Carnitine Ingredients: Pure Pharmaceutical Grade L-Carnitine, cellulose.
Taurine Ingredients: 100% Pure Pharmaceutical Grade Taurine
Canine heart disease including DCM is believed to be caused by deficient diet, poor genetics (poor breeding etc.), or the inability to synthesize carnitine and taurine naturally in the body or a viral cause.
A healthy dog produces L-Carnitine and Taurine naturally by using vitamins and amino acids obtained through a healthy diet (Lysine, Methionine, B6 etc.). However, some animals are unable to synthesize Taurine and L-Carnitine even with proper nutrition. This can lead to a deficiency causing heart disease, including DCM.L-Carnitine is a natural protein like substance that enables cells to carry fuel (fatty acids) to the heart. When a dog is unable to synthesize carnitine or is not getting enough carnitine, the fuel does not reach the heart, resulting in heart disease.
Taurine is an amino acid that is found in muscles, it is most abundant in the heart tissue. It maintains cell membranes, regulates the heart beat and protects the heart from calcium overload. One study showed it to be more effective than CoQ10.
To get a little more technical, Carnitine's job is to carry fatty acids in to the mitochondria. Fatty acids are metabolized by the mitochondria within the cell. Each molecule of fat must be attached to a molecule of Carnitine in order to be transported across the mitochondria. After the fat has been metabolized in the mitochondria and has generated the energy ATP, Carnitine is again needed to remove the waste product from the mitochondria.