Pet parenting is no easy task. Especially when it comes to nutrition, there's so much information on how and what to feed your pet, that it can be a bit daunting.
That’s why King Lou has your back with tips (and treats) on feeding your pet a healthy, nutrient-dense diet. Keep reading to learn about an important nutrient for your cat and dog and ways to incorporate it into their diet.
What is Taurine?
If you’ve done any research on pet nutrition, you probably came across this certain nutrient that seems present on almost all pet food labels.
That’s because Taurine is vital to your pup’s health. Cats, too!
Taurine is an amino acid that naturally supports healthy heart function, immune system, and much more. Taurine is found naturally in specific organ meats and it’s heavily concentrated in heart muscle. Additionally, Taurine has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
The Benefits of Taurine:
Taurine provides a whole load of benefits to not only us humans, but also to our furry companions such as keeping their hearts strong and healthy.
For cats, Taurine is an essential amino acid, which means they cannot produce it themselves, so it must come from a well-balanced diet. Taurine is important for cats as it maintains healthy heart function, supports brain health, and the immune system.
Taurine for dogs is equally important as it maintains strong heart health. Traditionally, Taurine is thought as non-essential for dogs, meaning they can produce Taurine naturally, and is not required to be in all commercial dog food.
However, recent studies show that Taurine deficiency is on rise in certain breeds and is linked to serious heart conditions like Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM).
Adding Taurine to Your Pet’s Diet:
Luckily, there are a few ways to add Taurine to your pet’s diet. You could use Taurine supplements but keep in mind, many are highly processed with questionable sourcing and can have limited nutritional value.
The best way to naturally incorporate Taurine into your pet’s diet is with high-quality, whole-food ingredients.
Since Taurine is naturally found in high concentrations in organ meats, adding nutrient-dense options like heart into your pet’s diet is the perfect way to naturally support your pet’s health.
Beef Heart Jerky:
Our Beef Heart Jerky treats are made with just one single ingredient: grass-fed beef heart, sourced 100% from the USA. They are naturally rich in Taurine to support heart health and immune system.
We thinly slice and then low-temperature dehydrate our grass-fed beef hearts raw, resulting in a thin, crispy, delicious jerky for your pup.
Ways to incorporate Beef Heart Jerky treats:
- Break up into small pieces as meal toppers
- Use as a high-value training reward treat
- Include in an enrichment recipe to support mental stimulation
Whole Chicken Hearts:
Our Whole Chicken Hearts are made with just one single ingredient: free-range chicken hearts, sourced 100% from the USA. They are naturally rich in Taurine, Zinc, and Iron to support heart health.
We freeze-dry our Whole Chicken Hearts into soft, chewy snacks that both dogs and cats love.
Ways to incorporate Whole Chicken Hearts:
- High-value training reward treat
- A natural pill pocket
- An ingredient in an enrichment recipe