There have been many recent reports about raw & grain-free pet food diets being linked to Taurine Deficiency and the link with Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Dogs (DCM).
The problem isn’t raw or grain free, it’s actually diets that are either low in protein or that use inferior types of protein.
Many raw and grain free diets don’t use enough protein or enough animal protein because it’s more expensive.
We’ve been telling people for years that grain free is a distraction and that the real issue is the net carbohydrate level (total carbs - fiber) as that is what effects blood sugar and insulin.
The problem is diets that don’t contain enough animal protein. If dogs eat enough meat, there’s never an issue with too low levels of taurine.
And if you’re feeding your dog heart and liver, that’s fantastic as those foods both have a high taurine content.
Further Reading:
What Is DCM? https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/dilated-cardiomyopathy-in-dogs
What is Taurine: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taurine
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