Evaluating Vitamin D Supplementation as an Adjunct Therapy in Dogs with Cancer

Unlike humans, dogs make insignificant amounts of vitamin D from sun exposure and must acquire vitamin D from their food for optimal health. The most common oral vitamin D supplement, vitamin D3, affects vitamin D levels too slowly and unpredictably to benefit dogs with cancer. A new supplement is needed if vitamin D therapy is to be effective in dogs with cancer. One potential candidate is a form of vitamin D called calcidiol.

In this three-tiered study, researchers will:

• Determine the amount of calcidiol in commercial dog food products
• Investigate if calcidiol is more effective at increasing vitamin D levels in dogs than the
commonly used oral vitamin D3
• Look for vitamin D receptors in cancerous canine tissue

Findings may support the use of vitamin D supplementation to help treat dogs with cancers.