Introduction/objectives

The objectives were to conduct a survey of cardiologists on their recent experiences with cats that have dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and to retrospectively review individual cases of feline DCM.

Animals, materials and methods

Part one: A survey was distributed to cardiologists with questions regarding caseload and clinical management of cats with DCM diagnosed over the past two years. Part two: Cardiologists completing the survey were invited to submit data from cats recently diagnosed with DCM. Data on signalment, clinical signs, diet, echocardiographic measurements and outcome were recorded.

Results

Part one: From 52 completed surveys, many cardiologists responded that measuring and supplementing taurine and recommending a diet change in cats with DCM are common practices. Few (15%) cardiologists reported an increase in the number of feline DCM cases over the past two years, although some had cases that improved even if taurine deficiency was not present. Part two: Twenty of 37 (54%) cats ate low pea/lentil (low PL) diets, and 14/37 (38%) ate high PL diets at the time of diagnosis; three had incomplete diet information. Two of 13 cats (15%) in which taurine was measured had levels below the reference range. After adjusting for other variables, cats eating high PL diets that changed diets after diagnosis had a significantly longer survival time than that of cats eating high PL diets that did not change diets after diagnosis (P = 0.025).

Conclusions

Additional research is warranted to determine whether there could be a possible association between diet and DCM in cats.

中文翻译：

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猫扩张型心肌病：兽医心脏病专家的调查和与饮食可能相关的回顾性评估

简介/目标

目的是对心脏病专家进行一项调查，了解他们最近与患有扩张型心肌病 (DCM) 的猫打交道的经历，并回顾性审查猫 DCM 的个案。

动物、材料和方法

第一部分：向心脏病专家分发了一份调查，其中包含有关过去两年诊断为 DCM 的猫的病例数量和临床管理的问题。第二部分：完成调查的心脏病专家被邀请提交最近诊断出患有扩张型心肌病的猫的数据。记录有关信号、临床体征、饮食、超声心动图测量和结果的数据。

结果

第一部分：从 52 项已完成的调查中，许多心脏病专家回应说，测量和补充牛磺酸以及建议患有 DCM 的猫改变饮食是常见的做法。很少 (15%) 的心脏病专家报告说在过去两年中猫 DCM 病例的数量有所增加，尽管有些病例即使不存在牛磺酸缺乏症也会有所改善。第二部分：37 只猫中有 20 只 (54%) 食用低豌豆/扁豆（低 PL）饮食，14/37 (38%) 在诊断时食用高 PL 饮食；三人的饮食信息不完整。检测到牛磺酸的 13 只猫中有两只 (15%) 的水平低于参考范围。调整其他变量后，食用高 PL 饮食并在诊断后改变饮食的猫的存活时间明显长于食用高 PL 饮食但诊断后不改变饮食的猫 (P = 0.025)。

结论

需要进一步的研究来确定猫的饮食和 DCM 之间是否可能存在关联。