Taurine is essential for dogs and cats to maintain health and well-being. Taurine is abundant in most meats, especially in the heart muscle and tongue.
There is a link between legumes, lentils, sweet potatoes, and taurine deficiency. I consider these foods taurine inhibitors, and you’ll soon learn why.
But first, let me tell you a story about the commercial kibble industry.
Sweet potatoes, lentils, and legumes were added to commercial kibble as “grain-free” food became more popular. The industry decided to add human nutrition logic to our pets and make kibble “healthier” by removing grains. Unfortunately, this caused an increase in taurine deficiency in many pets and a deadly condition known as dilated cardiomyopathy.
The reason for this increase in taurine deficiency and dilated cardiomyopathy is that lentils, legumes, and sweet potatoes all inhibit or block taurine absorption. Although kibble companies have tried to remedy this issue by adding synthetic taurine, its absorption is still blocked by inhibitors.
Taurine deficiency symptoms and complications are dilated cardiomyopathy, seizures, collapsing, fainting, excessive panting, bloody urine, urinating pain, generalized pelvic pain, abdominal pain, moderate to severe blindness, digestive issues, and even death.
Dilated cardiomyopathy, or DCM, is a heart muscle disease in pets characterized by the heart becoming enlarged.
As the heart enlarges, its chambers dilate, and it becomes more challenging for the heart to pump blood. Heart valves may begin to leak, which can cause a buildup of fluids within the chest and abdomen, eventually leading to a condition known as congestive heart failure, which can be fatal.
Dilated cardiomyopathy was almost nonexistent, and very few cases were reported yearly. However, grain-free food causing taurine deficiency in dogs and cats has become more prevalent. It affects more dogs and cats annually, but it is occurring in younger pets in devastating numbers. Taurine deficiency is the cause of dilated cardiomyopathy.
When plant-based ingredients are used in high amounts in commercial pet food, these plant-based ingredients are deficient in taurine and other essential amino acids.
Taurine and other amino acid deficiencies are also linked to increased dilated cardiomyopathy cases. Many professionals think it is inaccurate to say that grain-free diets are responsible for or cause dilated cardiomyopathy, as this implies that diets rich in grains are a healthier choice. However, grains-rich diets are associated with and linked to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), obesity, gut dysbiosis (imbalance of bacteria within the gut microbiome), chronic inflammation, and much more.
Feeding a diet rich in animal-based proteins instead of plant-based proteins is essential to prevent health issues from developing.
Taurine and amino acids are found in most animal-based proteins, but they are plentiful in poultry, small oily fish, brain, heart muscle, and liver of animals. Amino acids are found in lesser amounts in the following sources: beef, goat, lamb, dairy, and eggs.
Lamb-based raw diets and processed diets are often deficient in amino acids like taurine, which is why balance is essential for species-appropriate nutrition to be achieved. Feed variety.
Supplying various animal proteins in your dog or cat’s diet is crucial to avoid health issues, including dilated cardiomyopathy.
You can always have your veterinarian test for taurine deficiency and have them perform an echocardiogram if you are unsure and want to confirm that your animal is in good cardiovascular health. Species-appropriate raw diets that are meat-based and rich in organs like liver, heart, lung, and kidney are best to prevent amino acid deficiency and avoid dilated cardiomyopathy from developing. Avoid legumes, lentils, and sweet potatoes to prevent taurine deficiency.
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