The majority of dog owners will do almost anything to make sure that their pet eats a healthy diet. But the issue is that many pet owners find it increasingly challenging to understand precisely what their dog needs in a food as veterinarians and researchers learn more about the best ways to feed our pets.
The typical dog owner probably hadn’t even heard of taurine until a few years ago (unless you have a cat; more on that later).
But lately, taurine has been mentioned repeatedly in articles about the health of dogs and DCM (Dilated Cardiomyopathy).
Below, we’ll make an effort to explain the taurine problem to you and why you should be aware of it.
Fair warning: There are a lot of unanswered questions surrounding this topic. However, we’re attempting to clarify the questions you ought to be asking for you.
What Are the Symptoms of Taurine Deficiency in Dogs?
Because taurine deficiency may or may not occur alongside DCM, it is important to familiarize yourself with some of the key symptoms it causes.
Unfortunately, it frequently does not cause any overt symptoms of illness, but there are a few signs you might notice:
Stick to High-Quality, Mainstream Dog Foods Whenever Possible
These days, the market is filled with many fantastic boutique dog food producers. Many produce very tasty foods and frequently include some very alluring features.
However, small dog food producers rarely have on staff nutritionists and are unable to afford the same level of laboratory testing that larger producers can.
Additionally, it just makes sense to steer clear of specialty dog food producers until the connection between DCM and these foods is clarified because these types of foods have been linked to the disease.
However, some dogs have particular needs that call for the use of these kinds of foods. For instance, your dog might need more fiber than usual or have allergies to a number of common proteins.
Therefore, be sure to talk to your veterinarian about your decision if your dog actually needs a boutique diet.
Our Recommendation: Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula was a pretty obvious choice for us, as it is one of the only foods we could find that is made by a mainstream manufacturer, contains supplemental taurine, and features healthy, whole grains. It also boasts a number of nifty bells and whistles, like glucosamine and five different probiotics.
Full Disclosure: I feed my Rottie Blue Buffalo, and we both love it (although I give her the large-breed version of this formula, which also contains chondroitin). That particular recipe doesn’t list supplemental taurine, but the guaranteed analysis indicates that it contains 0.1% taurine (likely provided by the chicken).
FAQ
What foods are high in taurine for dogs?
- Raw Goat’s Milk / Kefir.
- Fish.
- Turkey (dark meat – thighs, drumsticks)
- Pork Loin and Picnic Ham.
- Beef.
- Organ Meat (chicken liver, beef liver, beef heart)
- Lamb (dark meat)
- White Fish.
Does Fromm cause heart issues?
You can only imagine how deeply concerned we are in light of the FDA’s disclosure that 16 brands of dog food have been associated with canine heart disease in canines that consume them, with Fromm ranking eighth in the list of incidents reported from most to least.
Is taurine necessary in dog food?
According to nutritional research, dogs can synthesize taurine from cysteine and methionine, so it is not generally regarded as an essential amino acid for them.
Why did chewy stop selling Fromm?
According to Fromm, our products are best sold by merchants who are familiar with them and can advise pet owners on the best products for their particular dog or cat. Due to Chewy’s acquisition by PetSmart, they are no longer a Fromm Products authorized retailer. ”.