Does My Dog Need Taurine?

Dogs need a lot of essential vitamins and minerals within their diet. One of the most important nutrients for your dog is taurine. Keep reading to learn how to incorporate taurine into your dog’s diet!

What is Taurine?

Taurine is a naturally occurring amino acid that is essential for their health. While dogs produce taurine on their own, some pooches are deficient. Taurine is necessary for brain health, heart health, and eye health. If your furry friend is low in this amino acid, they can deal with many health issues.

Taurine Deficiency in Dogs

There are many symptoms of taurine deficiency in canines. Dilated cardiomyopathy is a heart disease often caused by a taurine lack. It can also lead to brain inflammation and blindness in older dogs. Some dog breeds are at a higher risk of deficiency. English Setters, Golden Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels, and Saint Bernards are all higher-risk breeds.

Natural Sources of Taurine

Many foods are not only protein-rich but are natural sources of taurine. Adding these foods to your pooch’s diet will help with their deficiency  Fish and shellfish are great natural sources of taurine due to their rich fatty acids. Eggs are also rich in taurine and are easy to add to your dog’s diet. Many types of meat are also full of taurine amino acids, such as poultry, red meat, and organ meats.

Supplements

If you’re especially worried about your dog’s taurine intake, you can invest in supplements. These taurine supplements are great to use if your pup’s taurine levels don’t increase after a change in diet. Your dog should take one dose of these supplements a day. You should mix these in with your pups’ food! While some supplements can be a bit pricey, it’s better to invest in your furry friend’s health now, before they deal with life-threatening health issues in the future.

Your puppy’s health is critical, and monitoring their taurine intake is no different. If your dog shows signs of taurine deficiency, try to change their diet or add supplements to their food.