− | #'''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. | + | #'''Paralysis and poor growth''': Puppies fed a very low level of potassium (0.01% on a [[Nutrition Glossary#Dry Matter Basis|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|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>. | | #'''[[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|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>. |
| #'''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>. | | #'''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.<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 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 [[Essential Ion and Compound Balance and Homeostasis - Anatomy & Physiology|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 when fed levels of 0.34% or 0.2% DM, which gradually disappeared with a dietary potassium concentration of 0.65% DM. |