First Advisor

Luis A. Ruedas

Date of Award

5-22-2020

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Biology and University Honors

Department

Biology

Language

English

Subjects

Wheat-free diet, Myocardium -- Diseases, Dogs -- Diseases, Taurine -- Physiological effect, Dogs -- Food, Dogs -- Nutrition, Nutritionally induced diseases

DOI

10.15760/honors.888

Abstract

Grain-free diets for dogs are becoming increasingly popular, but concerns are emerging following the FDA's recent investigation that there might be a link between grain-free diets and Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs with no known genetic predisposition. Contrary to the majority of the public thought, dogs do nutritionally require grains, and there is rarely a medical reason to switch to a grain-free diet. Not all cases of DCM are linked to diet, and many dogs who are fed grain-free diets do not develop the disease; the extent of this issue therefore is not entirely known. This review aims to explore what is known about DCM and grain-free diets and discuss the issues in researching this potential tie. DCM is linked to grain-free diets mainly through inadequately low taurine levels, due to the grain-free substitutes that have skewed macro nutritional ratios and poor bioavailability.

Rights

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Comments

An undergraduate honors thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Science in University Honors and Biology and Science.

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/33136

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