![]() Should I give a taurine supplement to my dog? At this time, we do not fully understand how legumes interact with other ingredients either within the food itself and /or within the dog. The carbohydrate source (or grain) has been replaced with potatoes (white and sweet) and/or legumes (lentils, peas). Grain-free diets are a particular marketing niche that appeals to some consumers. Grains do not contain taurine, so their omission from the food cannot be the sole reason why some the dogs are taurine deficient. Based on more than 50 years of both private and university research, grains have been shown to deliver excellent digestibility, nutrient bioavailability, and safety in dogs. ![]() Grains (rice, wheat, corn, barley) have been included in commercial pet foods for many decades and their nutritional contribution and interactions with other ingredients in the food are well understood. There are no nutritional or medical advantages to feeding a grain-free diet unless your dog has been specifically diagnosed by a veterinarian with an adverse reaction to a specific grain. If you feel that you must change your dog’s diet, then we would suggest a product with “taurine” listed in the ingredient list and one with a pea or lentil or legume low in the ingredient if at all. ![]() If you have little or no confidence in the manufacturer of your current dog food, then you should ask for recommendations. If you have confidence the manufacturer is practicing due diligence and actively monitoring the situation, then you should follow the FDA’s advice and not change to another dog food. You may consider calling the manufacturer of your dog food and ask them what precautions they have taken to help avoid DCM in dogs. Additionally, most manufacturers in the abundance of caution have added or increased the taurine concentration in their pet food products in 2018. It is difficult for nutritionists to recommend a diet change at this time because the investigation is ongoing and not knowing the exact cause(s), makes recommendations that ensure safety not plausible. The FDA has not reached any conclusions yet and, more importantly, is not recommending any diet changes.
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