Low circulating taurine concentrations may be a risk factor for dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs. The objective of this study was to measure taurine in the blood during a 48-hour fast in 12 healthy adult Labrador Retrievers to refine sampling methodology for determination of taurine status.

Plasma and whole blood taurine concentrations did not fall to levels indicative of clinical deficiency throughout fasting; whole blood was the more reliable indicator of taurine status. This study shows that blood samples can be taken for assessment of taurine status any time up to 48 hours after ingestion of a meal in healthy adult dogs.

Source: K. Gray et al., 2015. The effect of 48-hour fasting on taurine status in healthy adult dogs. JAPAN online, August 2015. doi: 10.1111/jpn.12378