Trevor Kramer says his heart skipped a beat when he learned his dog91裸聊视频檚 premium kibble might be linked to a serious heart condition.

His go-to label, Acana, tops a list of 16 brands the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says may be associated with a greater risk of canine dilated cardiomyopathy, or DCM. His miniature schnauzer91裸聊视频檚 preferred poultry-heavy flavour, Light & Fit, is linked to at least two reported cases.

The news happened to coincide with Kramer running low on kibble, so the Vancouver pet owner took that as an opportunity to switch three-year-old William to Acana91裸聊视频檚 50-per-cent fish variety 91裸聊视频� but he wonders if it91裸聊视频檚 safe to stick with any premium brand at all.

91裸聊视频淲e invest in a high-quality, more expensive dog food assuming that we91裸聊视频檙e giving our dog the best food available,91裸聊视频� says Kramer, a vegan who91裸聊视频檇 prefer to cut all meat from his dog91裸聊视频檚 diet.

91裸聊视频淲hen you see a story like this your heart sort of skips a beat because it makes you wonder: Would he be better off on a cheap supermarket dog food versus this supposedly higher-quality, grain-free boutique brand?91裸聊视频�

The FDA91裸聊视频檚 latest update has intensified doubts about grain-free diets, which the federal agency first raised as a concern a year ago when it began looking into a possible food link to the deadly heart condition.

Among 515 reported cases of DCM were breeds not typically genetically prone to the disease, with the FDA noting, 91裸聊视频渢he common thread appears to be legumes, pulses (seeds of legumes), and/or potatoes as main ingredients in the food.91裸聊视频�

Any possible link is described as 91裸聊视频渁 complex scientific issue that may involve multiple factors91裸聊视频� and the FDA does not suggest avoiding certain brands or diets.

Nevertheless, some veterinarians encouraged a cautious approach until more is known.

91裸聊视频淚f you91裸聊视频檙e seeing peas or lentils in those first five ingredients, then that diet has a significant amount of legumes and you may want to avoid it,91裸聊视频� says Dr. Maggie Brown-Bury of St. John91裸聊视频檚, N.L., who adds that concerned pet owners should consult their veterinarian before switching food.

Toronto veterinary cardiologist Dr. Regan Williams agreed, also dissuading pet owners from boutique and 91裸聊视频渆xotic diets91裸聊视频� that might include unusual ingredients. Several of the affected brands featured kangaroo or bison meat.

91裸聊视频淥ut of an abundance of caution right now we91裸聊视频檙e saying maybe avoid those things until we figure out exactly what91裸聊视频檚 going on,91裸聊视频� says Williams, who works at a downtown Toronto emergency clinic.

DCM causes the heart to enlarge and have difficulty pumping, sometimes causing heart valves to leak and leading to congestive heart failure.

Other brands mentioned in the statement include Zignature (with 64 cases), Taste of the Wild (53), 4Health (32), Earthborn Holistic (32), Blue Buffalo (31), Nature91裸聊视频檚 Domain (29), Fromm (24), Merrick (16), California Natural (15), Natural Balance (15), Orijen (12), Nature91裸聊视频檚 Variety (11), NutriSource (10), Nutro (10), and Rachael Ray Nutrish (10).

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Cassandra Szklarski, The Canadian Press

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