The issue of taurine in dog food has gotten attention because of its possible relationship to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a condition that affects a dog’s cardiac muscle. Natural sources of taurine are animal meats like beef, turkey, eggs or fish. ![]() Grain-free diets are primarily made up of lentils, peas, legume seeds and potatoes, which are not good sources of taurine for dogs. Hill says no and urges dog owners to be cautious when giving pets grain-free food. Is grain-free food with taurine necessary?ĭr. But now pet companies have reversed that trend and are adding more meat into their products and including essential nutrients, which ultimately gives standard pet food more sources of taurine. Steller believes that was much to the detriment of the health of cats and dogs at the time. That began the trend of including less meat and more carbohydrates. In the 1950s a machine called the extruder was introduced to pet food manufacturing, which made a nice crunchy kibble that required more starches. When metal was needed for war, companies reverted to dry food, which was still primarily meat based. Steller says for about 20 years prior to World War II, dog food was primarily meat based and in cans. Steller says overall any canine is susceptible to the condition. While these bigger dogs have had more issues with DCM, Dr. Other dog breeds that have DCM issues include: She says Golden Retrievers are overrepresented with DCM cases and are a dog breed known to have problems metabolizing taurine. Julie Steller, a faculty member at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, says some dog breeds may have more taurine-deficiency issues than others, but that research may be inconclusive. Your veterinarian will give you the exact dose your dog should take and recommend the best supplement brand. ![]() However, this should only be done under the recommendation of your veterinarian as you don’t want to oversupplement your dog. These come in powders, liquids or tablets. You can also get the amino acid taurine in a nutritional supplement specifically made for dogs. Your best bet is to feed a diet that keeps your canine lean and healthy. Hill also urges dog owners to not pick food with the lowest protein content (unless your dog requires very few calories recommended by your veterinarian). So how do you know if your pet’s food is complete and balanced? It’s usually clearly marked on pet food packaging. Your dog also gets taurine from the meat protein in his diet, and from eggs and seafood in his food. The American Association of Feed Control Officials and National Research Council have a minimum recommendation for methionine and cysteine in dog food. Taurine is not required in dog diets because pups can get it by getting enough methionine and cysteine in their food. This includes amino acids methionine and cysteine that automatically generate taurine. Hill says a complete diet is one that contains all the essential nutrients to maintain a normal body weight or growth. Like with humans, the main source of taurine for dogs is in their regular complete and balanced diet. ![]() He says the important thing for dog owners to know is that your pet’s diet must be complete and balanced. Most don’t need a special diet, unless recommended by a veterinarian. Richard Hill, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, recommends a standard diet for all healthy dogs. Wondering if your dog needs a special dog food with taurine? Dr. Taurine is a sulfur-based amino acid that is one of the building blocks of protein, which is critical to your dog’s cardiovascular system, brain, eyes and immune system.
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