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==Overview==

==Overview==

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is now an uncommon feline cardiomyopathy, representing ~10% of cardiomyopathies. Previously, DCM was associated with taurine deficiency.  However, the discovery of this in 1987 led to supplementation of commercial feline diets with adequate taurine.  The rare cases of taurine deficiency observed since then are generally the consequence of vegetarian, vegan or canine diets to cats. It is difficult to differentiate true DCM, which is a primary systolic failure of the myocardium, from other forms of cardiac pathology which may result in a 'DCM phenotype'. Examples include the end stage of undiagnosed valvular diases (mitral dysplasia), ischaemic myocardial disease (HCM) or sustained tachycardia (tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy).  

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is now an uncommon feline cardiomyopathy, representing ~10% of cardiomyopathies. Previously, DCM was associated with taurine deficiency.  However, the discovery of this in 1987 led to supplementation of commercial feline diets with adequate taurine.  The rare cases of taurine deficiency observed since then are generally the consequence of vegetarian, vegan or canine diets to cats. It is difficult to differentiate idiopathic DCM, which is a primary systolic failure of the myocardium, from other forms of cardiac pathology which may result in a 'DCM phenotype'. Examples include the end stage of undiagnosed valvular diases (mitral dysplasia), ischaemic myocardial disease (HCM) or sustained tachycardia (tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy). Idiopathic DCM is a diagnosis of exclusion of other causes of secondary myocardial failure.

==Pathophysiology==

==Pathophysiology==