C19 - Occurrence of Low Taurine Concentrations in a Swedish Population of Cocker Spaniels

Abstract: Background: Taurine deficiency induced dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) has been reported in Cocker Spaniels (CS).

Objectives: To investigate the occurrence of low blood taurine concentrations in a Swedish population of CS presenting as clinically healthy or with a DCM phenotype and congestive heart failure (CHF), and to assess associations between taurine concentrations and dog characteristics and clinical features.

Animals: One-hundred seventy privately owned CS (168 English (ECS) and two American (ACS)) .

Methods: Prospectively recruited dogs underwent physical and echocardiographic examination, and blood analyses (hematology and biochemistry). Taurine concentrations were analyzed in plasma (EDTA and heparin), and whole blood (WB). Dogs were classified as having low taurine concentrations if results were below reported reference range in either type of plasma and/or WB.

Results: A total of 46 dogs (27 %) had low taurine concentrations. Dogs with low taurine concentrations were older compared to dogs with normal concentrations (P = 0.03). Other dog characteristics and clinical features did not differ between the groups. Eight of 46 dogs (17 %) with low taurine concentrations, of which seven were ECS one ACS, presented with a DCM-phenotype and CHF. Heparin was the additive that identified the highest number of dogs with low taurine concentrations.

Conclusions and clinical importance: Low taurine concentrations were common in the population of CS investigated and were found in both clinically healthy dogs as well as in all dogs with CHF. Besides age, no difference in dog characteristics and clinical features were found between dogs with normal and low taurine concentrations.