Making Sense of
Dilated Cardiomyopathy
(DCM)

FDA Update Reassures Pet Lovers

We’re committed to making nutritious, healthy, and safe food for pets everywhere. Thats why we are pleased Dr. Steven Solomon, Director of the Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Veterinary Medicine, has shared much-needed clarity on the causes of Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM), a rare and scientifically complex disease that impacts approximately 1% of dogs in the U.S.

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DCM is a rare and scientifically complex disease that impacts approximately 1% of dogs in the U.S. Previously, Dr. Steven Solomon, former Director of FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine, underscored:

  • No pet food has been declared unsafe or linked to DCM: “FDA has not taken regulatory action against or declared any specific pet food products unsafe or definitively linked to DCM”.
  • DCM is a complex medical condition about far more than diet: “Historically, DCM has been primarily linked to genetic predisposition in certain breeds, but in the context of these atypical cases, emerging science indicates that non-hereditary DCM is a complex medical condition that may be affected by the interplay of multiple factors such as genetics, underlying medical conditions and diet”.

    • Dr. Solomon’s full remarks from 2020 are available online here.

At Champion, we know that good nutrition is always a factor in good health. Our range of products are the right choice to ensure optimal health because:

  • We have more than 35 years of experience making pet food in our state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities.
  • We analyze every formula according to the most rigorous industry standards to validate the nutritional adequacy of every diet, both at the time of development and routinely from commercial production
  • We have an internal team of qualified nutritionists, scientists, and a veterinarian who guides our formulation, validation, food safety, and research programs, and substantiate the nutritional adequacy of our diets with AAFCO Feeding Trials
  • We have research partnerships globally, and we do peer-reviewed published research

Our Pet Health Experts

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Our Pet Health Experts

Our on-staff pet nutrition, food science and veterinary medicine experts oversee the formulation and development of our foods. These valuable team members collectively have over 135 years of experience working in animal health and nutrition. To continually advance our products to meet the complex nutritional needs of pets, our team conducts in-depth reviews of existing scientific research and runs regular digestibility studies on all our products.

CHRISTINE, MSc Animal Nutrition & Metabolism

As our Director of Core Product Development and Innovation, Christine leads the development, research and innovation of our formulas. She ensures we focus on the health and safety of pets when developing our diets.

DARCIA, DVM

Darcia is our in-house veterinarian. Her focus on animal safety and disease prevention is attributed to over 30 years experience in small animal practice and as a Public Health Veterinarian. She ensures that our foods advance the health and well-being of dogs and cats.

JENNIFER, PhD Animal Sciences

Jennifer is our Research and Nutrition Manager. She oversees the Nutrition Research Team to make sure our foods are innovative, go beyond pet food trends, and reflect the latest science.

JANELLE, MSc Animal Nutrition & Animal Sciences

Janelle is our Nutrition Research Scientist and is responsible for unveiling new, science-based opportunities to advance our pet foods.

SHAYNE, BSc Animal Sciences

Shayne is our Formulation Manager. He ensures the nutritional integrity of our pet foods and oversees the formulation of our diets. His work is based on the nutritional philosophy that dogs and cats thrive on diets containing fresh and quality animal ingredients.

JILL, MSc Animal Nutrition

Jill is our Formulation Assistant. She helps ensure our foods are nutritionally sound, and researches innovative ingredients and how best to use them.

CARRIE, BSc Animal Health

Carrie is our Formulation Assistant. She helps with diet development and nutritional monitoring of our foods.

Benefits of Grain-Free

Millions of dogs have eaten and thrived on grain-free foods for decades. When well-formulated and combined with high levels of animal ingredients, grain-free foods can offer:

  • A lower overall carbohydrate content and higher levels of protein, which is Biologically Appropriate for dogs
  • Essential nutrients like B vitamins thiamin, riboflavin and pyridoxine
  • An alternative to help with mild allergies or sensitivities

Grain-free diets provide safe and healthy nutrition. Click to discover our full line up of grain-free foods.

Our Science

Our team of Pet Health Experts is committed to advancing the health and well-being of pets, and we’re proud to share results of our work. Literature on our research can be viewed here:

Some FDA case reports that found dogs diagnosed with DCM consuming grain-free diets also had low concentrations of plasma and/or whole blood taurine. While there is a known association between low taurine status and DCM, there is little clinical evidence on the relationship of commercial grain-free diets and taurine status in healthy large-breed dogs.

Research Update: Taurine

High-protein, grain-free extruded dog diets are increasing in popularity, but few have compared the digestibility of these diets to others containing different ingredients or nutrient concentrations.

Research Update: Amino Acids