Do you know Taurine?
Taurine is an amino acid, exactly an organic acid present in bile and muscle tissues, especially in those tissues with greater electrical activity (heart, brain and eyes). It contributes, among other things, to the construction of proteins and helps the proper functioning of the nervous system, heart, liver, kidneys, lungs, retina and breast milk, since it mainly:
- It is antioxidant.
- It acts as a neurotransmitter.
- Regulates the amount of salt and water in the cells.
- Helps muscle growth.
- Maintains the proper functioning of cell membranes.
Do dogs and cats produce taurine themselves?
In the case of dogs, their body produces taurine on its own, although sometimes not enough and in that case they can develop cardiovascular diseases. In the case of cats, their body does not produce taurine, so it is very important that it is included in their diet or they can also develop cardiovascular diseases.
For this reason we must ensure, especially in the case of cats, that the food we give them (feed or Barf diet) contain this very important amino acid.
Anti-stress?
Taurine acts as a building block for the other amino acids and has a protective effect on the brain. Taurine levels are depleted when a dog or cat is under a lot of stress, whether physical or emotional; this causes the body to require more taurine during stressful periods. Low taurine levels are associated with increased anxiety, brain dysfunction and even seizures.
Taurine may act as a type of sedative by balancing nerve impulses in the same way as a neurotransmitter.
Therefore, whatever the cause of stress (situations, fears, traumas, etc.), in addition to professional therapy, you can complement it with a diet rich in taurine.
Does it improve heart disease?
Taurine also regulates blood pressure, reduces blood sugar levels and protects the heart. And, as we have mentioned before, the fact that it is anti-stress and has an anticonvulsant effect significantly helps to improve heart conditions in dogs and cats.
What foods can I give as a supplement to reinforce taurine?
Both Dogs and Cats:
- Veal heart (the one that has the most and is the cheapest).
- Chicken legs
- Chicken liver.
If you feed your dog or cat with food, make sure it contains taurine, either in its ingredients or artificially introduced. And, even if it does contain taurine, you can always give it to them as a supplement to their daily diet. You'll see how they lick their lips!
Remember that if you give him raw supplements, do not mix them with the feed, wait about 12 hours from the last time he ate feed and then about 6 hours until he eats feed again, since feed and raw food involve different digestions. In case of feeding him with Diet BARF you can include it in your daily diet.
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