Taurine dogs skin#
Taurine dogs free#

While there is plenty of information on the quality of traditional protein sources such as chicken & fish (the two proteins with the most methionine), there is almost none information available on those novel protein sources.įor example, chicken meal is a good source of methionine, but lamb meal is not (Torres et al., 2003). On top of that, some “grain-free” diets use exotic or overly processed proteins, which might contribute even more to this issue. If we don’t formulate properly to compensate with this amino acid, dogs that have a genetic predisposition might develop DC. There is some speculation that some “grain-free” diets may not be providing enough methionine to the dog because legume seeds are generally low in this nutrient.

Taurine dogs free#

(Some Grain Free diets that lack methionine may not be able to synthetize enough taurine, which might affect their heart function. So, dogs that eat a diet high in methionine are able to produce enough natural methionine to synthesize taurine. Rather, some grains are a great source of an essential amino acid, methionine, which is needed in the diet for a host of metabolic functions, like conversion to taurine. Nor that legumes and tubers are bad for pets.

Taurine dogs skin#

Some dogs simply can’t handle grains in the diet without setting off skin irritations or other auto-immune diseases that can be triggered by having too many inflammatory foods in their diet.ĭespite the perception, there is really no scientific evidence associating grains with disease and allergy. The “grain-free” claim in pet food labels is merely offering the pet owner an ingredient choice. Grains are a primary source of carbohydrate, and they also provide essential fatty acids, amino acids, and vitamins to the diet (Laflamme et., 2014). Second, it is important to note that grains are actually not “bad guys” for all dogs. But, is there a correlation between taurine and “grain-free” diets?įirst, it is important to point out that tubers and legumes used in pet foods have been a part of our dietary choice for more than two decades. Interestingly, some dogs that were being fed “grain-free” diets and diagnosed with DC had lower levels of taurine in their bloodstream. It’s well known by nutritionists that the heart needs taurine, an amino acid, to function properly. Dogs diagnosed with DC have a weaker heart that cannot pump the blood properly.

However, recently some dogs fed “grain-free” diets containing mainly potatoes, peas, lentils, and other legume seeds as the main ingredients have been implicated in the development of a heart disease called dilated cardiomyopathy (DC). These diets do not include corn, soy, and wheat, which are often seen as the “bad guys” by some pet parents. For the past decade, one of the fastest growing trends in the pet food industry has been the “grain-free” diet.