Blood taurine concentrations in dogs with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency

Tayler, Sarah; Seo, Joonbum; Connolly, David J.; Kathrani, Aarti

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether blood taurine concentrations in dogs with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) were lower than the reference interval (200 to 350 nmol/mL) or the cutoff used to indicate taurine deficiency (< 150 nmol/mL).

Animals: 18 dogs with clinical or presumptive subclinical EPI with residual blood samples available for taurine concentration analysis.

Procedures: Dogs were classified as having clinical EPI if they had a serum trypsin-like immunoreactivity concentration of < 2.0 μg/L and presumptive subclinical EPI if they had a concentration of 2.0 to 5.0 μg/L. Archived, frozen blood samples stored in EDTA were submitted for measurement of taurine concentration with an automated high-performance liquid chromatography amino acid analyzer. Medical record data were examined for associations with blood taurine concentration.

Results: None of the 18 dogs had a blood taurine concentration < 150 nmol/mL. Two dogs had a concentration < 200 nmol/mL. No clinical signs, physical examination findings, or serum biochemical abnormalities were associated with blood taurine concentration. Eleven of the 17 dogs for which diet histories were available were not receiving a diet that met recommendations of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association Global Nutrition Committee.

Conclusions and clinical relevance: A low blood taurine concentration was noted in a small subset of dogs with EPI. Additional research is needed to determine whether EPI was the primary cause of this low concentration. Findings suggested the importance of obtaining complete diet histories and ensuring dietary requirements are sufficiently met in dogs with EPI. (Am J Vet Res 2020;81:958-963).

Citation

Tayler, S., Seo, J., Connolly, D. J., & Kathrani, A. (2020). Blood taurine concentrations in dogs with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. American Journal of Veterinary Research, 81(12), 958-963. https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.81.12.958

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 2, 2020
• Publication Date: 2020-12
• Deposit Date: Feb 25, 2021
• Journal: American Journal of Veterinary Research
• Print ISSN: 0002-9645
• Publisher: American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 81
• Issue: 12
• Pages: 958-963
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.81.12.958
• Keywords: General Veterinary; General Medicine
• Public URL: https://rvc-repository.worktribe.com/output/1442144