There is an association between echocardiographic parameters and median survival time in dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) fed diets high in pulses (eg, peas, lentils)1,2; a similar correlation may exist in cats.
This 2-part study examined possible associations among diet, taurine, and DCM in cats. A survey was distributed to board-certified veterinary cardiologists (n = 52) to evaluate for changes in frequency of DCM diagnosis in cats. Only 15% of cardiologists perceived an increase in cases over the previous 2 years; however, 92% of respondents reported seeing at least one cat with DCM each year, and 38% of respondents saw at least one cat with DCM suspected to be associated with diet in the previous 2 years. Plasma or whole blood taurine concentration was always or sometimes measured by 59% of respondents, and 80% of respondents reported they supplement taurine regardless of testing status.
Data of cats diagnosed with DCM in the previous 2 years (submitted by survey respondents) were then retrospectively evaluated. Records of 67 cats were reviewed; 37 met the inclusion criteria. Cats were divided into low pea/lentil (low PL; n = 20) and high pea/lentil (high PL; n = 14) diet groups based on diet at time of diagnosis; 3 cats were excluded due to lack of diet history. No significant difference in median survival time was identified; however, cats in the high PL group transitioned to a low PL diet after diagnosis had a significantly longer median survival time (290 days) than high PL cats not transitioned (2 days). There was no difference in median survival time between cats fed a high PL diet with no diet change and those fed a low PL diet.
An association between taurine supplementation and change in median survival time was not found. Of 13 cats that had plasma and/or whole blood taurine measured, 2 had low circulating plasma taurine levels (both were fed a low PL diet).
