The Use of the Dog for Studies on Iron Availability

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Abstract
Young growing dogs were placed on a raw whole milk ration, supplemented with vitamins, copper and manganese. When the dogs were anemic, supplements of ferric pyrophosphate at levels ranging from 200 μg to 1000 μg of iron per kg of body weight per day were supplied. A minimal level of 600 μg of iron was found to give an optimal hemoglobin response. Plasma iron levels were followed throughout the period of iron supplementation, and it was found that when iron in excess of that required for optimal hemoglobin formation was fed, the amounts of iron in the plasma increased. If suboptimal amounts of iron were fed, the plasma iron level dropped to and sometimes below the critical level of 50 μg of iron per 100 ml plasma. Wheat bran and spinach were fed at a level to supply 600 μg of iron per kg of body weight per day, and the response compared with that obtained with ferric pyrophosphate. The iron in bran was found to be almost completely available while the iron in spinach was only 20–40% available.

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