Taurine Deficiency

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Saw this in Doodle Family on FB and wanted the experts opinion.

Grain-Free Feeders - PLEASE READ:

We all know how difficult it is to make decisions regarding diet for our pets. I am sharing this information not to add additional worry or concern but to educate. I came across this yesterday when it was shared by a vet dermatologist in another group. I have been trying to get additional information since then and joined the Facebook page linked to the taurine deficiency research being conducted by Dr. Joshua Stern (vet cardiologist) at UC Davis. Here is what I know so far:

* DCM (dilated cardiomyopathy) is a serious medical condition that impacts the muscles of the heart and reduces its ability to pump blood.
* Symptoms include lethargy, weakness, weight loss, collapse, coughing, increased respiratory rate, abdominal distention, irregular heart rhythm.
* Some breeds seem to have a genetic predisposition including Cocker Spaniels and large breed dogs particularly Golden Retrievers, Labradors, St. Bernards and Newfoundlands.
* Current research (not yet published) has identified a link between grain-free dogs foods that include peas and legumes and taurine deficiency that can lead to DCM. On the Taurine Deficiency page, the most commonly reported foods from owners of dogs with DCM are: Nutrisource, Acana (particularly pork and butternut squash), 4Health, Zignature, Taste of the Wild, Earthborn Holistic.
* It is believed that the peas/legumes may inhibit some dogs ability to produce or absorb taurine.
* The current recommendation is that if a food heavy in peas and legumes is being fed, consider a whole blood taurine test before any dietary changes are made. If the blood results indicate taurine is low, echocardiography is recommended.

I know that many of us use these foods and some of us have limited options in what to feed our dogs. I just wanted to bring this information forward and encourage you to discuss with your vet/IMS to decide whether this could be a concern for your pup.

https://www.facebook.com/julie.carter.37266/posts/10215672525987711

[Marie + Marshall]

I think that’s it. A campaign to get the public back on grocery store food. Personally for now ,we will stick with Acana. A serious recall or unfavorable buy out would be the only things to force a change for us. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

You are very wise, Marie. 

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Glad to see this discussion.  I saw this on FB as well and wondered WTD?  Thanks Karen and Sheri. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I am just seeing things that make me sick in the doodle groups on FB. People are switching their dogs to Purina, people are recommending garbage foods that contain ingredients that we know are linked to cancer, and the shame of the whole thing is that they are not understanding what this is even about. They think feeding grains to your dog will prevent heart disease. It has nothing to do with grains!!!!

Aarrgghh!!!!! 

[DonMarie and Picco]

I agree with you but if you look at what most people eat it is the equivalent to Purina!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Well, I don't know that we can say "most" people. I think some of it depends on socioeconomic levels. Most of my friends eat a pretty good diet. 

And I think that we here on DK are more knowledgable than "most" dog owners. :)

[c zoomer]

Thank you Karen for that research.  I’ve been concerned about Dinah having less stamina than when she was a puppy. (Now 17 months).  She has always eaten Taste of the Wild ( from her breeder) and I switched to Zignature.  This may be the reason im Seeing a change in playtime stamina.  No question about making the switch, and time will tell.  I wonder if the damage is repairable?  Has there been any comments on that aspect?  Thanks again for that helpful information.  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

All living creatures, dogs, people, rabbits, birds, butterflies, and so on, have less stamina as adults than as children. It's normal. And most dog owners thank God for it, lol. I don't think most of us would want that puppy energy forever. :) "When will he calm down?" is what you often hear in the puppy forums. 

There's no reason why switching from TOTW to Zignature would result in less stamina.

I'm not clear on what you mean by the "damage"? If we're talking about the taurine deficiency issue, it's very easy to fix that, you just give taurine supplements. 

[c zoomer]

I was under the impression that taurine deficiency caused heart problems.

the report cited both brands as being common to the problem.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Well, not exactly. The actual study said nothing about any brand of food. 
The articles that people who are completely unrelated and uninvolved in any way with the actual study are writing and passing around have mentioned that anecdotally, some of the dogs with the taurine deficient form of DCM (not all cases of DCM are related to taurine deficiency; in fact, the majority are not) were eating certain kinds of diets. Again, no brands mentioned. The only place brands are mentioned is in the FB post that Sheri linked above. That's just a dog owner on FB, lol. It's not a report, there is no "report". And in any case, a brand can't be the problem, it would have to be a particular formula with particular ingredients, assuming it is related to food at all. Dr. Stern, who is the researcher conducting the studies, has emphatically stated that they are not recommending or warning against any particular brand of food. They are only looking at ingredients. 
This is not about "heart problems". It is about a particular type of heart condition, dilated cardiomyopathy, which mainly affects middle aged to senior large and giant breed dogs. And most gases of DCM are genetic or congenital. Of those cases that are not, some are caused by taruine deficiency. And DCM which is caused by taurine deficiency is treatable with taurine supplementation. 
I posted the link several ties to the actual information. 
At any rate, the chances that anyone here's dog has a taurine deficiency or DCM is slim to none. If you want to worry about your dog having or getting some kind of disease, there are dozens of others that it would be a lot more realisitc to worry about, lol. 

[c zoomer]

* Current research (not yet published) has identified a link between grain-free dogs foods that include peas and legumes and taurine deficiency that can lead to DCM. On the Taurine Deficiency page, the most commonly reported foods from owners of dogs with DCM are: Nutrisource, Acana (particularly pork and butternut squash), 4Health, Zignature, Taste of the Wild,

Hard to to tell this was anecdotal.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

But it's just a woman on FB saying it. :)
Not part of any study. Not part of anything "official". The "Taurine DeficiencyPage" is a page on FB that some FB people started. The info there is anecdotal. We don;t know that it is true, or that those dogs even have this disease.

That's what is so frustrating to me about all this. People are not understanding what they are reading and they are passing on false information based on their own misunderstandings of what is being said. 

Another problem is that most people only look at the picture and read the caption or the headline, and not the actual information. And even when they do read it, the reading comprehension and understanding of basic principles of biochemistry in this country are appalling. 

There is a phenomenon in science where whenever there is any publicity about a newly discovered disease or condition, or research related to one, a certain number of people all immediately think they have that disease or condition when they actually don;t, and it is always way more people than statistically would be possible. I don't know how old you are, but back in the early 90s, every other person you met had carpal tunnel syndrome. Dozens of people walked around wearing wrist braces, convinced that they had this newly discovered and publicized condition. "Carpal tunnel syndrome" was a common phrase in everyday conversation. 
And then, that went away. It wasn't cured; it just went away. The wrist braces disappeared. I can't remember the last time I heard someone say "I have carpal tunnel syndrome", and I used to hear it daily. 
Because the truth is, carpal tunnel syndrome was actually pretty rare. A whole bunch of people hear dabout it and went "OMG, I work on a computer. I have pain in my wrist sometimes. I must have that too!" 

Did you know that there was a study done years ago that showed that 60% of people who believe they or their child have allergies actually do not have any allergies? 
I am truly not making light of people whose dogs really are ill. God knows I'm the last person who would ever do that. 
But I do think it's a mistake to look for trouble where none exists.