Growth of Dogs on Purified Diet Plus Aureomycin and/or Vit. B 12

Abstract

Summary

Eleven young cocker spaniels from 2 litters were fed from weaning for 20 weeks a purified complete diet which had been shown previously to produce optimum growth. Vit. B₁₂ at the level of 5 μg%, aureomycin hydrochloride at the level of 10 mg% or both these substances were added to the diet of some of the animals. No differences resulted in nitrogen retention or in the nitrogenous constituents of the blood of any of the dogs. Two of the 3 dogs which received vit. B₁₂, 3 of the 4 which received both vit. B₁₂ and aureomycin and one of the 2 which received only aureomycin gained more weight per 100 g food than did the 2 controls and the 3 others. These overgrown dogs had greater total gains, greater empty carcass weights, lower body specific gravity, more carcass fat, and more fat-rich adipose tissue than the 5 others. However, the fat-free carcasses were not significantly heavier. It is concluded that better food utilization may result in dogs in some cases from the addition of vit. B₁₂ and/or aureomycin to a complete purified diet and that this growth is due solely to increased fat deposition.