The Impact of Taurine Deficiency Induced Cardiac Disease in Dogs

Presentation Description / Summary: Taurine deficiency-induced dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) results from long-standing low taurine concentrations and is, in most cases, reversible with normalized taurine concentrations. Identification of affected dogs is, in many cases, directly decisive for the prognosis, and the disease development could probably be avoided if predisposed dogs received dietary taurine supplementation at an early stage. Some years ago, we initiated an international collaboration project between researchers in Europe and the US, aiming to increase the veterinary communities’ knowledge about taurine deficiency in dogs. In a prospective study on 179 cocker spaniels, we recently showed that 28 % of the dogs included had taurine concentrations below the normal reference range and that 22 % of these dogs had CHF and DCM-phenotype. Furthermore, we have in the past few years documented low taurine concentrations in most dogs of other breeds presenting with suspected dietary-induced DCM at several Swedish animal hospitals, a finding which differs from the results presented by some other research groups. We would like to present information from experience we have gained from our taurine deficiency project so far, including information about potential predisposing factors for deficiency in dogs and how to optimize the diagnostic protocol of use in veterinary clinics in order to identify dogs affected. In addition, we will present information about characteristic clinical findings; including echocardiographic data, in preclinically and clinically affected dogs, and information about successful treatment protocols of use in affected dogs.