VMD 513: Pet animal Breeding, Management, Nutrition and Health Care (1+1)

HEART DISEASE

• An often-fatal heart disease in cats and some dogs is now known to be caused by a deficiency of the amino acid taurine.
• Blindness is another symptom of taurine deficiency. This deficiency was due to inadequate amounts of taurine in cat food formulas, which in turn had occurred due to decreased amounts of animal proteins and increased reliance on carbohydrates.
• Cat foods are now supplemented with taurine. New research suggests that some dog breeds are susceptible to the same condition.
• Supplementing taurine may also be helpful for dogs, but as yet few manufacturers are adding extra taurine to dog food.