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© 2004 The American Society for Nutritional Sciences J. Nutr. 134:2151S-2153S, August 2004

Supplement: WALTHAM International Science Symposium: Nature, Nurture, and the Case for Nutrition

Apparent Calcium Absorption in Growing Dogs of Two Different Sizes1,2

Britta Dobenecker3

Institute for Physiology, Physiological Chemistry and Animal Nutrition, Ludwig-Maximilians University, D-80539 München, Germany

3 To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: dobenecker{at}lmu.de.

KEY WORDS: • symposium • dogs • developmental skeleton disease • calcium • breed differences


EXPANDED ABSTRACT

Introduction

The influence of the calcium (Ca)4 supply on the skeletal health of growing dogs and the ability of dogs to adjust the absorption of this element in cases of over- and undersupply has been investigated by various authors. In most trials, Great Danes were used as the large-breed dogs (1–4), and Miniature Poodles, Beagles, or mongrels (5–7) were used as the small-breed dogs. Especially in the case of Ca excess, the Great Dane puppies developed clinical signs of skeletal disturbances, whereas the small-breed dogs showed no or only subclinical signs. However, not every large-breed puppy that consumes excess Ca develops skeletal abnormalities. That various breeds respond differently to dietary Ca excess is indicated by experimental results (8,9) as well as field studies (10–12). The aim of this study was to investigate possible genetic influences on Ca balance during growth.


   MATERIALS AND METHODS
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 MATERIALS AND METHODS
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
 LITERATURE CITED
 
Sixteen Beagles with an adult (12 mo of age) body wt of 13.4 ± 1.9 kg (5 males and 11 females) and 24 Foxhound-Boxer-Ingelheim Labrador crossbred dogs (FBIs) with an adult (18 mo of age) body wt of 33.4 ± 3.4 kg (10 males and 14 females) were used in this feeding trial. The large-dog FBI cross has existed for >30 y and was formed originally from the named three breeds with a major Foxhound input. Historically, these dogs have an extremely low incidence of skeletal problems.

After weaning at the age of 6 wk, all dogs received a diet based on tripe and rice that was supplemented individually on a body-weight basis with minerals and vitamins (4) for a maximum of three consecutive periods of 6 wk each (from ages 6–24 wk). An amount of food sufficient to meet the energy requirement of each puppy was provided based on growth level (4). Food intake was monitored on a daily basis. The Ca intake per kilogram of body weight was adjusted to an amount of 300% [high Ca (HC)] of the requirements suggested by Meyer and Zentek (4) and corresponded to a dietary Ca concentration of ~36 g of Ca/kg of dry matter.

A diet with Ca excess was fed to 4 Beagles and 10 FBIs over three consecutive 6-wk trial periods from 6 to 24 wk of age (18 wk in all). An additional 5 Beagles and 5 FBIs were used in one Ca-excess trial from 6 to 12 wk of age. One group of each breed (7 Beagles and 9 FBIs) was raised as a control group over three 6-wk trial periods; these dogs were fed a diet that contained ~11g of Ca/kg of dry matter [normal Ca (NC), which is 100% of requirement]. Phosphorus (P) was added to the diets according to the requirements (4), and therefore the Ca:P ratio changed in the trial diets over the 24-wk period. A surplus of P (120% of requirement) was given in the Ca-excess trials, because reduced P bioavailability is known to exist in diets with high Ca:P ratios. Determination of P retention showed that P requirements (4) were met.

In balance trials of 5 d each at the end of each of the three trial periods, apparent Ca-absorption rates [i.e., (Ca intake) minus (fecal Ca excretion), measured in mg·kg body wt–1·d–1] were determined. For this determination, the feces of each dog were collected quantitatively and were weighed, lyophilized, and ground. For each dog and balance trial, the daily collected feces were individually pooled and mixed, and two or three samples were analyzed. A mean value was calculated; however, if the analyses differed by 10% for a given duplicate analysis, the procedure was repeated. In trials 1 and 2 (ages 12 and 18 wk, respectively), the urine was collected from all dogs and stored at –20°C to determine the Ca-retention rates. Ca levels were determined in the ash by flame-emission photometry after wet digestion (in a microwave).

Data are expressed as means ± SD. Means were compared by Student's t test to determine significant differences between the groups. The study was approved by the Regierung of Oberbayern, which is the proper authority according to German laws on animal welfare (Tierschutzgesetz).


   RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
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 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
LITERATURE CITED
 
At 6 wk of age, Beagles weighed 1.9 ± 0.2 kg, and FBIs weighed 3.2 ± 0.9 kg. Feed intake was not influenced by the Ca concentration of the diet, and all dogs grew normally. No clinical signs of skeletal problems were observed in any of the dogs during the Ca-excess periods. The mean values for Ca intake, fecal and urinary excretion, and retention at ages 12 and 18 wk of age are presented in Table 1. Ca retention was significantly higher in Beagles compared with FBI puppies, especially in the periods when they were fed the HC diet (trial 1, 72 vs. 40% of intake; trial 2, 54 vs. 28% of intake, respectively). Absolute and relative Ca-retention rates decreased with age in both Beagles and FBIs as described in the literature (4,7).


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  		TABLE 1 Ca-intake, -excretion, and -retention rates in growing Beagles and FBIs with high and normal Ca supplies1

 
The apparent Ca-absorption rates in each group (HC and NC) at 12, 18, and 24 wk of age are shown in Figure 1. Here also, the Beagles show an overall higher apparent Ca-absorption rate, i.e., Ca not excreted in the feces. Compared with data from Kienzle et al. (13), the additional Ca accretion in the HC Beagle groups as estimated from the apparent Ca-absorption rates is within the range of normal variation.



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  		FIGURE 1  Apparent absorbed Ca in growing Beagles and FBIs in trial 1 (12 wk; Ca supply: NC, 430–550; HC, 1150–1560 mg·kg body wt–1·d–1), trial 2 (18 wk; Ca supply: NC, 380–450; HC, 1060–1240 mg·kg body wt–1·d–1), and trial 3 (24wk; Ca supply: NC, 215–350; HC, 660–760 mg·kg body wt–1·d–1). *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, and ***P < 0.001; significant differences between apparent absorbed Ca rates of FBIs and Beagles of each trial and group (HC and NC) were determined by Student's t test.

 
These results suggest that there may be genetic differences in the regulation of Ca absorption in growing dogs: the FBIs absorb less Ca than the Beagles. Such a difference in Ca metabolism might be one reason for the differences in the sensitivity of different dog breeds to Ca excess. Schoenmakers et al. (14) showed that in Great Dane pups fed excessive Ca, the parathyroid hormone (PTH) setpoint remained low after the Ca supply was corrected. A mechanism like this might indirectly (because of reduced Vitamin D effect in the gut) or directly (via reduced Ca reabsorption in the kidneys) lead to lower Ca retention in these dogs compared with controls. Whether the effects of a 6-wk period of excessive Ca intake lead to a shift of the PTH setpoint in FBIs but not in Beagles is presently unknown.

Summarizing, it can be hypothesized that a breed-dependent difference in Ca metabolism may exist. Indirectly, this might lead to different responses to Ca excess. This may explain the inconsistent reports from the literature regarding developmental skeletal problems caused by Ca malnutrition.


   FOOTNOTES
 
1 Presented as part of the WALTHAM International Science Symposium: Nature, Nurture, and the Case for Nutrition held in Bangkok, Thailand, October 28–31, 2003. This symposium and the publication of the symposium proceedings were sponsored by the WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition, a division of Mars, Inc. Symposium proceedings were published as a supplement to The Journal of Nutrition. Guest editors for this supplement were D'Ann Finley, James G. Morris, and Quinton R. Rogers, University of California, Davis. Back

2 This work is supported by Gesellschaft zur Förderung Kynologischer Forschung, Deutschland. Back

4 Abbreviations used: Ca, calcium; FBI, Foxhound-Boxer-Ingelheim Labrador crossbred dogs; HC, high calcium; NC, normal calcium; P, phosphorus; PTH, parathyroid hormone. Back


   LITERATURE CITED
TOP
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
 LITERATURE CITED
 

1. Hedhammar, A., Wu, F. M., Krook, L., Schryver, H. F., De Lahunta, A., Whalen, J. P., Kallfez, F. A., Nunez, E. A., & Hintz, et al. (1974) Overnutrition and skeletal disease. An experimental study in growing Great Dane dogs. Cornell Vet. 64 (Suppl. 5): 9–150.

2. Hazewinkel, H. A. W., Goedegebuure, S. A., Poulos, P. W. & Wolvekamp, W. T. C. (1985) Influences of chronic calcium excess on the skeletal development of growing Great Danes. J. Am. Anim. Hosp. Assoc. 135: 305–310.

3. Blum, J. W., Zentek, J. & Meyer, H. (1992) Untersuchungen zum Einfluss einer unterschiedlichen Energieversorgung auf die Wachstumsintensität und Skelettentwicklung bei wachsenden Doggen. [The effect of a different energy supply on the growth intensity and skeletal development of growing Great Danes. 2. Effect on insulin-like growth factor I and on thyroid hormones.] Zentralbl. Veterinarmed. A 39: 568–574.

4. Meyer, H. & Zentek, J. (2001) Ernährung des Hundes. Parey Buchverlag, Berlin.

5. Gershoff, S. N., Legg, M. A. & Hegsted, D. M. (1958) Adaptation to different calcium intakes in dogs. J. Nutr. 64: 303–312.

6. Stephens, L. C., Norrdin, R. W. & Benjamin, S. A. (1988) Effects of calcium supplement and sunlight exposure on growing Beagle dogs. Am. J. Vet. Res. 46: 2037–2042.

7. Nap, R. C., Hazewinkel, H. A. W. & Van den Brom, W. E. (1993) 45Ca kinetics in growing Miniature Poodles challenged by four different levels of calcium. J. Nutr. 123: 1826–1833.

8. Alexander, J. E., Moore, M. P. & Wood, L. L. H. (1988) Comparative growth studies in Labrador Retrievers fed 5 commercial calorie-dense diets. Mod. Vet. Pract. 69: 144–148.

9. Burbridge, H. M., Pfeiffer, D. U. & Guilford, W. G. (1999) Presence of cervical vertebral malformation in Dobermann puppies and the effects of diet and growth rate. Aust. Vet. J. 77: 814–818.[Medline]

10. Tacke, S., Kramer, M., Schimke, E., Hornyak, L., Gerwing, M., Tellhelm, B. & Schleich, S. (1999) Osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD) am Schultergelenk des Hundes Tierärztl. Praxis 27: 81–90.

11. Grussendorf, C., Grussendorf, H. & Brunnberg, L. (2001) Erhebung zur Energie- und Nährstoffversorgung von Junghunden mit Skelettanomalien unter Zuhilfenahme der computergestützten Rationsberechnung. Kleintierpraxis 46: 385–460.

12. Dobenecker, B., Kienzle, E., Köstlin, R. & Matis, U. (1998) Mal- and overnutrition in puppies with or without disorders of skeletal development. J. Anim. Phys. Anim. Nutr. (Berl.) 80: 76–81.

13. Kienzle, E., Zentek, J. & Meyer, H. (1998) Body composition of puppies and young dogs. J. Nutr. 128: 2680S–2683S.[Free Full Text]

14. Schoenmakers, I., Pols, H. A. P. & Hazewinkel, H. A. W. (1998) Dietary Calcium Excess in Young Dogs: Hormonal Calcium Regulation and Setpoint. Modulation of Calcium Regulation by Excessive Calcium Intake in Dogs. Doctoral thesis, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. pp. 135–153.





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