![]() Dilated Cardiomyopathy. The condition causes the heart to enlarge, affecting its ability to pump blood effectively.How Are Cats Affected If They Don’t Receive Enough Taurine?Ī taurine deficiency can cause many problems in cats, including: If they don’t receive enough of this essential amino acid in their food, their health will eventually begin to decline. Although people and dogs can synthesize taurine from other amino acids, cats cannot. Amino acids that must be obtained through diet alone are known as “essential” amino acids. ![]() The acids aid in the metabolic process and play an important role in the transportation and storage of nutrients.Īlthough many amino acids are produced by the body, some can only be obtained through food. Taurine is an amino acid that helps keep your pet healthy and prevents a variety of serious health problems.Īmino acids help the body’s cells create proteins needed for the proper functioning of every part of the human and feline body. Grain-free guarantees that the product is meat-based, containing the fundamental parts of your cat’s diet, like Taurine and Thiamine dry cat food eliminates the need to use preservatives to keep the meat fresh.īeing educated on the best ways to nourish your cat is the first step to making sure that he lives a long, happy, and healthy life.If you’ve ever taken a close look at the small print on a bag or can of cat food, you’ve probably noticed that taurine is among the list of ingredients. Know what your cat is eating by purchasing a grain-free, dry cat food. Side effects of thiamine deficiency often manifest in neurological issues, including (but not limited to): incoordination, circling, head tilt, dilated pupils, stupor, seizures, and arching of the head, neck, and spine. In the recent past, there have been recalls regarding batches of raw food for this reason. Sometimes, commercial cat foods simply don’t contain the proper amount of thiamine, and should not have been put on shelves, at all. If your cat hasn’t been eating for one reason or another, or has diuresis (frequent urination), he could be lacking vitamin B1. Sulfur dioxide, a preservativee in some fresh-meat cat foods, blocks the vitamin's absorption. While plenty of thiamine is present in a cat’s natural carnivorous diet, be careful of feeding your cat too many foods that may contain enzymes which counteract vitamin B1.Ī thiamine deficiency can occur in several ways. This vitamin (B1) is a necessary aid to a cat’s metabolism. The bottom line: If you feel your cat may need more taurine in his diet, consult with your vet to consider easy changes that could mean the difference between life and death. But after lacking the vitamin for a prolonged amount of time, cats can suffer from a variety of devastating ailments: retina degeneration, sterility, tooth decay, and heart failure are all possibilities. The meat and fish in raw diets contain the amino acid, as well, but since levels vary with the ingredients, it’s wise to consult with your vet to make sure your cat is getting their recommended intake.Ī low-taurine diet can be easily fixed with supplements. This means that cat parents who feed their cat non-commercial foods-say, tuna fish or dog food in a pinch, (this is highly discouraged)-must make sure there is sufficient taurine in their cat’s diet. It is naturally produced in the bodies of many animals, including humans, but cats are an exception and must get their taurine from other sources.īecause of its importance, all commercial cat foods have this ingredient added to their recipes. While the ingredient Taurine may evoke the image of a canned energy drink, this amino acid is an essential part of a cat’s diet. Specifically, the ingredients Taurine and Thiamine are absolutely crucial for the proper function of feline organs deficiencies can lead to serious health issues, even death. That’s why a healthy cat food is essential to a feline’s well-being. While cats are notoriously self-sufficient and low-maintenance pets, their delicate digestive systems still need to be treated with utmost care.
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