History Inquiry and Observation
(I)The Owners' Information
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Investigating Dietary Conditions
- The veterinarian will ask about your dog's diet in great detail. It is important to know the ingredients and brand of dog food that the dog consumes, and if it's homemade. If the owner is feeding their dog only one type of dog food that's low quality, the risk of vitamin deficiencies may increase. The veterinarian will check if the dog food has enough vitamins. This includes ingredients high in vitamin A, like liver and grains and meats that contain vitamin B complex.
- Frequency and amount of feeding are important as well. It is possible that a dog who eats infrequently or too little will not get enough vitamins. It is important to know if the dog has a picky diet. Some dogs will refuse to consume vegetables and certain meats rich in vitamin, which increases the chance of vitamin deficiencies.
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Ask about your health and medication history
- The veterinarian will inquire about any past problems with the dog, particularly those that involve the digestive system. Absorption of vitamins can be affected by gastrointestinal diseases. Enteritis, for example, can cause damage to the mucosa of the intestine and prevent the absorption fat-soluble vitamin A, D and E, as well as water-soluble vitamin B12. The liver is also involved in vitamin metabolism.
- Attention must also be paid to the use of medication. Certain medications can interfere with vitamin absorption or metabolism. Antibiotics can destroy beneficial bacteria and interfere with vitamin K synthesis. Some antiepileptics drugs also affect vitamin D metabolism.
(II). Clinical Symptom Observation
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Assessing General Physical Condition
- The veterinarian will perform a thorough physical exam on the dog. They will first observe the overall appearance of the dog. The dog may look emaciated if it is lacking in vitamins. A lack of vitamin B1 can cause a loss of appetite and, over time, weight loss. It is important to also observe the condition of the dog's fur. Lacking vitamin E can cause dogs to have dull, dry coats or even hair loss. Vitamin A deficiency can affect the coat and skin. The skin will become dry and rough, while hair follicles may exhibit excessive keratinization.
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Examining Symptoms of Specific System
- Ocular symptoms : Checking vitamin deficiencies is important by checking the eyes. Dogs can develop night blindness if they are deficient in vitamin A. The veterinarian will first observe the dog’s vision when it is dim. In a darkened examination room, for example, you can observe if the dog moves with caution and if it bumps easily into things. Dry eyes can also be a sign of a vitamin A deficiency. The veterinarian will examine the eyes to see if they are congested and swollen, or if there is an increased amount of eye secretions. Conjunctivitis can be caused by a vitamin B2 deficiency, which manifests as red eyes with swelling and increased secretions. These symptoms will be checked by veterinarians to help in the diagnosis.
- Oral Symptoms: Dental problems can be caused by vitamin deficiencies. Oral ulcers, angular stomatitis and vitamin B2 deficiency are all symptoms of vitamin B2 deficiencies. The veterinarian will examine the oral mucosa of your dog to see if there are ulcers. They'll also check for inflammation, chapping, or redness at the corners. Lack of Vitamin C can also cause bleeding or swelling in the gums. The veterinarian will examine the texture and color of the gums, as well as whether or not there are any bleeding points.
- Muscle and bone symptoms For the skeletal systems, lacking vitamin D can cause rickets. This manifests as deformities like curved legs or abnormal thorax. The veterinarian will examine the bone structure and movement of joints to determine if a dog is suffering from rickets. A deficiency in vitamin D can cause osteomalacia. This makes the bones more fragile and susceptible to fractures. Lack of vitamin E can lead to weakness and muscle atrophy. The veterinarian will examine the strength and muscle mass of the dog by asking it to jump and walk.
II.Blood Tests
(I)Blood Biochemical Tests
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Vitamin levels can be measured
- One of the best ways to detect vitamin deficiencies is by directly detecting their concentration in blood. Special detection techniques are available to determine the amount of fat-soluble vitamin A, D and E in blood. When detecting vitamin A in dogs, for example, the range of normal serum concentrations of retinol can be used to determine if a dog has a deficiency. Water-soluble vitamins, such as B Complex and C can be measured in blood. Although the levels fluctuate a lot, they provide an accurate reference. If the vitamin B12 level is lower than normal, this may be a sign of a nutritional deficiency.
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Examining Related Metabolic Indicators
- Veterinarians also monitor blood markers that are related to the metabolism of vitamins. When determining if there is an absence of vitamin D in the blood, it is important to check the blood levels of calcium, phosphorus, and other minerals. Vitamin D is responsible for the intestinal absorption of these elements, so a lack of vitamin D can cause a decrease of blood levels of calcium, phosphorus, and other minerals. The activity of certain enzymes in the vitamin B complex can be used to indirectly indicate a deficiency. Vitamin B1 can be a coenzyme in pyruvate-dehydrogenase. If vitamin B1 is deficient, the enzyme's activity may be reduced. It can help diagnose by detecting indicators like blood pyruvate.
(II)Hematological tests
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Red Blood Cell Indicators
- Anemia can be caused by a deficiency in vitamin B6 or vitamin B12. The veterinarian will test indicators like hemoglobin, red blood cells, and the hematocrit. A blood cell analyser can detect the increase in volume of red cells that occurs with megaloblasticanemia due to vitamin B12 deficiencies. A deficiency in vitamin B6 can also cause anemia, which will have red blood cells with abnormal indicators. This includes a drop in hemoglobin.
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Examining White Blood Cells & Platelets
- Vitamin deficiency does not usually cause abnormal white blood cell and platelet counts. However, it can affect the immune function and change the white blood cell count and function. A lack of vitamin C, for example can reduce the white blood cell activity and lower the immunity of the dog. A vitamin K deficiency can also affect the function of platelets, as vitamin K plays a role in clotting factor synthesis. Vitamin K deficiency can lead to abnormal clotting of the blood. This condition can be diagnosed by checking platelet function and number.
(III). The Detection and Analysis of Vitamin Metabolites
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Examining Metabolites in Water-Soluble Vitamins
- Urine tests are useful for determining whether a vitamin is water-soluble. After metabolism, B-complex vitamins produce certain metabolites. We can detect the level of these metabolites and understand how vitamin B complex is metabolized in dogs by detecting their concentration in urine. In urine, if the level of vitamin B1 is low it could indicate that vitamin B1 deficiency. Vitamin C has products that enter urine following metabolism. These products are useful in determining if the vitamin C intake and metabolism is normal.
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The detection of other related indicators
- Vitamin deficiency can also affect indicators such as the pH of urine. A vitamin D deficiency may alter calcium andphosphorus metabolism, which can then change the pH of urine. It can help diagnose vitamin D deficiency by detecting the pH of urine, its calcium and phosphorus contents, etc.
IV. Examining Tissues and Organs
(I)The evaluation of liver and kidney functions
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The liver function test is a way to determine if you have a healthy liver.
- The liver is a vital organ for the storage, transformation, and metabolism of vitamins. The veterinarian can evaluate the liver's function using liver function indicators, such as alanine-aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate-aminotransferase(AST), or alkaline phosphatase(ALP). When there is an excessive amount of vitamin A in the body, this can cause liver damage, resulting in abnormal liver function markers. The liver can also be affected by liver disease, which may affect vitamin A, D and E metabolism, storage, or absorption.
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Kidney Function Tests
- It is also important to maintain the balance of vitamins in your body. The kidneys are involved in vitamin excretion as well as reabsorption. Veterinarians can determine if the kidneys work properly by detecting kidney function indicators, such as serum creatinine or urea. In calcium-phosphorus metabolism disorders due to a vitamin D deficiency, for example, kidney excretion may be affected. These abnormalities are detectable by checking the kidney function. A vitamin excess can also damage the kidneys. An excess of vitamin C, for example, can lead to calcium oxalate stone formation and negatively affect kidney function.
(II)Muscle and Bone Biopsies If necessary
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Muscle Biopsy
- Muscle biopsy can be done in cases of suspected vitamin E deficiency causing muscle disease or unexplained muscular lesions. The morphology of the muscle fibers, including atrophy, necrosis and inflammation, can be determined by microscopic analysis of the muscle tissue. When vitamin E deficiency is present, the muscle fibers can atrophy or degenerate. Biopsy tissues can reveal these characteristics, which confirm vitamin E deficiencies and guide treatment.
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Bone biopsy
- A bone biopsy is a better way to diagnose abnormalities in the bones. For example, when it's suspected that rickets, osteomalacia, or a vitamin D deficiency may be causing them, it can give a more accurate diagnosis. The degree of mineralization in the bone and the trabecular structure can both be seen on biopsy samples. In bone biopsy samples of puppies suffering from rickets for example, poor mineralization of the bones and sparse bone structure can be observed. This helps determine the diagnosis and guide subsequent treatment.