Taurine Levels In Dog Food

Therefore it is found in much smaller levels in commercial dog food.

Taurine levels in dog food.

The length of time that your dog will need taurine supplementation will depend on the severity of the deficiency and your dog s ability to maintain levels of taurine as it is ingested. Our 2020 guide read more. Food and drug administration fda released an alert to veterinarians and pet owners regarding reports of increased incidence of a heart disease called canine dilated cardiomyopathy dcm. One of the most interesting and alarming things some veterinarians have noticed is that some cases of dcm appear to be correlated with certain types of dog food.

When you think about the ideal diet for dogs you probably picture a recipe rich in animal ingredients like meat poultry and fish. As you may remember from school amino acids are the building 7 best dog foods with taurine and carnitine. At ollie we work hard to make sure all of our recipes contain adequate levels of taurine for your pup. Taurine is an amino acid found only in animal based proteins.

Taurine supplementation is the treatment of choice for dogs suffering from taurine deficiency. Let s take a look at the facts. In order for dog food to contain enough taurine it needs to contain meat. In july 2018 the fda released a warning about grain free dog foods and their possible connection to the development of a serious heart disease in dogs.

What dog foods are associated with dcm and taurine deficiencies. Taurine in dog food. Initially vets started noticing dcm seemed to be more common in dogs that were fed grain free diets which used things like legumes and potatoes rather than wheat. While it is an essential amino acid for cats that must be provided in their food as pure taurine dogs are able to generate this amino acid from other amino acids.

If your dog s diet isn t enough to meet his needs for taurine you can supplement with up to 1 000mg per day for every 40 pounds of your dog s body weight. Giving the correct food to a dog with heart problems greatly reduces its discomfort. The foundation of any healthy diet for dogs is in fact protein because it is a rich source of amino acids. Is this warning justified and based on science.

Foods made with fillers like corn wheat soy or potatoes tend to have less meat and this means less taurine. Generally speaking the average level of taurine in dog food is about 0 13 dry food matter. It is abundant in the brain the eye especially the retina muscle tissue. Taurine supplements for dogs.

Taurine is an amino acid found primarily in meat. A 2016 study published in the journal of animal science and technology found that beet pulp a common ingredient in dog foods decreased taurine levels in dogs by increasing the amounts of bile. This disorder is characterized by weakening of the heart muscle which leads to a decreased ability of the heart to pump and if untreated to cardiac failure.