Taurine is an amino acid that plays many important roles in the body, contributing to heart, eye, brain, and bile (digestion) functions.
If taurine is deficient in a pet’s body, that pet can develop health conditions such as dilated cardiomyopathy (a problem with the heart muscles) or retinal damage/vision loss, among others.
For these reasons, taurine is important in pet foods. This amino acid is found in animal-sourced proteins, although certain proteins contain more taurine than others.
Taurine can also be supplemented in pet food to ensure there’s an adequate amount for your pet’s health.
The requirements for taurine differ between dogs and cats, though.
For Dogs:
In dogs, taurine is a “nonessential” amino acid. That doesn’t mean taurine isn’t necessary in the body—instead, it means that dietary supplementation is often not necessary because dogs can produce their own taurine.
However, dogs require certain “building blocks”—other amino acids called methionine and cysteine—to produce taurine.
Sometimes taurine is supplemented in dog foods, but the food will also contain methionine and cysteine, “essential” amino acids, which can lead to taurine production in the body.
For Cats:
In cats, on the other hand, taurine is an “essential” amino acid. Cats’ bodies can’t make their own supply, so cats require a balanced diet that’s supplemented with the right amount of taurine.
For all of these reasons, Fromm pet foods contain taurine, either naturally, via supplementation, or both. It’s one of the many balanced nutrients we include to ensure your pet gets everything they need for their health and wellbeing.