Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Cocker Spaniels: My Story, Part 7

Posted on November 9, 2026November 9, 2026 by Julia Morton

New Developments

I was surprised to learn about two new developments this year: Firstly, a doctoral thesis by Karin Kristrom, which is open access through SLU, and focuses on genetic factors associated with low blood taurine in English Cocker Spaniels. Secondly, an update about the FDA research on DCM.

2026 Doctoral Thesis by Karin Kriström

This paper directly investigates nutritional and genetic influences associated with low blood taurine in English Cocker Spaniels. Specifically, Paper IV refers to a suggestive signal on chromosome 17. This signal indicates the possibility of combined genetic and dietary influences on blood taurine concentrations, which may help explain why some English Cocker Spaniels have low taurine levels.Their susceptibility to taurine-responsive cardiomyopathy is directly related to this finding. It’s a small step, but such an important one.

The research suggests that familial susceptibility could potentially operate through differences in taurine biology, rather than necessarily being a mutation directly damaging the heart. (1)

Update from the FDA

Diet-associated DCM can affect breeds that are genetically predisposed to the disease, but also breeds that are not genetically predisposed. It is not caused by taurine deficiency or other nutrients. Although peas and other pulses are considered to be central to diet-associated DCM, the specific cause of the disease has not been identified.

Nutritional deficiencies have not appeared to play a major role in diet-associated DCM. However, a potential mechanism for diet -associated DCM was identified last year – higher levels of a urine biomarker in dogs with diet-associated DCM suggesting phospholipidosis, an abnormal metabolism of a type of fat.

Researchers are now focusing on investigating Phospholipdoses and other possible causes for diet-associated DCM. (2)

Lamb: Is it Harmless?

It’s worth highlighting that research cited in Part 6 of my story indicated that pulses had little effect on the English cocker spaniels involved in the trial. In contrast, lamb had a measurable impact on Taurine levels. This occurred because lamb is low in methionine and cysteine, the precursors necessary to synthesize taurine.

Due to this information, I will no longer feed lamb as a main food source to Allie. We also have a recent addition to the family now; Birdie, who is also an English cocker spaniel. I won’t take a chance feeding her lamb, either.

Allie’s Health Update

English cocker spaniels — Allie and Birdie, also known as the Safety Sisters

A third littermate has been diagnosed with mild hypokinesia of interventricular septum. Although this is not DCM, they are being treated with Taurine and will have a follow up echocardiogram. So from Allie’s litter, that makes three out of four with heart problems!

After a downward slide last year, Allie’s status is back to stable with even a slight improvement in her left ventricular diameter. She is 3 1/2 years old now, and still runs through the forest, plays in agility and nose work, and is proving to be excellent at trailing.

In June of this year, we adopted a second English Cocker Spaniel, named Birdie. She has not been evaluated yet for DCM. After being surprised with Allie’s early diagnosis, I will likely have Birdie tested as well.

References

Kriström, K. (2026). Taurine-responsive cardiomyopathy in English cocker spaniels. Acta Universitatis Agriculturae Sueciae. https://doi.org/10.54612/a.4ljnjimqe3