Abstract
Studies on a few species of animals have indicated that the water-soluble vitamine is of importance to nutrition during all stages of life and that prolonged absence of it from the diet will lead to a diseased condition. In the present investigation the role of water-soluble vitamines in the nutrition of the dog has been under consideration.
The animals were fed a diet devoid of water-soluble vitamine and consisting of lard, sucrose, inorganic salts, and protein in the form of casein or wheat gluten. It furnished about 70-80 calories per kg. body weight. Such food mixtures were consumed readily by the dogs during a period from three to nine weeks; thereupon they began to refuse part or all of their food. Characteristic symptoms, similar to those described by Voegtlin and Lake 1 were developed by some of the animals. The ultimate failure to eat was always noted.
Ingestion of as little as I gm. of brewer's yeast, which had been previously dried, will cause a quick recovery of the desire to eat. 5 gm. of the dried yeast will bring about the disappearance of the polyneuritic symtoms in 8-12 hrs. and a quick recovery of the animal to its normal condition.
The utilization of the protein nitrogen is not effected by the lack of water-soluble vitamine.
Studies in metabolism on diets with and without vitamine are being conducted.
The fat-soluble vitamine is apparently of less importance than the water-soluble in the nutrition of the adult dog.
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