Pulses and Canine DCM: A Clinical Primer for Veterinarians

 

Since 2018, few questions in small animal nutrition have generated more discussion and less consensus than the possible link between pulse-containing diets and canine dilated cardiomyopathy. Petaluma was founded in 2019, with the FDA investigation already underway, and we formulated our food with these clinical questions actively in mind. We are committed to being transparent, helpful, and collaborative with the veterinarians who care for our customers' dogs. This post is intended as a brief, updated resource covering three things: what the current peer-reviewed evidence base supports on canine DCM and pulse ingredients, Petaluma's specific formulation practices, and our broader approach to plant-based canine nutrition.

The timeline of the diet-DCM question

The diet-DCM question entered wide public awareness through a June 2018 Petfoodology post by Dr. Lisa Freeman (Tufts Cummings School), which reported clusters of DCM in dogs eating what she later termed "BEG" diets (boutique, exotic, grain-free). The FDA opened an investigation the following month based on adverse event reports, several of which originated from Tufts. Over the next four years, the FDA published periodic updates analyzing reported cases.

In December 2022, the FDA closed the investigation, stating that adverse event reports "do not supply sufficient data to establish a causal relationship with reported product(s)." The closure did not rule out a link, but concluded the available data were insufficient to support one. Since closure, the evidence base has expanded substantially. Three controlled feeding trials have been published alongside several observational studies. The literature is no longer what it was in 2018, and clinical counseling can now draw on interventional evidence that did not previously exist.

What the controlled feeding trials show

Three peer-reviewed controlled feeding trials, funded by different organizations and conducted at different institutions, have now tested whether pulse-inclusive diets produce cardiac dysfunction in healthy dogs. All three assessed echocardiographic parameters, cardiac troponin-I, and NT-proBNP; all three reported no clinically significant cardiac findings.

Study	Design	Duration	Pulse Inclusion	Cardiac Findings
Leach 2023	65 beagles and hounds, 4 formulas	7 months	Grain-free vs grain-inclusive	No dysfunction
Singh 2023	28 Huskies, graded pulse inclusion	20 weeks	0%, 15%, 30%, 45%	No dysfunction
Morris 2025	60 dogs, RCT, 4 formulas	18 months	Up to ~41% pulse-derived	No dysfunction

The Morris 2025 study, funded by Hill's Pet Nutrition and published in the Journal of Animal Science, is the longest and most rigorously designed of the three. It was randomized, parallel-group, double-blind, and tested four complete-and-balanced formulas including a grain-inclusive diet with approximately 41% pea-derived content plus pea fiber. Cardiac troponin-I stayed below the limit of detection across all groups at all timepoints. NT-proBNP and taurine concentrations remained within normal reference ranges. No dog in any group developed clinical DCM.

Methodological considerations in pulse-DCM research

Two methodological points are worth understanding when evaluating any specific diet-DCM claim.

Cross-sectional vs. interventional design

Much of the observational literature on diet-associated DCM is cross-sectional. Dogs already diagnosed with DCM are compared against controls, and correlations are identified between current diet and current cardiac parameters or biomarkers. This design cannot establish causal direction. A biomarker correlation observed in dogs who already have DCM does not test whether the diet caused the disease. Controlled feeding trials, by contrast, begin with healthy dogs and track cardiac outcomes prospectively over defined feeding periods. This design can answer the causal question, and the three trials now published have not identified the signal that the observational data suggested.

Classification of "high-pulse" diets

Several observational studies classify diets as "high-pulse" based on ingredient-list position, such as the presence of a pulse in the top five ingredients, or three or more pulses in the top 20. Label position is a reasonable proxy for inclusion weight in simple meat-based formulas with short ingredient decks, but breaks down for formulas with longer, more diverse ingredient lists. A pulse in the top five of a 30-plus ingredient formula may represent a fraction of what the same ingredient represents in a kibble with fifteen ingredients total. The controlled feeding trials quantify pulse content explicitly by formula weight. This is the methodologically preferable approach, and it is the standard applied in the studies that have tested the question most directly.

What the evidence does support about canine DCM

DCM is primarily a genetic disease. Breed predispositions are well documented in Doberman Pinschers, Irish Wolfhounds, Great Danes, Boxers, Newfoundlands, and Deerhounds, with prevalence above 3% in several of these breeds. General population prevalence is approximately 0.5% (Quest et al. 2022). When diet is implicated, the mechanism typically involves specific nutritional deficiencies rather than an ingredient category. Inadequate sulfur amino acids to support endogenous taurine synthesis, insufficient supplemental taurine, and in some cases low L-carnitine availability are the best-documented contributors. Taurine-responsive DCM in Cocker Spaniels and Golden Retrievers, both breeds with recognized taurine metabolism considerations, is the clearest clinical example.

The formulation pattern most frequently identified in FDA adverse event reports involved grain-free products, typically without supplemental taurine, from manufacturers with limited in-house nutritional expertise. This is a specific formulation profile, not a blanket indictment of any ingredient group. Diets containing pulses but also containing supplemental taurine, adequate sulfur amino acids, ingredient diversity, and manufacturer quality control have not produced the same signal.

How Petaluma is formulated

Petaluma was formulated by Dr. Blake Hawley, DVM, a veterinary nutritionist with over 25 years of experience in companion animal nutrition. Our adult and senior formulas were subsequently reviewed by board-certified veterinary nutritionists. Dr. Sarah Dodd (BVSc, MSc, PhD), a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, serves as a formal advisor and was the lead formulator for our Whole Food Mixer.

The formulation was developed in 2019 with the clinical concerns raised during the FDA investigation period explicitly in mind:

• Supplemental taurine and L-carnitine are included in all formulas.
• DL-methionine is supplemented, with analyzed methionine-plus-cysteine levels above AAFCO minimums to support endogenous taurine synthesis.
• No single ingredient exceeds 15% of the formula by weight, producing a diverse ingredient matrix rather than concentration in any one legume.
• Less than 30% of total dietary protein is sourced from legumes.
• Whole grains included (organic oats and barley) in both adult and senior formulas.
• AAFCO compliance for adult maintenance is substantiated through nutrient analysis.

Our senior formula additionally provides 450 mg DHA per cup from marine microalgae, 150 mg glucosamine per cup, and 100 mg curcumin per cup. Complete nutritional analyses for each formula are published directly: Adult Baked Recipe, Senior Baked Recipe, and Whole Food Mixer.

What the nutrition literature points to

Across the veterinary nutrition literature on diet-associated DCM, several formulation-level features tend to recur as areas of attention, independent of whether a given diet contains grains or pulses. These are described and discussed in recent reviews (Mansilla et al. 2019; McCauley et al. 2020):

• Taurine status and synthesis capacity, which may be affected by sulfur amino acid availability, fiber binding of bile acids, or breed-specific metabolic factors. Supplementation is one approach discussed in the literature (Kaplan et al. 2018; Mansilla et al. 2019).
• Sulfur amino acid adequacy (methionine and cysteine) to support endogenous taurine synthesis, regardless of protein source (Mansilla et al. 2019).
• L-carnitine, which has been associated with improvement in some DCM cases and is often discussed in the context of cardiac nutrition (McCauley et al. 2020).
• Formulation expertise and quality control, including veterinary nutritionist involvement in product development (Mansilla et al. 2019).

These considerations are discussed across the full range of commercial diets, from conventional meat-based kibble to plant-based formulas, and the relevant framing seems to center on formulation and nutrient adequacy rather than ingredient category.

On transparency and continued engagement

Veterinary professionals are evaluating a rapidly evolving body of evidence on behalf of patients with different risk profiles. Petaluma is committed to transparency and to evidence-based nutrition. Complete nutrient analyses, amino acid profiles, digestibility analyses, and formulation rationale are published on our website for every product, and we are happy to answer any additional questions from clinicians directly. We welcome feedback, questions, and critique from the veterinary community, and we are actively interested in collaborations that can contribute to the underlying evidence base.

Frequently asked questions

Has the FDA updated its position since 2022?

The FDA has not reopened the investigation and has not issued substantive updates since the December 2022 closure statement. The agency noted it would provide further updates if meaningful new scientific information became available.

Should I recommend cardiac screening for dogs on plant-based diets?

Screening decisions are best made in consultation with a veterinary cardiologist or based on current cardiology literature, which generally points to breed predisposition, age, and physical exam findings as the primary indications for screening, with echocardiography as the reference standard and NT-proBNP and cardiac troponin-I used as adjunct biomarkers for case selection (Wess 2022; Davis 2024). Individual risk factors rather than diet category alone appear to be the more relevant consideration in this literature.

What is the evidence for plant-based protein adequacy in dogs?

Dogs require specific amino acids, not specific protein sources. Peer-reviewed research in dogs, including Cavanaugh et al. 2021, Dodd et al. 2022, and Knight et al. 2022, has found no evidence of protein inadequacy or adverse health outcomes in dogs fed complete-and-balanced plant-based diets. Petaluma's analyzed amino acid profile meets or exceeds AAFCO minimums for all essential amino acids.

Does Petaluma publish independent feeding trial data?

We did not structure a feeding trial using AAFCO procedures. We took the "formulated to meet" path for nutrient adequacy and then invested in additional testing to evaluate nutritional quality. That work included:

• Formulation by Dr. Blake Hawley, DVM, an experienced veterinary nutrition formulator.
• Review by board-certified veterinary nutritionists.
• A full AAFCO nutrient panel conducted for every batch of food.
• Digestibility testing, including isolated macronutrients.
• An at-home trial with 30 companion dogs, including 12 that fully transitioned to Petaluma six months before public launch, with owner surveys and regularly-scheduled veterinary exams.

The at-home trial did not meet AAFCO trial standards, and was not designed to. It relied on owners to collect and submit data and was understandably incomplete.

How can I access formulation details or a nutrient analysis?

Complete nutrient analyses, amino acid profiles, digestibility analyses, and formulation rationale are published on our website for each product: Adult Baked Recipe, Senior Baked Recipe, and Whole Food Mixer.

If I have deeper questions on formulation practices or want to speak with the Petaluma team, what's the best way to get in contact?

The best way to reach us is hello@feedpetaluma.com. We welcome clinician questions and are happy to discuss formulation decisions, share additional documentation, or connect you with our nutrition team directly.

References

1. Morris EM, Stiers CA, Hancock LB, Gross KL. Different carbohydrate sources in dog foods supported overall health and cardiac function: an 18-mo prospective study in healthy adult dogs. J Anim Sci. 2025;103:skaf225. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40642821
2. Singh P, Banton S, Raheb S, et al. The pulse of it: dietary inclusion of up to 45% whole pulse ingredients with chicken meal and pea starch in a complete and balanced diet does not affect cardiac function, fasted sulfur amino acid status, or other gross measures of health in adult dogs. J Nutr. 2023;153(5):1461-1475. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36972833
3. Leach SB, Clark SD, Baumwart RD, et al. Prospective evaluation of echocardiographic parameters and cardiac biomarkers in healthy dogs eating four custom-formulated diets. Front Anim Sci. 2023;4:1271202. frontiersin.org
4. Quest BW, Leach SB, Garimella S, Konie A, Clark SD. Incidence of canine dilated cardiomyopathy diagnosed at referral institutes and grain-free pet food store sales: a retrospective survey. Front Anim Sci. 2022;3:846227. frontiersin.org
5. Mansilla WD, Marinangeli CPF, Ekenstedt KJ, et al. Special topic: the association between pulse ingredients and canine dilated cardiomyopathy: addressing the knowledge gaps before establishing causation. J Anim Sci. 2019;97(3):983-997. academic.oup.com
6. McCauley SR, Clark SD, Quest BW, Streeter RM, Oxford EM. Review of canine dilated cardiomyopathy in the wake of diet-associated concerns. J Anim Sci. 2020;98(6):skaa155. academic.oup.com
7. US Food and Drug Administration. FDA investigation into potential link between certain diets and canine dilated cardiomyopathy. Updated December 23, 2022. fda.gov
8. Cavanaugh SM, Cavanaugh RP, Gilbert GE, Leavitt EL, Ketzis JK, Vieira AB. Short-term amino acid, clinicopathologic, and echocardiographic findings in healthy dogs fed a commercial plant-based diet. PLoS One. 2021;16:e0258044. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34637461
9. Dodd S, Khosa D, Dewey C, Verbrugghe A. Owner perception of health of North American dogs fed meat- or plant-based diets. Res Vet Sci. 2022;149:36-46. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35717887
10. Knight A, Huang E, Rai N, Brown H. Vegan versus meat-based dog food: Guardian-reported indicators of health. PLoS One. 2022;17(4):e0265662. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35417464
11. Wess G. Screening for dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs. J Vet Cardiol. 2022;40:51-68. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34732313
12. Davis H. Canine dilated cardiomyopathy. Part 1: screening, diagnosis and management of preclinical DCM. In Practice. 2024;46(10):540-552. bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
13. Kaplan JL, Stern JA, Fascetti AJ, et al. Taurine deficiency and dilated cardiomyopathy in golden retrievers fed commercial diets. PLoS One. 2018;13(12):e0209112. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30596785