Iron Utilization in Dogs on Milk Diets

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Abstract
Ten milligrams of soluble inorganic iron per dog per day are somewhat in excess of the amount needed by dogs growing at the rate of 100 gm. per day. Two milligrams of copper per day prove adequate. The ratio of requirement of iron to copper is only about 5 to 1. Even when supplied in small amounts, iron may be stored. This stored iron becomes available for hemoglobin building only in the presence of adequate copper. The per cent of iron utilization for blood hemoglobin building will depend upon the dietary supply of all factors concerned in hematopoietic activity. When only the theoretical requirement of iron is fed to dogs on iron-free, but otherwise adequate diets, utilization of that iron will approach 100%. Further evidence has been obtained for the importance of cobalt as an adjunct to copper and iron for maximal hematopoiesis in dogs on milk diets.