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. 2025 Jul-Aug;39(4):e70147.
doi: 10.1111/jvim.70147.

Treatment of Hypovitaminosis D With Cholecalciferol in Dogs With Protein-Losing Enteropathies: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Trial

Sara A Jablonski  1 , Sarah B Shropshire  2 , Victoria E Watson  3 , Alison C Manchester  2 , Harry Cridge  1 , Elizabeth M Lennon  4 , M Katherine Tolbert  5
Affiliations

Treatment of Hypovitaminosis D With Cholecalciferol in Dogs With Protein-Losing Enteropathies: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Trial

Sara A Jablonski et al. J Vet Intern Med. 2025 Jul-Aug.

Erratum in

Abstract

Background: The effects of vitamin D supplementation are unknown in dogs with protein-losing enteropathy (PLE).

Objective: To evaluate the safety, efficacy, and clinical benefit of orally administered cholecalciferol in dogs with PLE and decreased serum concentrations of 25OHD.

Animals: Twenty-eight dogs with PLE, decreased 25OHD, and serum ionized calcium (iCa) > 1.0 mmol/L (n = 15 treated with cholecalciferol, n = 13 treated with placebo).

Methods: Prospective, double-blinded, randomized, controlled trial. Dogs randomized to receive 400 IU/kg cholecalciferol or placebo PO daily along with standard therapy for 6 weeks. Clinical and biochemical variables were measured at baseline (T0) and monitored at 2 (T1), 4 (T2), and 6 (T3) weeks postmedication initiation. Clinical and biochemical variables were also measured 6 weeks following discontinuation of study medication (T4). Variables were compared in dogs with PLE receiving cholecalciferol versus placebo at T0-T4 using Student's t test or Mann-Whitney U tests and a mixed-effects model. Correlations between 25OHD and clinical and biochemical variables were also performed.

Results: Dogs with PLE treated with cholecalciferol had higher 25OHD concentrations at T2 compared to dogs treated with placebo (225 nmol/L, range 72-434 vs. 80 nmol/L, range 31-254 nmol/L; p = 0.004). Clinical and biochemical variables did not otherwise differ between dogs with PLE treated with cholecalciferol versus placebo at T0-T4. Serum albumin correlated with 25OHD at T0-T3(p < 0.005 for all comparisons). Hypervitaminosis D without ionized hypercalcemia occurred in five dogs (18%).

Conclusions: While PLE dogs treated with cholecalciferol had higher 25OHD concentrations at study timepoints, a clinical benefit of supplementation was not observed.

Keywords: 25OHD; canine; cholecalciferol; protein‐losing enteropathy; vitamin D.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Flow diagram detailing case assessment, enrollment, follow‐up, and removal. C: cholecalciferol group; GI: gastrointestinal; P: placebo group; T1: 2 weeks postinitiation of study drug; T2: 4 weeks postinitiation of study drug; T3: 6 weeks postinitiation of study drug; T4: 6 weeks post‐T3 and discontinuation of study drug.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Scatter dot plot showing serum 25OHD concentrations in dogs with PLE receiving cholecalciferol versus placebo from T0 (baseline) to T4 (completion of study). Median and range shown. 25OHD: 25‐hydroxyvitamin‐D. p < 0.005 considered significant.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Scatter dot plot showing CCECAI scores in dogs with PLE receiving cholecalciferol versus placebo from T0 (baseline) to T4 (completion of study). Median and range shown. CCECAI: Canine chronic enteropathy activity index. All p > 0.05.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Scatter dot plot showing serum albumin concentrations in dogs with PLE receiving cholecalciferol versus placebo from T0 (baseline) to T4 (completion of study). Median and range shown. All p > 0.05.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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