Diets were evaluated for ingredients listed by the manufacturer, calories, crude fiber fed and, on a dry matter basis, total dietary fiber, insoluble and soluble fiber, and moisture content. Low taurine levels were defined as less than or equal to 250 (whole blood), 60 (plasma) or 110 nmol/mL (serum). Congestive heart failure (CHF) was also diagnosed in patients if evidence of cardiogenic pulmonary edema was visible on thoracic radiographs or if pleural or peritoneal effusion was present on ultrasound with evidence of DCM via echocardiography. Percent FS and LVIDs were collected in M-mode or two-dimensional imaging from the right parasternal short axis at the level of the papillary muscles. <25% left ventricular fractional shortening (FS)ģ.5 cm left ventricular internal diameter at end-systole (LVIDs) DCM was diagnosed in patients with at least two of the following four criteria via echocardiographic measurements and subsequent calculations: Follow-up data were collected 1 year after the initial assessments, if available. Echocardiograms, diet and medical history, and taurine levels (whole blood, serum and plasma) were collected. Patients were seen and evaluated by board-certified cardiologists or residents under the supervision of board-certified cardiologists. Study dogs were recruited from private and academic institutions between January 2016 and July 2018. Included in the study were 24 client-owned golden retrievers with documented DCM and taurine deficiency, plus 52 healthy golden retrievers for comparison. In a recent study from the University of California, Davis, golden retrievers were evaluated for taurine deficiencies and treated with taurine and L-carnitine supplements in addition to a prescribed diet change to investigate a potential role of supplementation in improving and managing DCM. A warning issued by the FDA to pet owners and the veterinary community has subsequently panicked some pet owners who feed BEG diets. The FDA is investigating the potential link, although a direct link between BEG foods and DCM may be difficult to prove because of the complexity of taurine metabolism and its various roles in overall health. Recently, BEG foods have become wildly popular, and veterinarians have raised concerns with the FDA due to a perceived increase in diagnosed cases of DCM. Taurine is made primarily from methionine and cysteine in the liver and central nervous system of dogs, and supplementation is vital due to low endogenous production. While taurine is not considered an essential amino acid for dogs, the metabolism of taurine and its role in various metabolic processes are not fully elucidated. A recent study found that subsequent supplementation with taurine and L-carnitine results in improvement or even resolution of clinical signs in nutrition-associated DCM.1 First documented in the late 1980s and 1990s, it's well established that cats and dogs fed diets low in taurine have a high prevalence of DCM. Will this food help with my taurine deficiency? (ray_ray/)Ī possible link between boutique, exotic and grain-free (BEG) dog foods and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is currently under investigation by the U.S.
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