If your dog is diagnosed with DCM, your veterinarian or veterinary cardiologist might measure taurine levels in the blood or recommend taurine supplementation. However, certain breeds, such as Cocker Spaniels, Newfoundlands, and Golden Retrievers, appear to be predisposed to taurine deficiency. If your cat is taurine deficient, taurine supplements will be prescribed to help treat the disease.ĭogs, unlike cats, do not need to consume taurine if they have enough of the building blocks of taurine in the diet. If cat is diagnosed with DCM, blood taurine levels can determine if they are deficient. However, diets that are not complete and balanced (labeled for intermittent or supplemental use), vegetarian/vegan diets, or homemade diets can be too low in taurine. Good quality, nutritionally complete and balanced commercial cat foods contain plenty of taurine. Taurine deficiency is most often seen in cats because, unlike most other species, cats require taurine in their diet. Taurine is an amino acid which, if deficient, can cause a heart disease called dilated data-sf-ec-immutable="" cardiomyopathy (DCM) . What are Common Supplements Used in Pets with Heart Disease? Taurine ![]() Comprehensive nutritional blood tests, while appealing, are not accurate in figuring out whether your pet is getting the right levels of nutrients. This can give us clues to which nutrients are likely to be deficient. Testing for deficiencies of these other nutrients is possible, but usually we focus more on careful review of the diet. Diets of concern include homemade diets (unless formulated by a Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionist and the recipe is strictly followed), vegetarian/vegan diets, or over-the-counter diets not designed to be complete and balanced (the label will read “for intermittent or supplemental use”). If your pet is eating certain types of diets, other nutrient deficiencies that can cause heart disease are possible. Blood carnitine levels also can be measured, but this requires more specialized testing. One of the most common deficiencies that we test for is taurine, an amino acid. Veterinarians can perform blood tests to test for deficiencies of certain nutrients. Should Testing be Done Before Starting Supplements? Discontinuing heart medications without the recommendation of your veterinary team can be dangerous. Unless your pet has been diagnosed with a specific nutrient deficiency, supplements should not be used in place of recommended heart medications. Even if the supplement is safe by itself, there may be dangerous interactions when it is used in combination with certain heart medications. Even if a supplement is safe for humans, it may not be safe for pets because they metabolize some supplements differently. ![]() Although supplements are thought to be safe because they are “natural,” this is not always true. Supplements can cause pets to get sick, so it is very important to use supplements that have a low risk for side effects. Therefore, supplements are not right for every dog and cat with heart disease. While some dietary supplements may have benefits, they all have potential side effects. This is why it’s important to talk to your veterinarian or cardiologist before starting any dietary supplements. However, because supplements can have risks, it’s important to select them carefully, to use the right dose, and to use a product with good quality control. This could be to correct a nutrient deficiency or to have effects beyond their nutritional properties. Why Might Dietary Supplements be Used in Dogs and Cats with Heart Disease?Ĭertain dietary supplements may be beneficial in some types of heart disease. ![]() Supplements can come in tablets, capsules, powders, liquids, and other forms. Some examples include vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids, or probiotics. ![]() Products that are eaten to “supplement” the diet.
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