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The Diagnosis



The purpose of this blog is to share the information that I have about dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), how to navigate this diagnosis with young dogs, and the connection between DCM and grain free diets.  


Barley is a three year old golden retriever. She is a healthy dog. She is a 57 pound, allergy free, fit dog. She loves to fetch, hike, and swim. She loves the ocean.  She is stubborn, and knows what she wants. She is persistent and loving. She takes pride in how dirty she can get.   She needs baths.  She will destroy toys and steal her dog sister's treats if left unsupervised.  Barley is a lover. She loves people and loves to cuddle. She has a big heart.

Up until early October 2018, Barley never had a bad day in her life.  In October, Barley was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy.  That was her first bad day.  The following days were also bad.

Barley started panting excessively on Tuesday evening.  Leading up to that, she occasionally breathed heavily but we dismissed this as her being excited. Barley is an excitable dog.

My husband wisely took her into the vet on Wednesday. Golden retrievers are not genetically susceptible to heart disease. Eventually our incredible primary vet took an x-ray and discovered that Barley's heart was much too large. We were promptly referred to the doggy ER and a specialist.

Within hours, Barley was emitted into the ER, placed in an oxygen chamber and on a waiting list to get an echo cardiogram.

Later that day, we received the diagnosis. Barley had Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM).  Her heart is literally too big, which causes the heart to pump excessively.  Her heart was also pressing on her trachea and liver and she had fluid in her lungs.   Barley barely made it through the night. Barley stayed in the ER for two nights in an oxygen chamber and on IV infusion for heart medication.
Barley in the Oxygen Chamber at VCA
(before she realized that people can't pet her) 

Fairly rapidly, our cardiologist began asking us what type of food Barley ate, specifically about grain free diets.  She mentioned there are early connections that grain free diets are causing heart failure in dogs. Barley has been on a grain free diet since she was a puppy. She primarily ate Taste of the Wild and Taste of the Wild Prey (starting in Spring of 2018). 


Barley's story is not uncommon.  I am writing this post nearly one month to the day of the diagnosis with Barley resting at my feet with a ball in tow.  The following posts will chronicle our journey, findings and education around this issue.  We have an ethical obligation to spread the word  about the connection between grain-free diets and DCM.  The purpose of this post and ones following are to help share our experience and understanding about the connection between grain-free diets and their potentially hazardous effects.

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