2015 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program

In conclusion, significant differences in serum amino acid concentrations were observed between healthy dogs and hypocobalaminemic dogs with either decreased or increased serum folate concentrations. These results suggest that altered absorption, metabolism, and/or degradation of amino acids are associated with chronic intestinal diseases. In dogs, chronic intestinal disease and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) are the most common causes of cobalamin deficiency and have been associated with decreased intestinal absorption of cobalamin and also with a reduced availability of several amino acids. Digestibility is directly affected by the amount of pancreatic enzymes available for food breakdown in the gastrointestinal tract. Altered amino acid concentrations of various amino acids (i.e., glycine, glutamic acid, tyrosine, methionine, lysine, and tryptophan) have been described in humans with gastrointestinal and exocrine pancreatic disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in serum amino acid concentrations between healthy normocobalaminemic dogs and hypocobalaminemic dogs with or without EPI.