45Ca kinetics in growing miniature poodles challenged by four different dietary levels of calcium.
In 21 miniature poodles the 45Ca metabolism was studied at 13, 19 and 25 wk of age. The animals were divided in four groups and fed dry dog food differing only in Ca concentration, i.e., 0.05 (LLC), 0.33 (LC), 1.1 (NC) or 3.3 g/100 g (HC) of Ca on a dry matter basis. The percentage of Ca absorption was significantly higher in the LLC and LC groups (70-96%) than in the NC group (28-53%). True Ca absorption was low and retention almost zero in the LLC dogs, whereas in the HC dogs absorption and retention were more than three times greater than in the NC dogs. The higher retention in the HC group compared with the NC group was primarily the result of a low level of bone removal, the deposition levels being similar in the two groups. We conclude that 1) the 0.33 g/100 g of Ca diet did not meet the minimal requirements for growth in small breed dogs, 2) both low and high dietary Ca caused effects on Ca metabolism similar to those previously observed in giant breed dogs, and 3) small and giant breed dogs require different minimal Ca:energy ratios in the diet during growth.
Nap
R C
RC
Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
Hazewinkel
H A
HA
van den Brom
W E
WE
D000818:Animals; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D002132:Calcium Radioisotopes; D004032:Diet; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth / Q000502:physiology*; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical
D002132:Calcium Radioisotopes; D002118:Calcium