![]() Feline diets, produced with taurine, appear generally safe. But by the time she’s coughing, breathing with difficulty, chronically fatigued and maybe collapsing, well, the damage has been done. If you’re feeding grain-free you could wait until your pupster shows signs of heart failure. I do not advocate continuing risky feeding practices, hoping that lightning doesn’t strike the dog you love. When dogs consume these foods over a period of time, they acquire a taurine deficit, which leads to an increase in the number of dogs getting a cardiac ailment known as dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), which may lead to congestive heart failure. However, it is believed that certain breeds and individuals may require a. This is a concern since taurine is necessary for proper muscle function. It is also naturally present in high amounts in animal proteins via meats. Generally, dogs are able to synthesize taurine from methionine and cysteine. The FDA has issued this statement: “Based on the data collected and analyzed thus far, the agency believes that the potential association between diet and dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs is a complex issue that may involve multiple factors.” Taurine is an amino acid that is made in a dogs body from methionine and cysteine. Beyond diet and heredity it is likely that there are other contributors. Taurine supplement for dogs - Vet recommended for heart disease, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), Congestive heart failure (CHF) and taurine deficiency in dogs. Investigations are continuing.ĭilated cardiomyopathy has long been considered a genetic disease affecting primarily large breed dogs and cocker spaniels. The peas, lentils, potatoes and legumes that are often used in place of grain in these diets appear to have resulted in a deficiency of the amino acid taurine. Information from the Food and Drug Administration, on the other hand, shows a link between grain-free pet foods and a potentially fatal disease of the heart muscle called dilated cardiomyopathy, or DCM. There are a small number of dogs suspected of gluten intolerance who’ve improved with these special foods but we have little in the way of research supporting their value outside of this small subset. Considered a fad diet by many, grain-free has been dogged by controversy from the get-go. In the 12 taurine-deficient dogs with DCM in the retrospective study, cardiac function and plasma taurine concentration improved with treatment and taurine. Taurine is very essential for dogs as it helps keep a variety of bodily functions in check and protect dogs. ![]() Nichol, what are your thoughts on grain-free diets for dogs?ĭr. Shellfish, especially scallops, have some of the highest taurine content of any source, with up to 827 milligrams of the amino acid for every 100 grams.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |