
Let me give you an example of the ingredients contained within a very popular brand of dog food. Many, if not most of these ingredients can be found in a healthy and wholesome diet. Keep in mind that taurine can be found in animal-based proteins in such items like chicken, fish, eggs, milk and a few others. Stay tuned! Dog Food Recipes That Contain Taurineīefore I give you a few suggestions, let’s examine taurine in dog food a bit further. The study and research continues to take place and the direct link between grain-free diets and DCM has not yet been determined. The FDA has looked into the correlation between grain-free recipes and DCM. What goes into your dog’s stomach is one of the major factors in its overall health.īefore we get away from the topic of DCM, there has been some debate over the feeding of grain-free diets. Your vet will be able to determine which amino acids (Cystine and Methionine) could be contributing or lacking in terms of producing taurine.Īlso keep in mind that whether your dog food contains taurine or not, it is important that your pet is consuming a healthy and nutritional meal. The good news is that there are a number of dog food products on the market that do contain taurine should your vet suggest these type of recipes. Keep in mind that taurine is considered to be a non-essential amino acid (can be synthesized naturally within the body) so most of dog food recipes will not contain taurine. It is important to note that dogs who have been diagnosed with DCM have responded very well to a taurine supplement which is encouraging.

Always consult with your veterinarian should you have questions or concerns. As mentioned earlier, this disease may cause serious health issues. If dogs are taurine deficient, this may result in the heart disease known as DCM. So What Does Taurine In Dog Food Have To Do With This? As I write this article, the FDA continues to research and investigate this issue. They looked at diets that dogs were consuming, especially those labeled as ‘grain-free’ and contained such things as lentils, peas, and various forms of potatoes. In 2018, the FDA became involved in this issue, and began to investigate reports associated with DCM.

Although not all inclusive, this disease seems to be associated with large breeds as well as their age (middle-aged and older.) Dogs with DCM have a much more difficult time in pumping blood which can lead to heart failure. What Is DCM?ĭCM or Dilated Cardiomyopathy is a disease which is associated with a dog’s heart. For those unfamiliar with the term, ‘DCM,’ let’s take a look at this now. Simple genetics or family history of heart issues can also be a culprit. Unfortunately, there are those canines (larger in size) out there that produced taurine at a much slower rate than your smaller dog.Īs a result, these dogs may lack the amount of taurine that is needed to keep their heart healthy, which may lead to heart disease or develop DCM. That depends! Most dogs are able to produce their own taurine through amino acids (sulfur) so adding this (taurine) to a dog’s diet was not something that dog owners needed to worry about. Is Taurine Essential To The Health Of Your Dog? Taurine can be found in the following organs or tissues that I have listed below: Taurine is considered to be a non-essential amino acid (some would argue this) because it can be synthesized or manufactured within the body itself. In its simplest form, taurine is an amino acid that can be found in organs and tissues within the body itself. So What Does Taurine In Dog Food Have To Do With This?.Is Taurine Essential To The Health Of Your Dog?.
