Potassium vs. Biotin in the Treatment of Progressive Paralysis in Dogs

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Abstract
A progressive paralysis previously described in dogs subsisting on a diet lacking some members of the B-complex and very low in K has been treated successfully both with biotin and with KC1. A comparison of the effects of the 2 substances, with respect to (1) speed of recovery from paralysis, (2) period of protection afforded by a single dose and (3) the general condition of the animal after treatment, leads to the conclusion that K is the primary deficiency responsible for producing the syndrome. The minimum effective oral dose of KC1 used was 200 mg. KCl/kg. of body wt.; 100 mg./kg. was entirely ineffective and intermediate amts. have not been tried. Two dogs suffering from a severe attack had a lowered serum K averaging 3.5 m. eq./l. as compared with 5.36 m. eq./l. in a normal control animal. The serum Na was slightly elevated in the paralyzed animal, being 176.8 m. eq./l. and 167.9 as compared with the control.

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