cardiology | School of Veterinary Medicine

UC Davis veterinarians warn against grain free diets

Pet Owners Urged To Take A Second Look At Their Dog's Diet

by Rob Warren
March 06, 2019

Small Animal

A new study found a link between some popular grain-free dog foods, with a high content of legumes, and canine heart disease called dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The disease can lead to sudden death in dogs.

UC Davis Investigates Link Between Dog Diets and Deadly Heart Disease

by Trina J Wood
July 19, 2018

Small Animal

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently issued an alert about reports of canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs eating certain pet foods containing peas, lentils, other legume seeds, or potatoes as main ingredients. UC Davis is leading the investigation between these dog diets and heart disease.

FDA Warns of Possible Link Between Food, Canine Heart Disease

by Trina J Wood
July 16, 2018

Small Animal

Pet foods containing peas, lentils, other legume seeds or potatoes as main ingredients may be linked to cases of canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs, according to an alert to pet owners this week from the Food and Drug Administration.

UC Davis Veterinarians Remove Heartworm from Cat's Femoral Artery

July 03, 2017

Small Animal

Stormie, a 4-year-old female Siamese cat, has had a history of heartworm disease since she was adopted at 1 year of age. She and her owner live in Los Angeles, but were visiting family in the Bay Area when she developed pelvic limb lameness. Fearing she had fallen off something or down a staircase, Stormie’s owner brought her to a local veterinary emergency room in Berkeley, where she informed them of the history of heartworm disease. After ultrasound showed a suspected heartworm in the arterial system, and a heartworm antigen test resulted in a strong positive, Stormie’s owner was advised to bring her to specialists at the UC Davis veterinary hospital.

A rare heart surgery at the UC Davis veterinary hospital saved Vanilla Bean.

UC Davis Performs Extremely Rare Heart Surgery to Save Cat

May 14, 2015

Small Animal

Vanilla Bean, a 1-year-old female Burmese cat from Mill Valley, California, was brought to a veterinary cardiologist for respiratory distress. The vet diagnosed her with a rare congenital heart defect that does not allow blood to flow properly through the chambers. This improper flow can cause too much blood to collect in one chamber, create pressure, enlarge it, and ultimately lead to congestive heart failure.