Texas A&M study links cattle feed additive to heart damage in dogs
New university findings highlight potential implications for dogs, cardiology, and veterinary practice.
A livestock feed additive commonly used to promote growth in cattle, swine, and poultry may pose a serious risk to dogs, according to a new case report from researchers at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) .
The report , published in Veterinary Record Case Reports, describes two cases of dogs treated at the Texas A&M Small Animal Teaching Hospital that consumed ractopamine, an additive mixed into livestock feed to help animals such as cattle, pigs, and poultry grow lean muscle, which dogs may accidentally ingest if they have access to feed or storage areas.
While both dogs experienced similar clinical signs, their outcomes differed significantly, highlighting the importance of early recognition and treatment.
“This had not previously been described in the veterinary literature as a natural exposure in dogs,” said Dr.
Sonya Wesselowski , associate professor of cardiology in VMBS’ Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences .
“Being able to document these cases helps raise awareness of what can happen and how serious it can be.” In one case, the dog’s owners quickly realized their dog had consumed the feed additive and induced vomiting shortly after ingestion.
The dog later required hospitalization for cardiac monitoring and supportive care but ultimately recovered and returned to a normal life.
In contrast, the second dog was found in critical condition after an unknown period of exposure on a rural property.
Without early treatment, the dog developed severe cardiac complications and died despite intensive treatment.
“Because this resulted from exposure to a common feed additive, one of the most important things, for us, is getting this information into the literature so it becomes something veterinarians can recognize and act on,” said Sophie Tippit, a VMBS Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) candidate.
For pet owners, especially those in agricultural settings, the findings highlight the importance of keeping livestock additives out of reach of dogs to limit the possibility of accidental ingestion.
The report adds to ongoing university-led research relevant to veterinary medicine, animal health, and clinical decision-making.
Source university website: Texas A&M VMBS — https://vetmed.tamu.edu/
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