Welcome! We’re so glad you found us.
This website supports the efforts of two major Facebook groups discussing the recent spike in taurine deficiency-related canine dilated cardiomyopathy, especially whether diet plays a role and whether a simple food switch may be our most effective therapy and preventative. We welcome you to join one of the groups (addresses below) or check out the resources we’ve gathered.
We are the admins of the Taurine+DCM Facebook groups
Our mission is to educate, change minds + make a healthier world for dogs
The Taurine+DCM Facebook Groups
For those who have left us, we mourn; for those who are fighting, we embrace; for those who are here, we advocate; and for those who don’t know, we educate.
The All-Breed Taurine DCM Facebook Group
The All-Breed Taurine DCM Facebook GroupWith more than 105,000 members and growing fast, this group shares information about nutritional DCM across all breeds and mixes.
The Golden Retriever Taurine DCM Facebook Group
The Golden Retriever Taurine DCM Facebook GroupThis group has grown to more than 12,000 members and exists for all dog owners and topics related to taurine and nutritional deficiency in Golden Retrievers.
Go to the Golden groupFun Facts
Read Our Stories
These stories are told by owners of dogs diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy.
Some dogs recovered with diet change, cardiac medications and supplementation.
Others were not diagnosed in time for treatment to make a difference.
Click the stories to read about their journeys.
Sophie’s Story
by Alicia Fattore-Brozek in Arizona
One day in November of 2018, our seemingly healthy 2-year-old Weimaraner started to choke and hack. It sounded as if Sophie had something caught in …
Mason and Dixon’s Story
by Megan Leitsinger in Alabama
Mason and Dixon, my Cocker Spaniel rescues, are littermates. Five months ago, in early July 2019, Mason was diagnosed with DCM. When Dixon was tested …
Kaylee’s Story
by Maggie Gilmore in Kansas
Our pup Kaylee was diagnosed with nutritional DCM in January 2019 by a cardiologist at Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She was a …
Nuance’s Story
by Jade Soon in Michigan
On Christmas Day 2017, our Chinese Crested Nuance (a/k/a NooNooBooBoo) started coughing and collapsing. I took her to our vet the next day and after …
BB’s Story
by Art & Maxine Cook in Pennsylvania
Today is December 3, 2019, and Beatrix Kiddo vom Kirchenwald is a 5.3-year-old West German Shepherd Schutzhund girl. “BB” was a raw-fed puppy …
Aari and Loki’s Story
by Gabi Cantor Goldberg in Australia
Aari and Loki, my beautiful Icelandic Sheepdogs, were diagnosed in May 2019 with moderate and severe DCM, respectively. I was shattered. They were only …
Loki’s Story
by Jessica Ibañez in Miami, Florida
This is sweet Loki, my 2-year-old Miniature Schnauzer. He was diagnosed in August of 2019 with early onset DCM from eating grain-free food. Some …
Belle’s Story
by Terri Krempin in Minnesota
This is Belle, my Golden Retriever. I have bred and shown Golden Retrievers for almost 30 years and was a vet tech for 25 of …
Cheyenne’s Story
by Tera Weidendorf in Minnesota
This is my girl Cheyenne. She is 3/4 Newfoundland and 1/4 Labrador. I brought her home when she was 3 months old. Our story of …
Theo’s Story
by Samantha Ganey, Elkins Park, Pa.
This is Theo, my beloved Goldendoodle. In March of 2019, when Theo was 7 months old, he went in for an echocardiogram after an …
Wally’s Story
by Lara Day, DVM
This is Wally, my itty bitty pocket Pittie. His DNA test says he is 7/8 American Staffordshire Terrier and 1/8 American Bulldog. To me, he is …
Bailey’s Story
by Martha Martin in Memphis, Tenn.
This is Bailey, our sweet Labrador Retriever. As I write this, it is February 21, 2019, and Bailey is 9 years old. Our veterinary …
Scarlett’s Story
by Bridgett Mitchell, DVM
Meet Scarlett, a 5-year-old Shih Tzu who presented at my clinic in March 2018 in complete heart failure. There are many stories of dogs succumbing to …
Oliver’s Story
by Julie Carter in New Jersey
On August 3, 2018, we lost our beloved Oliver to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). He had just turned 4 years old. He was my hero, my …
Shuvee’s Story
by Adam and Jessica in Rochester, Wa.
This was our baby girl, Shuvee, who we lovingly called Punkin Head. Shuvee was a well-bred Bloodhound and a very promising working dog …
Bella and Charlie’s Story
by Laura Filmore in Chesterfield, Mo.
I wanted to share my story of Bella and Charlie in hopes it will bring attention to dog foods suspected of causing dilated cardiomyopathy …
Emmett’s Story
by Christel in Saco, Maine
This is the story of Emmett, our much-loved Yellow Lab. He was 8 years old when we lost him to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). It was …
Jake’s Story
by Denise in Muskego, Wisconsin
Jake, our Shollie, was diagnosed with DCM and congestive heart failure (CHF) in January of 2018. They told us to not even hope for six …
Emma’s Story
by Denise in Muskego, Wisconsin
Emma, our Catahoula Leopard mix, was diagnosed with DCM and congestive heart failure in September of 2017 at 6 years old. We took her to …
Angel’s Story
by Barbara in Newcastle, Oklahoma
Angel was our 10.5-year-old Golden Pyrenees, and she was healthy, according to her annual vet visit in August of 2018. But now we look back …
CJ’s Story
by Colleen in Minnesota
Our beloved CJ was a 4-year-old AmStaff/Lab/Boxer/Hound mix who we rescued at 8 months of age. He had been returned to the shelter twice, so we …
Princeton’s Story
by Roz in Ontario, Canada
Princeton is a 6-year-old Black Russian Terrier who was diagnosed with severe DCM on August 28, 2018. His appetite had decreased, and we went to …
Odin’s Story
by Diane Denman in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
This is the story of PrairieWyn’s Ode To Our Hearts, PTA, NC NI, also known as Odin. Our boy Odin was born February …
Lilly’s Story
by Amy in Franklin, Tennessee
This is Lilly, my 11-year-old Golden girl! In 2018, Lilly was diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF), secondary to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).
Her DCM was indeed …
