Veterinary cardiologists started noticing higher than usual numbers of dogs with DCM. Certain diets, however, notably those high in lamb, rice bran, or fiber (especially beet pulp) and very low–protein diets have been associated with canine taurine deficiency.įast-forward to 2018. Taurine immediately became suspect in dog DCM, but relatively few instances of taurine-deficient DCM have been identified in dogs. When taurine was added to the food, DCM in cats basically disappeared. It turned out commercial cat foods didn’t contain sufficient taurine. Taurine, an amino acid that’s abundant in meat, was implicated in cases of cat DCM 30 years ago. Goldens are not considered an at-risk breed for DCM in general, but they are at risk for taurine deficiency. It also typically occurs in middle-aged to older dogs. It occurs more often in large breeds, and in some breeds, it’s thought to have a genetic component. It was August 2018, six months after his diagnosis, and just five days after celebrating his 4th birthday.ĭCM is a serious disease of the heart muscle that can ultimately lead to death. He remained symptom-free until one day, without warning, he suffered a fatal arrhythmia while walking across the kitchen floor. Oliver, now under the care of a veterinary cardiologist, was immediately placed on a mainstream diet containing grain and was given taurine supplements as well as heart medications. These dogs had in common two things: They had a deficiency of taurine, an amino acid, in their blood, and they were fed boutique dog foods from small companies often with unusual, grain-free, or legume-rich ingredient lists. It was February 2018, and Carter had also brought in an interesting article from the Morris Animal Foundation website noting a disturbing upswing in the number of Goldens diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). At least, it was until the vet listened to Oliver’s heart and uttered the sentence that would change her life: “He has a heart murmur.” NOTE: This article is not meant to replace the advice of your vet or pet professional.It was a routine vet visit for Oliver, Julie Carter’s 3½-year-old Golden Retriever. Organ meats are also a good source of taurine. Dark poultry meat is higher in taurine than light meat. Raw (frozen) and freeze-dried sources are readily available forms of meats. Dogs Naturally Magazine reports that the average fish contains 36 mg of taurine per ounce (if fed raw).
#TAURINE SUPPLEMENT FOR DOGS SKIN#
Raw whole fish is a great treat to feed your pet! Alternatively, you could feed a freeze-dried fish snack as many types of fish are available in treat form such as fish skin rolls, freeze dried fish treats (whole or parts), dehydrated whole fish, fish flakes, etc. Some of these ingredients can be difficult to find in products, however there are various freeze- dried and dehydrated treats as well as canned foods containing shellfish. ShellfishĬlams, scallops, krill, shrimp, oysters, squid Amounts are approximate due to natural variations in food. Taurine amounts listed in mg per 100g below are extracted from this study: (unless otherwise noted). Ingredients used in a canned or cooked product will have more taurine loss than a freeze dried or raw product. If you are looking for an extra source of taurine to add to your pet’s diet, here is a list of products that you can add as food toppers or treats. Taurine naturally occurs in meat and many companies add extra taurine to their canned or kibbled foods as up to 50% can be lost during the cooking process. For dogs, taurine is needed for eyes, reproduction, bile acid (for fat digestion) and for healthy heart. Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs and cats is associated with inadequate taurine levels. For cats, taurine is necessary for brain, nerves, eyes, heart, digestion, immune function and fetal development. Dogs however, can synthesize taurine from two other amino acids, methionine and cysteine (which are found in meat). For cats, it is an essential amino acid because their bodies cannot synthesize it, so it must be acquired from the diet. Taurine is an amino acid that both dogs and cats require for health.
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