The Mineral Requirements of the Dog

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Abstract
The effects of certain dietary factors on the magnesium deficiency syndrome of the weanling dog have been studied. Both elevation of the dietary calcium from 0.6 to 0.9% and elevation of the dietary phosphorus from 0.4 to 0.9% were noted to increase the severity of the syndrome with the phosphorus effect being the more pronounced. Reduction of the dietary phosphorus to 0.22% was observed to alleviate the symptoms of magnesium deficiency but no differences were observed following a reduction in the dietary calcium to 0.3%. Supplements of vitamin C, menadione, inorganic sulfate, or elemental sulfur were without effect on the magnesium deficiency syndrome. Aortic ash, calcium, and phosphorus content were slightly diminished in the pup by increasing the dietary fat from 8 to 20% or by increasing the dietary potassium from 0.6 to 1.2%. No relief was observed with respect to the muscular and nervous symptoms or serum chemistry values. In mature dogs, the magnesium requirement appeared to fall between 80 and 180 ppm although a much longer depletion period was necessary than for the pup. The data suggested a relationship between cholesterol-cholic acid and magnesium metabolism in the mature dog. Addition of 250 ppm of fluoride to the low-magnesium basal diet restricted food intake and growth, and prevented the appearance of aortic lesions and the accumulation of aortic mineral, but did not prevent the occurrence of muscular weakness and convulsions or the depression of serum magnesium.