As you may be aware, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released an update on June 27th on their continued investigation into a potential link between certain diets, primarily grain-free, and canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). DCM is a heart condition where the heart muscle dilates abnormally and leads to a decreased ability to pump blood properly. There are certain dog breeds with a known inheritance of DCM but there have been an increase in dogs diagnosed with this disease outside of these typical breeds.

We all love sitting on the couch with something to snack on after a long day, but how many of us are guilty of sharing with our furry friends? Of course it's too easy to want to slip something over to your doe-eyed dog, but how can we be sure that what we’re sharing is safe? This is a list of foods that are not only safe for you and your dog to share, but they can also be good for your pup!

By Dr. Heather Kovac

The Patient

Misty, a 7 year old labradoodle, was presented to our hospital when her owner saw her passing what appeared to be large pieces of glass in her stool.  

The Case

Misty was eating normally, acting happy, and her stools were solid.  However, the owner reported that she found many pieces of decorative glass rocks missing from her outdoor fireplace.

Recently, NBC did a report that grain-free foods are causing a type of potentially deadly heart disease called dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs. The veterinarian they interviewed specifically said dogs need a grain-based dog food. People are now being scared off all grain-free foods.

By Nicole Abrego

Turkey, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, all the flavors of Thanksgiving is enough to make anyone’s mouth water. Although we love sharing the holiday feast with our family and friends, us pet parents don’t want to exclude our pets from the festivities So why not make some special treats for your pet to enjoy this Thanksgiving season. We compiled 5 festive and delicious snacks that you can make for your dog or cat!

When your pet suddenly loses his appetite, it can be concerning—particularly if you’ve got a regular chowhound on your hands.

Did you know? According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, more than half of the pets in the United States are overweight or obese.

Overweight pets are at risk for a variety of health problems, including skin infections, high blood pressure, heart disease, immune suppression, diabetes, orthopedic and arthritic disorders, and even some forms of cancer, as well as increased surgical and anesthetic risk.

By Jennifer Reed

In veterinary medicine, we have the ability to treat a myriad of conditions—from sensitive stomachs to skin issues and everything in between—with the help of balanced, therapeutic diets. But what happens when what we feed actually causes health problems for our pets? An alarming trend is causing veterinary professionals to take a closer look at the link between popular pet diets and heart disease.