Taurine deficiency in Newfoundlands fed commercially available complete and balanced diets.
OBJECTIVE
To determine taurine status in a large group of Newfoundlands related by environment, diet, or breeding to a dog with dilated cardiomyopathy and taurine deficiency.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
19 privately owned Newfoundlands between 5 months and 11.5 years old that had been fed commercial dry diets meeting established nutrient recommendations.


METHODS
Diet histories were obtained, and blood, plasma, and urine taurine concentrations and plasma methionine and cysteine concentrations were measured. In 8 dogs, taurine concentrations were measured before and after supplementation with methionine for 30 days. Ophthalmic examinations were performed in 16 dogs; echocardiography was performed in 6 dogs that were taurine deficient.


RESULTS
Plasma taurine concentrations ranged from 3 to 228 nmol/mL. Twelve dogs had concentrations < 40 nmol/mL and were considered taurine deficient. For dogs with plasma concentrations < 40 nmol/mL, there was a significant linear correlation between plasma and blood taurine concentrations. For dogs with plasma concentrations > 40 nmol/mL, blood taurine concentrations did not vary substantially. Taurine-deficient dogs had been fed lamb meal and rice diets. Retinal degeneration, dilated cardiomyopathy, and cystinuria were not found in any dog examined for these conditions. The taurine deficiency was reversed by a change in diet or methionine supplementation.


CONCLUSIONS
Results indicate a high prevalence of taurine deficiency among an environmentally and genetically related cohort of Newfoundlands fed apparently complete and balanced diets. Blood taurine concentrations indicative of taurine deficiency in Newfoundlands may be substantially less than concentrations indicative of a deficiency in cats.
Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616-8741, USA.
Robert C
RC
Backus
Gabrielle
G
Cohen
Paul D
PD
Pion
Kathryn L
KL
Good
Quinton R
QR
Rogers
Andrea J
AJ
Fascetti
D000821:Animal Feed / Q000592:standards; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003555:Cystinuria / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000662:veterinary; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008715:Methionine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012162:Retinal Degeneration / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D013654:Taurine / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000652:urine
D013654:Taurine; D008715:Methionine