Comparative Studies of the Feeding of Fluorides as They Occur in Purified Bone Meal Powder, Defluorinated Phosphate and Sodium Fluoride, in Dogs

Abstract

Studies on 21 litters of dogs have revealed there was no significant alteration in serum Ca and P, Hb, blood coagulation time, and growth of dogs fed fluorine as it occurs in purified bone meal powder, defluorinated phosphate, and NaF fluoride at a level of 5 mg./kg. of body wt. daily, up to a period of 1 yr. Puppies fed 5 rng. of fluorine as Na/kg. of body wt. daily during the period of calcification of their teeth developed dental fluorosis and stored excessive fluorine in their bones, while other puppies fed the same level of fluorine as it occurs in purified bone meal powder and defluorinated phosphate did not develop dental fluorosis or store excessive fluorine in their bones. Bone development appeared normal in all groups as revealed by breaking-strength tests, roentgenograms, and histological studies. The teeth of 20 dogs fed 5 mg. of fluorine as bone meal powder/kg. of body wt. and 11 dogs fed defluorinated phosphate at the same level fluorine intake were superior to the teeth of dogs fed a similar level of fluorine as NaF or the control ration supplemented with the same level of Ca and P as found in bone meal powder or defluorinated phosphate.