Factor II Deficiency in Dogs

Abstract

Adult dogs fed a synthetic casein diet, supplemented with thiamin chloride, riboflavin, nicotinic acid, and crystalline factor I (vitamin B₆), and apparently deficient only in a factor or factors contained in a purified liver extract other than nicotinic acid, developed a deficiency state characterized by loss of appetite, marked loss of weight, intermittent diarrhea, moderate anemia, and death. Short-haired dogs showed ulcerations of the skin while long- or wire-haired dogs did not. It was not determined whether the deficiency state described is due to lack of factor II (chick antidermatitis factor) alone or to the lack of this and other as yet unisolated components of the vitamin B complex.