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Naturally-occurring dietary potassium deficiency is rare in dogs and most studies that have investigated low levels have used specially designed diets.   

Naturally-occurring dietary potassium deficiency is rare in dogs and most studies that have investigated low levels have used specially designed diets.   

====Recognised Syndromes related to Potassium Deficiency====

====Recognised Syndromes related to Potassium Deficiency====

#'''Paralysis and poor growth''': Puppies fed a very low level of potassium (0.01% on a dry matter basis – DM) grew very poorly and within a few weeks developed clinical signs including paralysis of the neck muscles and of the rear legs [1]. Increasing the dietary potassium to 0.34% DM ameliorated the adverse effects.   

#'''Paralysis and poor growth''': Puppies fed a very low level of potassium (0.01% on a dry matter basis – DM) grew very poorly and within a few weeks developed clinical signs including paralysis of the neck muscles and of the rear legs<ref>Ruegamer, W, Elvehjem, Hart, E (1946). “Potassium deficiency in the dog”. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 61:234-238.</ref>. Increasing the dietary potassium to 0.34% DM ameliorated the adverse effects.   

#'''Hypokalaemia''': Feeding adult bitches a diet containing 0.006% DM potassium did not result in detectable hypokalaemia nor were clinical signs associated with hypokalaemia seen; however, there were decreases in blood pressure, cardiac output, stroke volume and renal blood flow. A dietary potassium of 0.45% DM resulted in no detected abnormality [2].

#'''Hypokalaemia''': Feeding adult bitches a diet containing 0.006% DM potassium did not result in detectable hypokalaemia nor were clinical signs associated with hypokalaemia seen; however, there were decreases in blood pressure, cardiac output, stroke volume and renal blood flow. A dietary potassium of 0.45% DM resulted in no detected abnormality<ref>Abbrecht, P (1972). “Cardiovascular effects of chronic potassium deficiency in the dog”. Am. J. Physiol. 223:555-560.</ref>.

===Cat:===   

===Cat:===   

The effects of low dietary potassium intake are broadly similar to those observed in dogs in terms of the syndromes described above. However, in cats there are data that show the influence of dietary protein content on potassium requirement: high protein increases potassium requirement because of an increased need for anion-cation balance [3].

The effects of low dietary potassium intake are broadly similar to those observed in dogs in terms of the syndromes described above. However, in cats there are data that show the influence of dietary protein content on potassium requirement: high protein increases potassium requirement because of an increased need for anion-cation balance<ref name="Hills">Hills, D, Morris, J, Rogers, Q (1982). “Potassium requirement of kittens affected by dietary protein”. J. Nutr. 112:216-222.</ref>.

====Recognised Syndromes Related to Dietary Potassium Deficiency====

====Recognised Syndromes Related to Dietary Potassium Deficiency====

#'''Paralysis and poor growth''': Kittens fed a 33% protein diet with 0.1 or 0.2% potassium or a 68% protein with 0.3 or 0.4% potassium (all on DM basis) developed clinical signs very similar to those seen in puppies: anorexia, retarded growth and neurological disorders that started with the neck muscles and progressed to ataxia and muscle weakness. The latter was so severe that the kittens were unable to walk [3]. Clinical signs of potassium deficiency have also been reported in kittens fed a vegetarian diet containing potassium at 0.08 or 0.11% DM, whereas a dietary content of 0.5% was satisfactory [4].

#'''Paralysis and poor growth''': Kittens fed a 33% protein diet with 0.1 or 0.2% potassium or a 68% protein with 0.3 or 0.4% potassium (all on DM basis) developed clinical signs very similar to those seen in puppies: anorexia, retarded growth and neurological disorders that started with the neck muscles and progressed to ataxia and muscle weakness. The latter was so severe that the kittens were unable to walk<ref name="Hills"/>. Clinical signs of potassium deficiency have also been reported in kittens fed a vegetarian diet containing potassium at 0.08 or 0.11% DM, whereas a dietary content of 0.5% was satisfactory<ref>Leon, A, Bain, S, Levick, W (1992). “Hypokalaemic episodic polymyopathy in cats fed a vegetarian diet. Aust. Vet. J. 69:249-254.</ref>.

#'''Hypokalaemia''': In two studies Dow et al., [5,6] reported that adult cats showed signs of hypokalaemia (Picture of cat with ventral neck flexion) when fed levels of 0.34% or 0.2% DM, which gradually disappeared with a dietary potassium concentration of 0.65% DM.

#'''Hypokalaemia''': In two studies Dow et al.<ref>Dow, S, Fettman, M, LeCouteur, R, Hamar, D (1987). “Potassium depletion in cats: renal and dietary influences”. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assn. 191:1569-1575.</ref><ref>Dow, S, Fettman, M, Smith, K, Hamar, D, Nagode, L, Refsal, K, Wilke, W (1990). “Effects of dietary acidification and potassium depletion on acid-base balance, mineral metabolism and renal function in adult cats”. J. Nutr. 120:569-578.</ref>, reported that adult cats showed signs of hypokalaemia (Picture of cat with ventral neck flexion) when fed levels of 0.34% or 0.2% DM, which gradually disappeared with a dietary potassium concentration of 0.65% DM.

==Toxicity==

==Toxicity==

There is virtually no information on the adverse effects of excessive dietary potassium intake in dogs or cats. As potassium absorption in the intestines is very high (>90%), it would be feasible to see life-threatening hyperkalaemia if excessive amounts of potassium were found in the diet. However, the amount of potassium (in the forms of salts) required to cause toxicity would results in diets that would not be readily consumed by dogs or cats. Additionally, animals with normal kidney function should readily excrete unnecessary potassium. If potassium acts on dogs and cats in a similar way to other non-ruminant mammals, the main symptoms would be increased water intake and urine volume, food aversion and gastroenteritis. Nevertheless it would require intakes many times the recommended level to produce these effects. A tolerable dietary content of at least 1% DM is suggested for non-ruminants including dogs and cats [7].  

There is virtually no information on the adverse effects of excessive dietary potassium intake in dogs or cats. As potassium absorption in the intestines is very high (>90%), it would be feasible to see life-threatening hyperkalaemia if excessive amounts of potassium were found in the diet. However, the amount of potassium (in the forms of salts) required to cause toxicity would results in diets that would not be readily consumed by dogs or cats. Additionally, animals with normal kidney function should readily excrete unnecessary potassium. If potassium acts on dogs and cats in a similar way to other non-ruminant mammals, the main symptoms would be increased water intake and urine volume, food aversion and gastroenteritis. Nevertheless it would require intakes many times the recommended level to produce these effects. A tolerable dietary content of at least 1% DM is suggested for non-ruminants including dogs and cats<ref>“Potassium” In: Mineral Tolerance of Animals, 2nd Edition. (2005) National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences. The National Academies Press, Washington DC p 311.</ref>.  

==Dietary Sources==

==Dietary Sources==