Diet-induced cardiac dysfunction and impaired cognitive performance in Beagles

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Cardiology
• Canine Nutrition
• Neurology

Background:

• Diet-induced dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs is associated with grain-free diets containing peas, potentially due to oligosaccharides.
• Human studies link heart failure to decreased cerebral blood flow and cognitive decline.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if diet-induced cardiac impairment in dogs coincides with reduced cerebral blood flow and cognitive decline.
• To explore the association between cardiac function, cerebral blood flow, and cognitive function in dogs fed different diets.

Main Methods:

• Eight adult Beagles were fed four diets (commercial dental, grain-based, grain-based with raffinose, grain-free with peas) in a randomized crossover design for 5 weeks each.
• Cardiac function and brain blood flow were assessed using ultrasound.
• Cognitive function was evaluated using a sand maze test.

Main Results:

• Dogs fed grain-free (GF) and husbandry diets exhibited lower ejection fraction and greater left ventricular end-systolic volume compared to grain-based (GB) and GB O diets.
• Basilar cerebral arteries showed greater end-diastolic velocity and conductance index, and a lower resistive index in dogs on GF and husbandry diets.
• Cognitive function, measured by sand maze retrieval times, was slower in dogs fed GF and husbandry diets compared to the GB O diet.

Conclusions:

• Reduced ejection fraction in dogs was associated with lower cerebral vascular tone and impaired cognitive function, particularly in those fed GF and husbandry diets.
• This study suggests a potential link between diet, cardiac function, and cognition in dogs, highlighting the need for further research into grain-free and pea-containing diets.