Protecting the eyesĪccording to a 2014 review, taurine is the most plentiful amino acid in the retina of the eye and helps protect against retinal degeneration. To do this, it needs specific amino acids, such as taurine. Each day, an adult breaks down about 500mg of cholesterol and converts it to bile. Bile salts help break down fatty acids in the intestines.īile acids are the body’s main way of breaking down cholesterol. Taurine plays an essential role in metabolism and digestion, as it helps the liver to create bile salts. These effects may include: Promoting healthy metabolism Taurine: an essential nutrient for the cat.ĭietary influence on bile acid conjugation in the cat.Supplementing with taurine or getting plenty of taurine from dietary sources may have specific effects on the body. Nutritional problems in cats: taurine deficiency and vitamin A in excess. Taurine is very safe and there have not been any reports of toxicity from cats eating too much taurine so it is a great idea to give your cat supplements that include Taurine, especially if they have a heart condition.ĭiets causing taurine depletion in cats substantially elevate postprandial plasma cholecystokinin concentration.Įchocardiographic evidence for myocardial failure induced by taurine deficiency in domestic cats.ĭietary taurine and feline reproduction and development. It is important to ensure that cats are getting enough Taurine if you are feeding a home-made diet and a major reason why you should never feed dog food to your cat. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) recognizes Taurine as an essential feed ingredient for cats so it is included in all balanced feline diets. Taurine deficiencies are easy to avoid by feeding your cat good quality commercial cat food. While these symptoms are very slow to progress, if untreated Taurine deficiency can lead to permanent blindness and possibly death due to heart failure.
#Taurine deficiency symptoms skin#
Other symptoms include lethargy and an unhealthy skin and coat. Digestive upset due to impaired bile production can occur, but because GI upset is a common symptom of other conditions it does not necessarily point to Taurine deficiency. The cat will develop cardiomyopathy as the heart muscles become compromised.
If a cat does not get enough Taurine the cells in the cat’s retinas will slowly degrade and the quality of the cat’s vision will degrade. Deficiencies in Taurine are not easily recognizable.
The cat’s body will metabolize Taurine quickly so it is imperative that they get it in their food daily.
Because cats are carnivores, they should be consuming fresh animal meat in their food daily, which should provide good levels of Taurine.
Pregnant cats especially require Taurine for the kittens to develop and grow properly. Taurine is required for healthy function of the eyes, gastro-intestinal tract, heart, and immune system. Cats, however, cannot synthesize Taurine from other food ingredients and must get it from their diet. Taurine is an amino acid that humans and dogs can produce within their own bodies from other amino acids. Most of the basic vitamins, minerals, amino acids and fatty acids that are essential for humans are also essential for cats, but that is not always the case. In general, cats, dogs and humans have very similar nutritional needs.
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