Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Nutrition and cardiomyopathy: Lessons from spontaneous animal models

  • Published:
Current Heart Failure Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Spontaneously occurring dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats are common diseases and are vastly underutilized as models of human cardiac disease. The goals of nutrition are no longer limited to a low-sodium diet, as research is now showing that nutrients can modulate disease and be an important adjunct to medical therapy. Deficiencies of certain nutrients can contribute to cardiomyopathies, as with taurine, but some nutrients—such as n-3 fatty acids, carnitine, and antioxidants—may have specific pharmacologic benefits. Dogs and cats with spontaneous cardiomyopathies are an exciting and promising model for studying nutritional modulation of cardiac disease.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References and Recommended Reading

  1. Beardow AW, Buchanan JW: Chronic mitral valve disease in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels: 95 cases (1987–1991). J Am Vet Med Assoc 1993, 203:1023–1029.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Calvert CA, Jacobs GJ, Smith DD, et al.: Association between results of ambulatory electrocardiography and development of cardiomyopathy during long-term follow-up of Doberman Pinschers. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2000, 216:34–39.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Cote E, Manning AM, Emerson D, et al.: Assessment of the prevalence of heart murmurs in overtly healthy cats. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2004, 225:384–388.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Pion PD, Kittleson MD, Rogers QR, et al.: Myocardial failure in cats associated with low plasma taurine: a reversible cardiomyopathy. Science 1987, 237:764–768.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Atkins CE, Gallo AM, Kurzman ID, Cowen P: Risk factors, clinical signs, and survival in cats with a clinical diagnosis of idiopathic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: 74 cases (1985–1989). J Am Vet Med Assoc 1992, 201:613–618.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Rush JE, Freeman LM, Fenollosa N, Brown DJ: Population and survival characteristics of cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: 260 cases (1990–1999). J Am Vet Med Assoc 2002, 220:202–207.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Kittleson MD: Feline myocardial disease. In. Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine, edn 6. Edited by Ettinger SJ, Feldman EC. St Louis: Elsevier; 2005:1082–1104.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Kittleson MD, Meurs KM, Munro MJ, et al.: Familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in Maine Coon cats: an animal model of human disease. Circulation 1999, 99:3172–3180.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Baty CJ: Feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: an update. Vet Clin Small Anim 2004, 34:1227–1234.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Meurs KM, Sanchez X, David RM, et al.: A cardiac myosin binding protein C mutation in the Maine Coon cat with familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Human Molec Gen 2005, 14:3587–3593.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Buchanan JW: Prevalence of cardiovascular disorders. In Textbook of Canine and Feline Cardiology, edn 2. Edited by Fox PR, Sisson D, Moise NS. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1999:457–470.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Häggström J, Kvart C, Pedersen HD: Acquired valvular heart disease. In Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine, edn 6. Edited by Ettinger SJ, Feldman EC. St Louis: Elsevier; 2005:1022–1039.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Meurs KM, Spier AW, Wright NA, et al.: Comparison of in-hospital versus 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiography for detection of ventricular premature complexes in mature Boxers. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2001, 218:222–224.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Alroy J, Rush J, Freeman L, et al.: Inherited infantile dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs: Genetic, clinical, biochemical, and morphologic findings. J Med Genetics 2000, 95:57–66.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Petri AD, Stabej P, Žemva A: Dilated cardiomyopathy in Doberman Pinschers: Survival, causes of death and a pedigree review in a related line. J Vet Cardiol 2002, 4:17–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Basso C, Fox PR, Meurs KM, et al.: Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy causing sudden cardiac death in boxer dogs: a new animal model of human disease. Circulation 2004, 109:1180–1185.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Freeman LM, Rush JE, Kehayias JJ, et al.: Nutritional alterations and the effect of fish oil supplementation in dogs with heart failure. J Vet Intern Med 1998, 12:440–448.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Freeman LM, Roubenoff R: The nutrition implications of cardiac cachexia. Nutr Rev 1994, 52:340–347.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Freeman LM, Rush JE: Relationship between cachexia and lymphocyte subpopulations and hematologic parameters in dogs with spontaneously-occurring congestive heart failure. Proceedings of the Third Cachexia Conference. Rome, Italy; December 8–10, 2005:82.

  20. Mallery KF, Freeman LM, Harpster NK, et al.: Factors contributing to the euthanasia decision in dogs with congestive heart failure. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1999, 214:1201–1204.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Freeman LM, Rush JE, Cahalane AK, et al.: Dietary patterns in dogs with cardiac disease. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2003, 223:1301–1305.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Torin DS, Freeman LM, Rush JE: Dietary patterns of cats with cardiac disease. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2007, In press.

  23. Meurs KM, Fox PR, Miller MW, et al.: Plasma concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in cats with congestive heart failure. Amer J Vet Res 2002, 63:640–642.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Endres S, Ghorbani R, Kelley VE: Effect of dietary supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid on the synthesis of interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor by mononuclear cells. N Engl J Med 1989, 320:265–271.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Smith CE, Freeman LM, Rush JE, et al.: Omega-3 fatty acids in Boxer dogs with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. J Vet Intern Med 2007, 21:265–273.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Pensinger R: Dietary control of sodium intake in spontaneous congestive heart failure in dogs. Vet Med 1964, 59:752–784.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Hamlin R, Smith R, Smith C: Effects of a controlled electrolyte diet, low in sodium on healthy dogs. Vet Med 1964, 59:748–751.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Morris M, Patton R, Teeter S: Low sodium diet in heart disease: How low is low? Vet Med 1976, 71:1225–1227.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Pedersen H, Koch J, Bie P: Effects of a low sodium diet with a high potassium content on plasma endothelin-1, atrial natriuretic peptide and arginine vasopressin in normal dogs. J Vet Intern Med 1994, 8:713–716.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Pedersen H, Koch J, Jensen A, et al.: Some effects of a low sodium diet high in potassium on the renin-angiotensin system and plasma electrolyte concentrations in normal dogs. Acta Vet Scand 1994, 35:133–140.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Rush JE, Freeman LM, Brown DJ, et al.: Clinical, echocardiographic, and neurohumoral effects of a sodium-restricted diet in dogs with heart failure. J Vet Intern Med 2000, 14:513–520.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Pedersen H: Effects of mild mitral valve insufficiency, sodium intake, and place of blood sampling on the renin-angiotensin system in dogs. Acta Vet Scand 1996, 37:109–118.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Koch J, Pedersen H, Jensen A, et al.: Short term effects of acute inhibition of the angiotensin-converting enzyme on the renin-angiotensin system and plasma atrial natriuretic peptide in healthy dogs fed a low-sodium diet versus a normal-sodium diet. J Vet Intern Med 1994, 41:121–127.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Freeman LM, Rush JE, Markwell PJ: Effects of dietary modification in dogs with early chronic valvular disease. J Vet Intern Med 2006, 20:1116–1126.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Kramer GA, Kittleson MD, Fox PR: Plasma taurine concentrations in normal dogs and in dogs with heart disease. J Vet Intern Med 1995, 9:253–258.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Kittleson MD, Keene B, Pion PD, et al.: Results of the multicenter spaniel trial (MUST). J Vet Intern Med 1997, 11:204–211.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Freeman LM, Rush JE, Brown DJ, et al.: Relationship between circulating and dietary taurine concentrations in dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy. Vet Therapeutics 2001, 2:370–378.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Fascetti AJ, Reed JR, Rogers QR, et al.: Taurine deficiency in dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy: 12 cases (1997–2001). J Am Vet Med Assoc 2003, 223:1137–1141.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Delaney SJ, Kass PH, Rogers QR, Fascetti AJ: Plasma and whole blood taurine in normal dogs of varying size fed commercially prepared food. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutrition 2003, 87:236–244.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Spitze AR, Wong DL, Rogers QR, Fascetti AJ: Taurine concentrations in animal feed ingredients; cooking influences taurine content. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr 2003, 87:251–261.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Torres CL, Backus RC, Fascetti AJ, Rogers QR: Taurine status in normal dogs fed a commercial diet associated with taurine deficiency and dilated cardiomyopathy. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr 2003, 87:359–372.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Johnson ML, Parsons CM, Fahey GC, et al.: Effects of species raw material sources, ash content and processing temperature on amino acid digestibility of animal by-product meals by cecectomized and ileally cannulated dogs. J Anim Sci 1998, 76:1112–1122.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Backus RC, Ko KS, Fascetti AJ: Low plasma taurine concentration in Newfoundland dogs is associated with low plasma methionine and cyst(e)ine concentrations and low taurine synthesis. J Nutr 2006, 136:2525–2533.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Sanderson SL, Gross KL, Ogburn PN, et al.: Effects of dietary fat and L-carnitine on plasma and whole blood taurine concentrations and cardiac function in healthy dogs fed protein-restricted diets. Am J Vet Res 2001, 62:1616–1623.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Keene BW, Panciera DP, Atkins CE, et al.: Myocardial L-carnitine deficiency in a family of dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1991, 198:647–650.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. McMichael MA, Freeman LM, Selhub J, et al.: Plasma homocysteine, B vitamins, and amino acid concentrations in cats with cardiomyopathy and arterial thromboembolism. J Vet Intern Med 2000, 14:507–512.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Hohenhaus AE, Simantov R, Fox PR, et al.: Evaluation of plasma homocysteine and B vitamin concentrations in cardiomyopathic cats with congestive heart failure and arterial thromboembolism. Comp Cont Ed Pract Vet 2000, 22:89.

    Google Scholar 

  48. Freeman LM, McMichael MA, de Laforcade AM, et al.: Indirect determination of nitric oxide in cats with cardiomyopathy and arterial thromboembolism. J Vet Emerg Crit Care 2003, 13:71–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Freeman LM, Brown DJ, Rush JE: Assessment of degree of oxidative stress and antioxidant concentrations in dogs with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1999, 215:644–646.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Freeman LM, Rush JE, Milbury PE, Blumberg JB: Antioxidant status and biomarkers of oxidative stress in dogs with congestive heart failure. J Vet Intern Med 2005, 19:537–541.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, 200 Westboro Road, North Grafton, MA, 01536, USA

    Lisa M. Freeman DVM, PhD, DACVN

Authors
  1. Lisa M. Freeman DVM, PhD, DACVN
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. John E. Rush DVM, MS, DACVIM (Cardiology), DACVECC
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lisa M. Freeman DVM, PhD, DACVN.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Freeman, L.M., Rush, J.E. Nutrition and cardiomyopathy: Lessons from spontaneous animal models. Curr Heart Fail Rep 4, 84–90 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11897-007-0005-6

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11897-007-0005-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation