{"topic_id":"FDA_DCM_post_closure_science_2023_2025","category":"dcm","context":"---\ntopic_id: FDA_DCM_post_closure_science_2023_2025\ncategory: dcm\ntitle: \"FDA DCM Post-Closure Peer-Reviewed Science 2023-2025 — Owens JVIM 2023 + Coppinger JVIM 2024 + Veterinary Sciences Narrative Review November 2025\"\nlang: en\nsource: \"PubMed + Northwest Lagotto Nutrition Guide bibliographic citations (Tavily extract 2026-07-21)\"\ndate_parsed: 2026-07-21\ntokens_estimated: 1100\nverification:\n  method: substring_match_with_reference\n  claims: 10\n  passed: 10\n  date: 2026-07-21\n  note: \"Three peer-reviewed studies cited and verified via PubMed IDs and JVIM/Veterinary Sciences bibliographic records; no single-source PDF for the full narrative review content, but each citation cross-confirmed\"\n---\n\n# FDA DCM Post-Closure Peer-Reviewed Science 2023-2025\n\nThe FDA closed its public DCM investigation on **December 23, 2022** with the statement: \"FDA does not intend to release further public updates until there is meaningful new scientific information to share.\" However, **peer-reviewed research continued through 2024 and 2025**, with three notable studies that re-examine the diet-DCM link using echocardiographic and electrocardiographic endpoints rather than reported case counts.\n\n## 1. Owens et al. (2023, J Vet Intern Med) — Healthy-Dogs Echo + Biomarkers\n\n**Reference**: Owens EJ, LeBlanc NL, Freeman LM, Scollan KF. **Comparison of echocardiographic measurements and cardiac biomarkers in healthy dogs eating nontraditional or traditional diets.** J Vet Intern Med. 2023.\n\n**Finding (per narrative review citation)**: Lower **ejection fraction** and larger **left ventricular volumes** in healthy dogs eating non-traditional (grain-free / legume-rich) diets versus traditional diets. The study shifted the field from **reported DCM cases** (which carry reporting bias) to **prospective echo measurements in apparently-healthy dogs**, providing a more rigorous basis for causality.\n\nThe relevant echo measurements per JVIM publication norms:\n- **LVIDd (left ventricular internal dimension at diastole)** — weight-normalised\n- **LVIDs (left ventricular internal dimension at systole)** — weight-normalised\n- **Fractional shortening (FS%)**\n- **Ejection fraction (EF%)** by Simpson's method\n\n## 2. Coppinger et al. (2024, J Vet Intern Med) — Irish Wolfhounds High-Pulse vs Low-Pulse\n\n**Reference**: Coppinger LM, Freeman LM, Tyrrell WD Jr, et al. **Echocardiographic and electrocardiographic findings in Irish Wolfhounds eating high-pulse or low-pulse diets.** J Vet Intern Med. 2024;38(3):1300–1304.\n\n**Finding**: **Ventricular premature contractions (VPCs) significantly more common in the high-pulse group** — a potential early marker of cardiac abnormality. Consistent with findings from a prior 188-dog study across four breeds (Dobermans, Golden Retrievers, Miniature Schnauzers, Whippets).\n\nIrish Wolfhounds are a breed with a known genetic predisposition to **dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)** and **atrial fibrillation**, making the diet × breed interaction particularly informative. VPCs in high-pulse-fed IW may represent an early arrhythmia substrate that, over time, predisposes to clinical DCM.\n\n## 3. Role of Diet as a Predisposing Factor for Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Dogs — Narrative Review (Veterinary Sciences, November 2025)\n\n**Reference**: Role of Diet as a Predisposing Factor for Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Dogs: A Narrative Review. **Veterinary Sciences 2025;12(11):1106** (published November 2025).\n\n**Verbatim conclusion (per cited excerpt)**:\n\n> \"These findings suggest a strong link between diet and DCM, particularly regarding legumes. Dogs of various breeds showed larger left ventricular diameters, reduced systolic function, and increased premature ventricular complexes when fed non-traditional, grain-free, legume-rich diets compared to those on traditional, low-legume diets.\"\n\nThe narrative review synthesised all peer-reviewed post-2018 evidence and concluded that the diet-DCM link (especially the legume/pulse component) is **strongly supported** despite the FDA's 2022 closure. This is the strongest post-FDA-closure statement of the field.\n\n## What This Means for the FDA Closure Statement\n\nThe FDA 2022 closure statement should be understood as \"**no causal-link statement has been made**\" rather than \"**no causal link exists**\". Peer-reviewed research continued, and the November 2025 narrative review goes as far as any peer-reviewed source can go in stating **\"strong link\"** while acknowledging observational and breed-effect confounders.\n\nFor an AI agent queried on \"current scientific consensus on grain-free diet and canine DCM\":\n- **FDA official position**: closed 2022-12-23, \"insufficient data for causal relationship\" (per companion topic `FDA_DCM_investigation_closure_2022_dec`)\n- **Peer-reviewed position (2023-2025)**: the link is supported, particularly for **legumes/pulses** in the top 5–10 ingredients, with **echocardiographic and electrocardiographic abnormalities** measurable in apparently healthy dogs eating non-traditional diets\n\n## Source\n\n`pdf-raw/dcm-post-closure/` (planned archival location for these peer-reviewed papers; current access via PubMed IDs and Veterinary Sciences 2025;12(11):1106 narrative review). All 10 verified claims cross-confirmed against the cited bibliographic records.\n\nFor the underlying FDA 2018-2022 investigation timeline and the closure statement, see companion topics `FDA_DCM_investigation_timeline_2014_2024` and `FDA_DCM_investigation_closure_2022_dec`. For the industry/legal counter-narrative (Hill's lawsuit), see companion topic `keto_natural_v_hills_lanham_act_lawsuit_2024_2025`.","sources":[],"tokens_estimated":1100,"generated_at":null,"tip":"Use /api/v1/topics to discover more topics. /api/v1/nutrient for precise single-point queries. /api/v1/cross_compare for 2-3 standard comparisons."}