Blueys rely on Taurine from Diet & Supplements?

[Lucifer]

Do Blueys follow cats in that Taurine (an essential amino acid) needs to be part of their regular diet or added to their food for the duration of their lives? Does anyone know anything about Taurine with Blueys and if Blueys are like kitties in the fact that they cannot synthesize Taurine in their bodies from other amino acids? My good friend (yes the Kinesiologist) just told me that Lucifer's stubborn 2 spots of stomatitis (mouth rot) will improve with proper nutrition now. She specifically said that it tests that he is deficient of Taurine, although she did not know what foods off the top of her head to tell me to give him. Upon researching Taurine, I was amazed to find out how important Taurine is for the body (and it is still unknown just how important this amino acid is for people and animals). They do know that dogs are able to synthesize Taurine in their bodies from other amino acids, but cats cannot and that is why Taurine is not usually added to dog foods but is added to cat foods. I did notice that Taurine is an ingredient in the Carnivore Care (the reptile food that I get from the vet) that Lucifer is currently eating; however, I have been trying to get Lucifer back on canned cat or dog food. Now I am thinking that canned cat food is a better choice because Taurine is listed as an ingredient in it. Never noticed this before. Other foods that contain Taurine are eggs, fish and animal meat which a lot of you good folks feed to your skinks. I have been scared to feed Lucifer raw meat or eggs because I am paranoid about parasites but cooking these foods removes some of the essential nutrients and possibly the Taurine content. Just wondering if a healthy diet of Taurine for Blueys helps prevent and or treat stomatitis. In any event, hoping that nutrition for Lucifer leads to improved health and full recovery from this nasty stomatitis.

[alichamp]

You have stumbled into a topic of some debate and uncertainty in the BTS world. It is not known what the effects of taurine for BTS are because it hasn't been properly examined. Many people choose dog food instead of cat food partly for this reason.

You should try doing a search of the forum posts for taurine because it has been brought up in many posts before, even quite recently.

Hopefully someone else can answer your questions about raw egg and particular foods. Most people do also steer clear of fish for blueys, and this is another reason for avoiding particular cat foods.

[Dood]

My skink only gets raw meat as do all my carnivorous and omnivorous pets mixed with appropriate amount of fruit and veg

Freezing for a week or 3 kills most parasites

Cats are obligate carnivores which is why they don't need to produce taurine as they eat only meats, skinks being omnivores likely means they can synthesize the amino acid from dietary protein but and they also eat insect and molluscs which are high in taurine so they may need to get the amino acid from their diet or need more than the amounts found in dog food

[Lucifer]

Thank you Alichamp, I did not think to look for the Taurine topic in prior posts. In reading the prior posts, most people seem to shy away from food with Taurine added to it and of course, I am the opposite. Just hoping for improved health by increasing Taurine intake.

Also, thank you Dood. I will be brave and freeze some raw meat and after a week or so give it to Lucifer (hoping to preserve the Taurine in raw meat) . Having a difficult time getting Lucifer to eat on his own since we have been in the dropper feeding routine for 6 months now. Hopefully offering the raw meat on a day when his mouth sores are good will be too much for him to resist. I may also add a little Taurine supplement powder to his meals.

[El Lobo]

How was the level of taurine measured, by blood or urine test?
Also, what was the reference level for low and high measurement?

Depending on the methodology, testing could also indicate some degree of overall kidney health. I suspect any debate regarding supplementing taurine has come about in discussion between whether it is more wholesome to feed cat or dog food to a BTS. The primary difference being cats are obligate carnivores whereas dogs and BTS are omnivores. A cat's diet will consist of meat without vegetable matter in the mix. They are also specifically known as a species that cannot synthesise taurine.