Changes

==Consequences of Vitamin D Deficiency==

==Consequences of Vitamin D Deficiency==

====Dogs:====  

====Dogs:====  

Puppies fed vitamin D deficient diets become '''lethargic, have poor muscle tone, develop bowing of the limbs (i.e., rickets), and diffuse osteopenia with pathologic fractures'''<ref name="NRC"/><ref>Malik R, et al. Rickets in a litter of racing greyhounds. J Small Anim Pract 1997;38:109-114.</ref><ref>Taylor MB, et al. Diffuse osteopenia and myelopathy in a puppy fed a diet composed of an organic premix and raw ground beef. JAVMA 2009;234:1041-1048.</ref>. In adult dogs, clinical signs of calcium deficiency (e.g., osteopenia and pathologic fractures) due to inadequate vitamin D intake may take years to develop and is typically associated with unbalanced home-prepared diets<ref>De Fornel-Thibaud P, et al. Unusual case of osteopenia associated with nutritional calcium and vitamin D deficiency in an adult dog. JAAHA 2007;43:52-60.</ref>.

Puppies fed vitamin D deficient diets become '''lethargic, have poor muscle tone, develop bowing of the limbs (i.e. [[rickets]]), and diffuse osteopenia with pathologic fractures'''<ref name="NRC"/><ref>Malik R, et al. Rickets in a litter of racing greyhounds. J Small Anim Pract 1997;38:109-114.</ref><ref>Taylor MB, et al. Diffuse osteopenia and myelopathy in a puppy fed a diet composed of an organic premix and raw ground beef. JAVMA 2009;234:1041-1048.</ref>. In adult dogs, clinical signs of calcium deficiency (e.g. osteopenia and pathologic fractures) due to inadequate vitamin D intake may take years to develop and is typically associated with unbalanced home-prepared diets<ref>De Fornel-Thibaud P, et al. Unusual case of osteopenia associated with nutritional calcium and vitamin D deficiency in an adult dog. JAAHA 2007;43:52-60.</ref>.

====Cats:====  

====Cats:====  

Kittens fed vitamin D deficient diets have '''poor food intake, lose weight, develop generalized ataxia that progresses to caudal paralysis, and develop diffuse osteopenia with pathologic fractures'''<ref>Gershoff SN, et al. The effect of vitamin D-deficient diets containing various Ca:P ratios on cats. J Nutr 1957;63:79-93.</ref><ref>Morris JG, et al. Vitamin D deficiency in kittens exposed to ultraviolet light or sunlight. FASEB J 1994;8:A190.</ref>.

Kittens fed vitamin D deficient diets have '''poor food intake, lose weight, develop generalized ataxia that progresses to caudal paralysis, and develop diffuse osteopenia with pathologic fractures'''<ref>Gershoff SN, et al. The effect of vitamin D-deficient diets containing various Ca:P ratios on cats. J Nutr 1957;63:79-93.</ref><ref>Morris JG, et al. Vitamin D deficiency in kittens exposed to ultraviolet light or sunlight. FASEB J 1994;8:A190.</ref>.

Vitamin D deficiencies can occur due to '''low dietary intake''', but also as a result of '''intestinal diseases affecting absorption of dietary fat''' (e.g., [[Protein Losing Enteropathy|protein-losing enteropathy]]), '''liver disease''' resulting in inadequate conversion of vitamin D to 25-hydroxyvitamin D, or with '''kidney disease''' and inadequate conversion of 25-hydroxyvitamin D to 1,25-hydroxyvitamin D.

Vitamin D deficiencies can occur due to '''low dietary intake''', but also as a result of '''intestinal diseases affecting absorption of dietary fat''' (e.g. [[Protein Losing Enteropathy|protein-losing enteropathy]]), '''[[Liver - Pathology|liver disease]]''' resulting in inadequate conversion of vitamin D to 25-hydroxyvitamin D, or with '''[[:Category:Kidney - Pathology|kidney disease]]''' and inadequate conversion of 25-hydroxyvitamin D to 1,25-hydroxyvitamin D.

==Toxicity==

==Toxicity==

==Dietary Sources==

==Dietary Sources==

Cholecalciferol is found in animal liver, fatty fish (e.g., herring, salmon, and mackerel), and fish liver oils; dark green leafy vegetables (e.g. kale and spinach) contain ergocalciferol though at concentrations that are inadequate to meet daily requirements without supplementation. Vitamin D is supplemented into milk and milk products in the United States, but this is not consistent across the global milk industry.  

Cholecalciferol is found in animal liver, fatty fish (e.g. herring, salmon, and mackerel), and fish liver oils; dark green leafy vegetables (e.g. kale and spinach) contain ergocalciferol though at concentrations that are inadequate to meet daily requirements without supplementation. Vitamin D is supplemented into milk and milk products in the United States, but this is not consistent across the global milk industry.<br>

Commercial dog and cat foods intended to be complete and balanced are fortified with cholecalciferol to ensure adequate Vitamin D intake.  

Commercial dog and cat foods intended to be complete and balanced are fortified with cholecalciferol to ensure adequate Vitamin D intake.

==Diagnosing Vitamin D Deficiency==

==Diagnosing Vitamin D Deficiency==

==References==

==References==

<references/>

<references/>

[[Category:Vitamins]]

[[Category:Vitamins]]