’s full remarks from 2020 are available online here.
Our Pet Health Experts
We have numerous pet nutrition, food science and veterinary medicine experts on staff who oversee the creation of our foods. These valuable members of our team collectively have over 135 years of experience working in animal health and nutrition. To continually advance our products to meet the complex nutritional needs of pets, our team conducts in-depth reviews of existing scientific research and runs regular digestibility studies on all our products.
CHRISTINE
MSc Animal Nutrition & Metabolism
As our Director of Core Product Development and Innovation, Christine’s job is to ensure that we listen to our Pet Lovers’ needs, and above all else, consider their health and safety when crafting our foods.
DARCIA
DVM
Darcia is our in-house veterinarian. She partners with the veterinary community to share valuable information and education on the science behind ACANA pet foods. .
JENNIFER
PhD Animal Sciences
Jennifer is our Research and Nutrition Manager. She oversees the Nutrition Research Team to make sure our foods are innovative, go beyond pet food trends, and reflect the latest science.
JANELLE
MSc Animal Nutrition & Animal Sciences
Janelle is our Nutrition Research Scientist. An animal lover through and through, Janelle leads our research program to create nutritious foods that Pet Lovers can be confident feeding.
SHAYNE
BSc Animal Sciences
Shayne is our Formulation Manager. He ensures the nutritional integrity of our pet foods and oversees the crafting of our diets.
JILL
MSc Animal Nutrition
Jill is our Formulation Assistant. She helps ensure our foods are nutritionally sound, and researches innovative ingredients and how best to use them.
CARRIE
BSc Animal Health
Carrie is our Formulation Assistant. She helps with crafting our diets and nutritional monitoring of our foods.
Benefits of Grain-Free
Millions of dogs have eaten and thrived on grain-free foods for decades. When well-formulated and combined with high levels of animal ingredients, grain-free foods can offer:
- A lower overall carbohydrate content and higher levels of protein, which is Biologically Appropriate for dogs
- Essential nutrients like B vitamins thiamin, riboflavin and pyridoxine
- An alternative to help with mild allergies or sensitivities
Grain-free diets provide safe and healthy nutrition. Click to discover our full line up of grain-free foods.
