Jorge's mum
New member
I have noticed alot of the british dog foods don't add this and wondered what was the best foods that contain good amounts for newfys?
Taurine foods that contain it
- Thread starter Jorge's mum
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sara722003
New member
I believe that chicken (and the bones that have been left to cook for over 24-36 hours in a slow cooker crock pot) contain taurine. I don't give this regularly, but every month or so, I'll add this to my Newf food.
Peter Maniate
New member
The richest source of taurine is fish. Another good source is chicken skin. While most cat foods contain taurine usually with 0.5% or more, dog foods have been slow to recognize the need and some that have it do not include taurine in their analysis.
Generally a dog food that is high in fish content, even if it is in the form of fish meal, will have a high level of taurine (0.3% or more). If they do give the amount, unlike cat food, it probably is not on the bag and you will have to go their website and check the "analysis". It may be in the list of ingredients on the web site, especially if it is added rather than a component of another ingredient such as fish or chicken. Foods that are lamb based have to add the taurine as lamb when cooked seems to lose proportionally more taurine than fish and other meats.
Here are some taurine levels in dry foods that I approve of:
Acana Pacifica - 0.5% (All the other Acana grain free foods have 0.5% taurine but are low in omega-3)
Orijen 6-Fish - 0.4%
Orijen Puppy - 0.35%
Orijen Puppy Large - 0.35%
Orijen Adult Dog - 0.35%
EVO Herring & Salmon - 0.34% (highest in omega-3 and in omega-3 to omega-6 ratio)
Generally a dog food that is high in fish content, even if it is in the form of fish meal, will have a high level of taurine (0.3% or more). If they do give the amount, unlike cat food, it probably is not on the bag and you will have to go their website and check the "analysis". It may be in the list of ingredients on the web site, especially if it is added rather than a component of another ingredient such as fish or chicken. Foods that are lamb based have to add the taurine as lamb when cooked seems to lose proportionally more taurine than fish and other meats.
Here are some taurine levels in dry foods that I approve of:
Acana Pacifica - 0.5% (All the other Acana grain free foods have 0.5% taurine but are low in omega-3)
Orijen 6-Fish - 0.4%
Orijen Puppy - 0.35%
Orijen Puppy Large - 0.35%
Orijen Adult Dog - 0.35%
EVO Herring & Salmon - 0.34% (highest in omega-3 and in omega-3 to omega-6 ratio)
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Peter Maniate
New member
Taurine is an amino acid, one of the building blocks of protein. Proteins are not equal and each source of protein has a unique amino acid profile; that is why taurine levels vary so much and in some cases are not present at all.
Around 1975 it was discovered that cats require taurine. Insufficient amounts of this nutrient could result in blindness and/or heart problems. Then in the mid 1990's researchers found that some Cocker Spaniels require taurine just as cats do; I think it was 13% of Cockers.
Towards the end of the 1990's Newfoundlands were added to the breeds that might require taurine.
My theory is that Newfs evolved in an environment that was the richest possible in taurine availabilty and so Mother Nature had no cause to evolve out those specimens that could not produce their own taurine internally. As long as the dogs lived on the Island of Newfoundland and ate primarily fish, there was no difference in the specimens that required dietary taurine and those that did not.
Further, in 1998 Japanese researchers found that human babies could not produce their own taurine unlike adult humans. They would normally get their taurine from their Mom's breast milk. This meant that bottle fed babies could suffer a nutrional deficiencey and by year 2000 I noticed that all baby forumlas here in North America had added taurine listed on the label.
Unfortunately the makers of replacement formulas for puppies don't seem to care and the formulas don't seem to have changed from the 1970's. I always advise any breeder using a commercial replacement milk formula to add powdered taurine available in health food stores. This advice also applies to anyone using sheep or goat's milk as vegetarian animals, unlike carnivore dams, don't have taurine in their milk.
The usual amount to add is 1/2 oz powdered taurine per quart or liter of formula. This gives around 1.5% taurine but we don't know how pure the powdered taurine is and excess apparently does no harm.
KodysGrandma
New member
Your depth and breadth of knowledge is always so amazing Peter. Thank you.
Jorge's mum
New member
thanks alot, I have also emailed the dog food company to ask about it. Mine do get a RAW meal each day of either Turkey, Lamb, Chicken or rabbit with occaisional tripe. Do you think that would cover it? They get Raw white fish once per week too and I use salmon oil? the dog food I use is chicken rice based kibble.
Peter Maniate
New member
Your fur babies should be fine for taurine with the diet you are feeding.
Jorge's mum
New member
thanks Peter 
sara722003
New member
I noticed on the Wellness Supreme Mix bag tonight that I was emptying: it listed in bold letters: taurine and minerals and other supp's.
Thank heavens for that kibble. I totally trust it!
Thank heavens for that kibble. I totally trust it!
Lori
New member
As Chance got older I gave him taurine in capsule form. I bought it from the health food store. I believe they were 1000mg capsules. When his heart problems started the vet was surprised that his heart wasn't enlarged. I told him about the supplements he was taking, taurine-fish oil-vitamin c/e-glucosamine/chondroitin, he said to keep it up.
ArtfulCharm
New member
Heart is especially high in Taurine, but it is in all raw meat.
R Taft
Active member
I was told and given some notes ( cannot find them) that a properly proportioned RAW diet.
Meaning the Offal (12 %), such as heart and other parts of the animals would cover it. I feed Raw fish, beef,lamb, chicken and some pork.
We are presently part of a study where we fit in two brackets. The rarely crated and the Raw diet part of the study (which is to be still for another least 5 or 6 years). Taurine or lack there of was part of this study. So is natural calcium and Vit C added to the diet. There was just a whole heap of boxes to be ticked. It is a giant study, not just newfies.
The reason I mention this is because the people doing the study fairly well pulled our dogs diet apart and told us what was in it. We were quite happy, because nothing was lacking
My dogs are in the non-crated, lots of exercise part and Raw diet (with some home cooked). We are Group F.
We have to let them know of any diet changes. And if it is too large a change we might be taken off the study
This is an orthopedic study of giants. Though they are thinking they might be able to pull more info from it. The dogs get checked yearly by a vet at the Uni.
Jorge's mum
New member
this is the response from the kibble company regarding taurine in their foods
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Thank you for your enquiry. There is some taurine present in all of our recipes as this amino acid is naturally occurring in meat and fish. Unlike cats, dogs are also able to manufacture their own taurine from cystine and methionine (both of which are added to our recipes towards the end of the cooking process to ensure sufficient levels). However, some dogs; as you may be aware, are less efficient at manufacturing taurine, and may therefore benefit from a dietary supplement. Our Performance food does contain added taurine at an inclusion level of 1000mg/kg, and for this reason it is often a diet we will recommend for dogs that may have a higher requirement such as those with epilepsy or DCM. The Adult Large Breed contains only taurine that is already present in the chicken.
Lamb is lower in cystine and methionine than other protein sources, so if your dog does have any taurine responsive medical condition, we would not recommend our Adult Lamb & Rice unless a commercial supplement of taurine is given under your vet’s supervision.
I have attached some more information on the Performance recipe for you, and would be happy to send some free samples upon receipt of your postal address if this would be of interest. If your dog is under veterinary treatment, we would recommend you print off the attachments and ask his or her professional opinion as to whether the Performance could be suitable.
Kind regards
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Thank you for your enquiry. There is some taurine present in all of our recipes as this amino acid is naturally occurring in meat and fish. Unlike cats, dogs are also able to manufacture their own taurine from cystine and methionine (both of which are added to our recipes towards the end of the cooking process to ensure sufficient levels). However, some dogs; as you may be aware, are less efficient at manufacturing taurine, and may therefore benefit from a dietary supplement. Our Performance food does contain added taurine at an inclusion level of 1000mg/kg, and for this reason it is often a diet we will recommend for dogs that may have a higher requirement such as those with epilepsy or DCM. The Adult Large Breed contains only taurine that is already present in the chicken.
Lamb is lower in cystine and methionine than other protein sources, so if your dog does have any taurine responsive medical condition, we would not recommend our Adult Lamb & Rice unless a commercial supplement of taurine is given under your vet’s supervision.
I have attached some more information on the Performance recipe for you, and would be happy to send some free samples upon receipt of your postal address if this would be of interest. If your dog is under veterinary treatment, we would recommend you print off the attachments and ask his or her professional opinion as to whether the Performance could be suitable.
Kind regards
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