6/12/2023 0 Comments Taurine supplement for catsCats lack the enzyme necessary to produce taurine and must therefore acquire it from their diet. In the body the biosynthesis of taurine begins in the pancreas with the enzyme cysteine dioxygenase (CDO) converting the amino acid L-cysteine to cysteine sulfinate followed by the oxidation of hypotaurine to taurine. However, for cats it is an “essential amino acid”. Is taurine an essential amino acid for dogs and cats?įor dogs taurine is a “conditional amino acid” meaning it can be manufactured by the body from other amino acids. If you feed a commercial processed pet food (canned or kibble diet) that is likely low in natural taurine, it will contain a synthetic substance produced in a laboratory by a chemical process but still misleadingly referred to as taurine on the label. Taurine is essential for cardiovascular function, the development and function of skeletal muscle, retinal health and the function of the central nervous system. However, in members of the cat family, it becomes an “essential amino acid” because it can not be manufactured by the body and must be provided by the diet. In most animals it is a “conditional amino acid” in that it can be synthesized by the body. The best food sources for taurine are meat and fish. Taurine is found in large amounts in the brain, retina, heart, and blood cells called platelets. Taurine is an amino sulfonic acid, but it is often referred to as an amino acid, a chemical that is a required building block of protein.
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