Plasma Vitamin C Concentration in Shiba dogs

Abstract

Plasma vitamin C concentration was determined in healthy 48 Shiba dogs. Four dogs were younger than 1 year,12 dogs were aged between 1 and 2 years,7 dogs were aged between 2and 5 years,12 dogs were aged between 5 and 10 years, and 13 dogs were older than 10 years. Thirteen dogs were male,28 dogs were female and the other dogs were castrated female. Plasma vitamin C concentration was affected by age of dogs (P<0.001), although sex did not affect plasma vitamin C. The dogs younger than 1 year showed lower (P<0.01) plasma vitamin C concentration than the older dogs, in which plasma vitamin C was not affected by age. Plasma vitamin C concentration was 7.00±1.10 (mean±SD) mg/L and was ranged between 4.38 and 10.20 mg/L in the dogs older than 1 year. The normal level of plasma vitamin C was assumed to be between 4.8 and 9.2mg/L (mean±2×SD) in the dogs older than 1 year.