Gut problems associated with low vitamin D (dogs in this case) – Sept 2024

Dysregulated serum concentrations of fat-soluble vitamins in dogs with chronic enteropathy
J Vet Intern Med. 2024 Sep-Oct;38(5):2612-2619. doi: 10.1111/jvim.17107
Federica Serafini 1, Kristen M Maxwell 2, Xiaojuan Zhu 3, Elizabeth M Lennon 1

Background: In inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) of humans, nutrient malabsorption can result in fat-soluble vitamin deficiency, especially of vitamin D. In veterinary species, decreased concentrations of vitamin D are relatively common in dogs with chronic enteropathy (CE), but data on the status of other fat-soluble vitamins (FSVs) is lacking.

Objectives: Determine the serum concentrations of retinol, vitamin D, and α-tocopherol in dogs with CE compared with healthy dogs and compare clinical, clinicopathologic variables between CE and healthy dogs to detect associations with decreased FSVs concentrations.

Animals: Eighteen client-owned dogs with CE and 33 healthy dogs.

Methods: Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D), serum retinol and α-tocopherol concentrations were compared between groups. Correlations and multiple regression modeling were used to examine the relationship between serum 25(OH)D, retinol, and α-tocopherol concentrations and clinical and clinicopathological variables.

Results: Dogs with low serum albumin concentrations were more likely to have lower 25(OH)D concentrations than dogs with normal serum albumin concentration. Dogs with CE had higher serum concentrations of retinol, and variable α-tocopherol concentrations. The cause of these dysregulated vitamin concentrations is unclear and requires further study.

Conclusion and clinical importance: Dogs with severe forms of CE should be monitored for decreased concentrations of 25(OH)D. Additional studies are needed to evaluate the clinical relevance and the possible benefit of vitamin D supplementation in these patients.
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Gut problems are treated with Gut-Friendly Vitamn D (not regular)

VitaminDWiki – Overview Gut and vitamin D contains gut-friendly information

VitaminDWiki - Overview Veterinary and vitamin D contains:

Animals need Vitamin D too

• Vitamin D is important for pregnancies (pigs as well as people)– Sept 2022
• Many Vitamin D similarities: people and cows - March 2022
• Several advanced-maternal-age problems reduced if given Vitamin D during pregnancy (mice in this case) – July 2021
• Poor immune system associated with low Vitamin D (dogs in this case) – June 2020
• Chicken bones, eggs, and activated vitamin D in eggs increased with 2 hours of daily UVB – Dec 2019
• Vitamin D in eggs increased 4X after UV lighting near legs was added – April 2019
• Hens with Vitamin D were better in at least 5 ways – RCT Aug 2018

Pets as well

• Critically ill dogs with good levels of vitamin D have much better outcomes (humans too) – March 2018
• Half of dogs now get cancer, it used to be just 1 percent (probably low Vitamin D)
• Dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, pet birds, etc need Vitamin D
• Dogs with Cancer have low vitamin D, same as humans – Sept 2017
• Companion animals (dog, cats) need vitamin D too – March 2016
• Hospitalized cats 8X more likely to die if low vitamin D (Vit. D helps humans too) – May 2015
• Rickets increasing in dogs

Farm Vets are paid when their "patients" are healthy,
   vs doctors who are paid only when "patients" become sick
Cows are routinely given 30 IU per kilogram (which would be 10,000 IU for a 150 lb person)
Same information is available on Cattle need 66 IU of vitamin D per pound
The US RDA of vitamin D for cows is 13 IU per kilogram (which would be 4,300 IU for a 150 lb 'cow')
Virtually all US farmers who raise livestock use feed that is supplemented with vitamin D
Merick Vet Manual supplement if not have UV or sunlight

26+ VitaminDWiki Veterinary pages have DOG or CAT in the title

The list is automatically updated

Note: First category in VitaminDWiki was Veterinary - they were far ahead of human doctors in understanding the imporance of Vitamin D