Studies With Dogs Maintained on Diets Low in Fat. ∗

Abstract

Conclusions

Distinct alterations in the appearance of the skin have been observed in puppies reared on a diet low in fat. This skin change became evident at about 3 months of age with the gradual development of a generalized flaky desquamation together with a dryness and coarseness of the hair. The skin and hair of the litter-mate puppies receiving 28% of their calories as lard in the diet remained clear and soft. Coincidental with this phenomenon marked differences in the degree of unsaturation of the fatty acids of the blood serum in the 2 groups of animals was demonstrated. The most marked difference in the iodine number of the fatty acids was found in the acetone soluble fraction, the average value being 83.9 for the animals receiving practically no fat in contrast to 1 18.7 for the animals receiving lard as a form of fat in the diet.