Taurine Supplement

[Cherish4]

Just wondering if anyone would be so kind as to take a quick look at the Taurine Supplement I've linked to below (specifically the ingredients) and tell me if they think there'd be any issue giving it to a diabetic cat?

https://www.simplysupplements.co.uk/vitapaws/cat-supplements/taurine-250mg-cats

Much appreciated in advance.

 

[jt and trouble (GA)]

Are you making your own raw diet food?

 

[Diana&Tom]

The info in the link doesn’t give any detail ref quantities of ingredients as well as taurine but I should think they are negligible. You could contact the manufacturer and ask.
If you are feeding raw, as Jeanne asks, you really need a more complete supplement such as Felini which contains vitamins and minerals as well as taurine. If you’re feeding a commercial complete cat food you shouldn’t need to add anything at all and doing so isn’t a good idea as it creates an imbalance.

 

[Cherish4]

Are you making your own raw diet food?

No. It's looking like my diabetic boy has unfortunately developed pancreatitis, so I'm researching possible supportive supplements to give him based on this article: http://www.diabeticcatinternational.com/knowledge/pancreatitis/

From the article: "Extra taurine has shown though in some research to be more than beneficial in helping with pancreatitis and associated liver problems. Taurine has even shown to perhaps regenerate liver and pancreas cells. There is also preliminary research showing that it may help control diabetes as well as some of the side effects of FD, such as neuropathy."

Just want to have some possible choices together that I can discuss with his vet this week.

 

[Cherish4]

The info in the link doesn’t give any detail ref quantities of ingredients as well as taurine but I should think they are negligible. You could contact the manufacturer and ask.
If you are feeding raw, as Jeanne asks, you really need a more complete supplement such as Felini which contains vitamins and minerals as well as taurine. If you’re feeding a commercial complete cat food you shouldn’t need to add anything at all and doing so isn’t a good idea as it creates an imbalance.

It's looking like my diabetic boy has unfortunately developed pancreatitis, so I'm researching possible supportive supplements to give him based on this article: http://www.diabeticcatinternational.com/knowledge/pancreatitis/

From the article: "Extra taurine has shown though in some research to be more than beneficial in helping with pancreatitis and associated liver problems. Taurine has even shown to perhaps regenerate liver and pancreas cells. There is also preliminary research showing that it may help control diabetes as well as some of the side effects of FD, such as neuropathy."

Just want to have some possible choices together that I can discuss with his vet this week. If it's not suitable or a good idea I won't give it to him, just researching at the moment that's all.

 

[Diana&Tom]

I’d ask the vet. Additional taurine shouldn’t cause problems as such as any excess is excreted in the urine, but personally I’d check it out with the vet first, just in case he/she has heard of any possible contraindications.

 

[Cherish4]

I’d ask the vet. Additional taurine shouldn’t cause problems as such as any excess is excreted in the urine, but personally I’d check it out with the vet first, just in case he/she has heard of any possible contraindications.

Will do.

 

[Larry and Kitties]

I would just use the pure taurine powder like this
https://www.amazon.com/NOW-Foods-FID28704-Taurine-8-Ounce/dp/B000BQSQ68?tag=felinediabetesfdmb-20

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

I'm a bit of a pain in the butt when it comes to recommendations from the internet. I know -- we're an internet group! I would be much more confident of the recommendation on the website you linked if they provided a reference to their information on taurine. I second what everyone has noted -- check with your vet.

 

[Elizabeth and Bertie]

Hi Lauren, sorry to hear about the pancreatitis diagnosis. (Have you seen this primer on pancreatitis? It may have some useful info for you. http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/a-primer-on-pancreatitis.83108/ )

I don't know anything about using taurine for pancreatitis. But I do try to give my kitties additional taurine, just because I consider that it might be of benefit. But this is just my personal choice and is based on things I've read and on conversations I've had with people who I consider to be smarter and better informed than me.
In the UK we do have pretty decent food production standards, and any commercial cat foods 'should', theoretically, contain sufficient taurine for the average kitty's needs. But, as I said above, I 'choose' to try to boost my kitties' taurine intake. I do this in a couple of different ways. I add a pinch of ordinary taurine powder to their food now and then (dissolving in water first, then adding to food). And I also give my kitties chicken hearts (AKA 'taurine bombs'!). I either give raw chopped chicken hearts, or a couple of freeze dried chicken hearts. My diabetic girl gets at least one freeze dried chicken heart every day (raw would be better, but I can't get her to eat raw....yet...)

I use Felini taurine powder, made for kitties. But any taurine without additional additives is fine as far as I'm aware. ...As with all these things, do your own research as much as you can, and do also consider your vet's advice.

Eliz

 

[Cherish4]

I would just use the pure taurine powder like this
https://www.amazon.com/NOW-Foods-FID28704-Taurine-8-Ounce/dp/B000BQSQ68?tag=felinediabetesfdmb-20

Okay thanks.

 

[Cherish4]

I'm a bit of a pain in the butt when it comes to recommendations from the internet. I know -- we're an internet group! I would be much more confident of the recommendation on the website you linked if they provided a reference to their information on taurine. I second what everyone has noted -- check with your vet.

Okay thanks. Will wait and speak to vet later this week.

 

[Cherish4]

Hi Lauren, sorry to hear about the pancreatitis diagnosis. (Have you seen this primer on pancreatitis? It may have some useful info for you. http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/a-primer-on-pancreatitis.83108/ )

Thanks, I'll have a read of that. Struggling to cope a bit at the moment if I'm honest. He's been unwell on and off for months now and new issues are coming up all the time, so it's been super stressful. I lost my eldest cat Willow in January under quite traumatic circumstances, so having to deal with this as well and worrying about losing him has badly affected my anxiety issues.

I don't know anything about using taurine for pancreatitis. But I do try to give my kitties additional taurine, just because I consider that it might be of benefit. But this is just my personal choice and is based on things I've read and on conversations I've had with people who I consider to be smarter and better informed than me.
In the UK we do have pretty decent food production standards, and any commercial cat foods 'should', theoretically, contain sufficient taurine for the average kitty's needs. But, as I said above, I 'choose' to try to boost my kitties' taurine intake. I do this in a couple of different ways. I add a pinch of ordinary taurine powder to their food now and then (dissolving in water first, then adding to food). And I also give my kitties chicken hearts (AKA 'taurine bombs'!). I either give raw chopped chicken hearts, or a couple of freeze dried chicken hearts. My diabetic girl gets at least one freeze dried chicken heart every day (raw would be better, but I can't get her to eat raw....yet...)

I use Felini taurine powder, made for kitties. But any taurine without additional additives is fine as far as I'm aware. ...As with all these things, do your own research as much as you can, and do also consider your vet's advice.

Eliz

Thanks for the insight and information. I'll gather everything together and chat to the vet about it later in the week.