Sending good thoughts to you and Oso.4 dogs were assigned to receive a proprietary giant breed diet supplemented with taurine (1g/ 4000 Kcal ME) and 2 dogs had their diet changed from a lamb based diet to a chicken based diet. Echocardiography was repeated after 6 months of supplementation.
Results
The results of biochemical analyses of whole blood suggested that absorption of taurine and methionine and biosynthesis of taurine adequate, as changing dietary protein source or supplementation with methionine, low dose taurine or high dose taurine normalised whole blood taurine concentration. The results of urine taurine to creatinine ratios suggested that Newfoundland dogs did not have greater fractional excretion of taurine than other breeds.
The results of echocardiographic parameters showed a general improvement in left ventricular morphology and function after supplementation in dogs with occult and overt DCM. In dogs with overt DCM, there was a significant reduction in left ventricular internal diameter in diastole and E-point to septal separation (EPSS) and a significant increase in fractional shortening (FS) and the velocity of circumferential fibre shortening. In the dogs with occult DCM, the improvement in FS and EPSS was sufficient to bring these parameters into the normal range for Newfoundlands.
Ditto............Very sad to hear this. But there is a lot of supportive treatment to reduce symptoms. Donna's sites are interesting to readI'd start him on taurine supplements regardless of what the levels are. I think some dogs need higher levels than others do. Taurine can be found in any meat...so adding meat to his diet if he is on kibble will give your taurine level a boost.
Thank you all for your good wishes. The info is extremely helpful.
My vet sent Oso for a sonogram last week, which was read by a cardiologist, who made the diagnosis.
We are waiting for the cardiologist to read the results of an echocardiogram taken yesterday to determine what meds and what doses he should have.
Should he still see a separate cardiologist?
I will ask my vet about taurine.
Joann