Folic acid: Essential vitamin for dogs and cats

Folic acid is a small but important part of a properly fortified pet diet.

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Folic acid is part of a larger group of “Folacin” compounds that have folic acid activity. It is a complex three-part molecule. | Wikipedia
Folic acid is part of a larger group of “Folacin” compounds that have folic acid activity. It is a complex three-part molecule. | Wikipedia

We hear about folic acid periodically as an important element in neonatal vitamins for its role in prevention of neural tube defects during pregnancy and fetal development, but beyond that, it doesn’t hit the news-wire. For our pets, we seldom, if ever, hear of a disease associated with its imbalance, and it isn’t on any of the pet food critic’s list—good or bad. Maybe because it is usually at the end of the ingredient list, but that does not mean it isn’t important. Folic acid is an essential vitamin for dogs and cats. The needed level is quite small, one of the three lowest among the vitamins: the recommended allowance for all dogs is 0.270 mg/kg and for cats is 0.750 mg/kg based on a 4,000 kcal diet (NRC, 2006).

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