title: Evaluation of a fluorometric method for the quantitative assay of fecal hemoglobin in the dog.
abstract: Feces from 27 dogs were evaluated to establish baseline fecal hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations when the dogs were fed diets containing varying amounts of Hb. Fecal Hb concentration was measured, using a quantitative fluorometric assay that was based on the conversion of nonfluorescing Hb heme to fluorescing porphyrins. Mean fecal Hb concentration was 0.31 mg/g of feces when the dogs were fed a dry diet low in Hb. This corresponded to a daily fecal blood loss of 0.043 ml/kg of body weight. The fecal Hb concentration was directly related to the dietary Hb concentration. The average recovery of orally ingested blood was 41% in 4 dogs. This fluorometric assay quantitatively detected small amounts of gastrointestinal bleeding over a wide range of fecal Hb concentrations for which feces appeared normal. Results of this study establish dietary conditions necessary for quantitative evaluation of experimental and clinical gastrointestinal bleeding.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001769:Blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D004285:Dogs; D005243:Feces / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005470:Fluorometry / Q000379:methods; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000378:metabolism; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins