Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Low vitamin B12 levels in 164 dog breeds studied from 2006 to 2010
By Grützner, Niels et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc·2012·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Evaluation of serum cobalamin concentrations in dogs of 164 dog breeds (2006-2010).
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that certain dog breeds, including Akitas, German Shepherds, and Border Collies, often have low levels of vitamin B12 (cobalamin) in their blood, which can be linked to gastrointestinal issues like exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). These breeds showed a higher likelihood of having low cobalamin levels, and many of them also tested positive for EPI. This suggests that these breeds may be more prone to specific digestive problems that affect their vitamin absorption. If you have one of these breeds and notice symptoms like weight loss or poor appetite, it’s a good idea to discuss cobalamin testing with your vet.
People also search for: dog low vitamin B12 symptoms · Akita gastrointestinal problems · German Shepherd EPI treatment
Abstract
Altered serum cobalamin concentrations have been observed in dogs with gastrointestinal disorders such as exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) or gastrointestinal inflammation. The aims of the current study were 1) to identify breeds with a higher proportion of dogs with a decreased serum cobalamin concentration, 2) to determine whether dogs with such decreased concentrations tend to have serum canine trypsin-like immunoreactivity (cTLI) concentrations diagnostic for EPI, and 3) to compare the number of submissions for serum cobalamin analysis by breed to the American Kennel Club (AKC) breed ranking list of 2009. In this retrospective study, results of 28,675 cobalamin tests were reviewed. Akitas, Chinese Shar-Peis, German Shepherd Dogs, Greyhounds, and Labrador Retrievers had increased proportions of serum cobalamin concentrations below the lower limit of the reference interval (<251 ng/l; all P < 0.0001). Akitas, Chinese Shar-Peis, German Shepherd Dogs, and Border Collies had increased proportions of serum cobalamin concentrations below the detection limit of the assay (<150 ng/l; all P < 0.0001). Akitas, Border Collies, and German Shepherd Dogs with serum cobalamin concentrations <150 ng/l were more likely to have a serum cTLI concentration considered diagnostic for EPI (≤2.5 µg/l; all P ≤ 0.001). The breed with the highest proportion of samples submitted for serum cobalamin analysis in comparison with the AKC ranking list was the Greyhound (odds ratio: 84.6; P < 0.0001). In Akitas and Border Collies, further investigations are warranted to clarify if a potentially breed-specific gastrointestinal disorder is responsible for the increased frequency of decreased serum cobalamin and cTLI concentrations.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23019243/