Large breed dogs, especially males, are predisposed to develop dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Results of a recent study suggest that consumption of certain cereal-based commercial diets [lamb meal and rice] may be associated with low blood or plasma taurine concentrations and DCM. Even though dogs are able to synthesize taurine from the dietary sulfur amino acids, methionine and cysteine, and so are not believed to need dietary taurine, low concentrations of this amino acid have been previously noted in cases of DCM. The present study reports 12 more cases of DCM associated with taurine deficiency in dogs, a situation which parallels the well-established taurine deficiency DCM relationship in cats. As supplementation of commercial feline diets with taurine has markedly reduced the number of cats with DCM, similar taurine supplementation is recommended for dogs found to have low blood or plasma taurine and DCM.

Reference: Fascetti et al. JAVMA 223: 1137-1141, 2003.