Influence of Lactose and Dried Skim Milk upon the Magnesium Deficiency Syndrome in the Dog

Abstract

In the dog low magnesium diets cause widespread calcification of the kidney, heart, blood vessels, larynx, trachea, lungs and smooth muscle of the stomach and uterus and degeneration of skeletal muscles. Dogs consuming diets marginally deficient in magnesium exhibited degenerative changes in the blood vessels. The addition of dried skim milk or MgSO₄ to the diet completely prevented the development of magnesium deficiency. Special stains indicated that magnesium may exert an effect on the integrity of mucopolysaccharides in the body. The relationship between morphological changes produced and the level of dietary magnesium was discussed. Results indicated that the calcification observed in magnesium deficiency in the dog may be a form of dystrophic calcification.