![]() Taurine supplementation in some dogs with DCM has been beneficial. In some situations supplementation with the conditionally essential amino acid is beneficial for addressing a health problem. This means that they can be produced in limited amounts in the body but not always in the amounts that are required. Other amino acids like glutamine are considered to be conditionally essential. Note that taurine is considered essential in cats but not in dogs. There are 10 amino acids that are considered essential in the dog. Some amino acids are considered essential because the body cannot make them and they must be in the diet. Proteins are vital for basic life functions because they form substances like enzymes, cell membrane receptors, cell structure components, hormones like insulin, and antibodies, and they maintain fluid balances. Amino acids are assembled to make proteins. These patterns of conflicting results made the role of taurine deficiency and DCM in dogs unclear. However, there have been studies showing low taurine levels and no DCM as well as DCM in some breeds even when the taurine level is adequate. Since then, other breeds have been identified with low taurine DCM. In the 1990s an association between DCM and low taurine levels was found in the American cocker spaniel breed. Taurine deficiency and cardiomyopathy were clearly demonstrated in cats in the late 1980s but the connection in dogs with cardiomyopathy could not be fully determined. It has also spurred increased awareness and renewed research to better understand the correlation in affected dogs.Ĭardiomyopathy is a term used to indicate a problem with the heart muscle. Keep in mind that this association was noted in a small number of dogs, and the full magnitude of the problem is not yet clear. Obviously this raised concerns that these foods were insufficient in taurine to prevent DCM. This was triggered by an observed correlation between dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), response to taurine, and feeding grain-free foods. ![]() ![]() Taurine deficiency in dogs eating grain-free foods has received growing attention. ![]()
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