Animal nutritionists, veterinarians from BSM Partners, and the Chief of Cardiology at the University of Missouri’s Veterinary Health Center have unveiled groundbreaking findings from a comprehensive seven-month study. The research, featured in the Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, challenges conventional wisdom regarding the use of blood tests as the sole diagnostic tool for cardiac diseases in dogs.
The study, co-authored by Dr. Sydney McCauley PhD, PAS, Dpl. ACAS of BSM Partners, a board-certified companion animal nutritionist, revealed a lack of correlation between plasma, whole blood, skeletal, and cardiac muscle taurine concentrations in dogs. Dr. McCauley emphasized the implications of these findings, stating, “Blood tests are not a reliable indicator for nutrient levels in the heart. Taurine whole blood and plasma testing, commonly used for diagnosing canine heart diseases, may not accurately reflect the internal state of the heart.”
The research challenges the conventional reliance on taurine and carnitine blood levels as predictors of heart health in clinical patients. Dr. Stacey Leach DVM, DACVIM, Chief of Cardiology and associate teaching professor at the University of Missouri’s Veterinary Health Center, emphasized the study’s significance in reshaping diagnostic approaches for dogs with heart issues related to nutrient deficiencies.
The study involved 33 mixed-breed hounds and 32 beagles, fed four different diets with varying levels of animal protein and the presence or absence of grains. Blood samples were collected every 30 days, and cardiac endomyocardial and skeletal muscle biopsies were conducted at the study’s outset and conclusion. This extensive dataset, the largest of its kind in healthy dogs, now serves as a valuable reference for future clinical and research comparisons.
Dr. McCauley concluded, “This finding should have a significant impact on how dogs are diagnosed with heart issues, marking the beginning of a new chapter in our collective efforts to enhance the lives of animals. The study’s revelations underscore the need for a more nuanced and comprehensive approach to diagnosing canine cardiac diseases, moving beyond reliance on blood tests alone.”
