Taurine is a sulfur-based amino acid that is one of the building blocks of protein, essential for your dog’s cardiovascular system, brain, eyes and immune system. Wondering if your dog needs special dog food with taurine? Dr. Richard Hill, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist for the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, recommends a standard diet for all healthy dogs. Most don’t need a special diet unless recommended by a veterinarian. He says the important thing for dog owners to know is that your pet’s diet should be complete and balanced.
Ssources of taurine
As with humans, the main source of taurine for dogs is found in their regular complete and balanced diet. Dr. Hill says a complete diet is one that contains all the essential nutrients to maintain normal body weight or growth. This includes the amino acids methionine and cysteine which automatically generate taurine. Taurine is not necessary in a dog’s diet, as puppies can get it by consuming enough methionine and cysteine in their food. The American Association of Feed Control Officials and the National Research Council have a minimum recommendation for methionine and cysteine in dog food.
Your dog also gets taurine from meat protein in his diet and from eggs and seafood in his food.
So how do you know if your pet’s food is complete and balanced? It is usually clearly marked on pet food packages. Dr. Hill also urges dog owners not to choose low-protein foods (unless your dog needs very few calories recommended by your veterinarian). Your best bet is to feed a diet that keeps your dog lean and healthy.
You can also get the amino acid taurine in a nutritional supplement made specifically for dogs. These come in the form of powders, liquids or tablets. However, this should only be done under the recommendation of your veterinarian as you don’t want to overfeed your dog. Your veterinarian will give you the exact dose your dog should take and recommend the best supplement brand.
Breeds That Need Taurine in Dog Food
University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine faculty member Dr. Julie Steller says some dog breeds may have more problems with taurine deficiency than others, but research may not be conclusive. . She says Golden Retrievers are overrepresented among DCM cases and are a breed of dog known to have taurine metabolism issues. Other dog breeds that have DCM issues include:
Although these larger dogs had more problems with DCM, Dr. Steller says that on the whole, any dog is susceptible to the disease.
The story of taurine in dog food
Dr. Steller says that for about 20 years before World War II, dog food was mostly meat-based and canned. When metal was needed for warfare, companies turned to dry foods, which were still mostly meat-based. In the 1950s, a machine called an extruder was introduced to pet food manufacturing, which made nice crispy kibbles that required more starches. This started the trend to include less meat and more carbs. Dr. Steller thinks it was to the detriment of the health of cats and dogs at the time. But now, pet companies have reversed that trend and are adding more meat to their products and including essential nutrients, ultimately giving standard pet foods more sources of taurine.
East grain-free diet with taurine necessary?
Dr. Hill says no and urges dog owners to be careful when feeding pets grain-free food. Grain-free diets are mostly made up of lentils, peas, legume seeds, and potatoes, which are not good sources of taurine for dogs. Natural sources of taurine are animal meats such as beef, turkey, eggs or fish.
Taurine in dog food research
Dr. Hill thinks most pet foods sold in the United States are great for feeding your pets. He thinks larger manufacturers tend to have larger research teams, which include veterinarians who help determine which ingredients and supplements are best for a dog’s body. Some companies don’t have the same research resources and may have more problems, but the veterinary nutritionist says mistakes can happen to any pet food manufacturer.
The vet professor is also wary of misleading advertising and the use of cute names to lure pet owners to certain products. He thinks that if you see an ad that inflates or demonizes ingredients, that’s a clear red flag.
Dr. Steller advises his patients to follow a standard diet of regular dry kibble or canned wet food. She doesn’t believe in fad diets, like grain-free or raw diets, and says we ignore too many of them to give them anything else. That said, she thinks there are exceptions and some animals need a special diet, like dogs with allergies.
Changing your pet’s food should always be done in consultation with your veterinarian, who will have their own ideas about taurine-free and grain-free diets in regards to your dog’s specific nutritional needs. If you have any concerns or need help with your dog’s diet, try consulting a certified veterinary nutritionist who specializes in nutritional management. They carry the ACVN (American College of Veterinary Nutrition) designation after their name and a list of them can be found here. Also, when looking for food for your dog, make sure the dog food company works directly with veterinary nutritionists and does their own nutritional studies.
Be a Lawyer: Know Where taurine in dog food just
The DCM scare has affected grain-free dog food sales in the United States. As a result, many grain-only companies have started making standard dog food, which means there’s more variety than ever. However, if you are concerned that your dog is not getting enough taurine in their diet, know that veterinarians can easily test a dog’s taurine levels to make sure an animal is not deficient.
Overall, both Dr. Hill and Dr. Steller believe that positive things can come out of any negative situation. There are now more resources and experts studying pet food safety in the industry. Sometimes figuring out what went wrong can lead to changes that not only make the pet food industry safer, but the human food industry as well.
Ultimately, while researchers are still investigating whether grain-free diets are the cause of DCM, most veterinarians agree that prevention is better than cure. Know what your pet is eating. Be an advocate for their health. With so many options, take the time to educate yourself so your pet can live a long and happy life.