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Pantothenic acid (B5) in dog and cat diets

A short guide to the role of Pantothenic acid (B5) in dog and cat nutrition.

Pantothenic acid (B5)

It belongs to the water-soluble vitamins and builds coenzyme A (CoA) — one of the most important cofactors of the entire metabolism. Without it, the burning of fats and carbohydrates (beta-oxidation, Krebs cycle), the production of steroid hormones, red blood cells or neurotransmitters is impossible [1]. It also supports the health of the skin, coat and proper hair pigmentation. It is sensitive to high temperature. The name comes from the Greek pantos — "everywhere", which well reflects its prevalence: B5 is literally in every animal tissue.

Where it's found: Brewer's yeast, liver, kidneys, hearts, egg yolks and oily fish. Even muscle meat alone provides decent amounts [5].

Deficiency: Practically does not occur with a diet containing any offal — it has only been induced under laboratory conditions, on a special diet completely devoid of B5 [2] [3]. It then manifests as premature greying, hair loss, skin inflammation, fatty liver as well as intestinal and neurological disorders. In the cat the requirement is higher than in the dog, because its CoA "works harder" burning protein and fat [1].

Excess: Because it is a water-soluble vitamin, its excess is efficiently excreted in the urine. With a massive overdose of synthetics, transient diarrhoea may occur [4].

What to watch for

If the calculator shows low B5 despite the presence of offal, the problem almost always lies in incomplete product data, not in a real deficiency. B5 does not require supplementation — with offal and heart in the diet it is covered with a surplus. It is an ingredient from the bottom of the priority list: first take care of calcium, phosphorus, zinc, vitamin D and omega-3.

Sources

  1. National Research Council (2006). Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats. National Academies Press. https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10668/nutrient-requirements-of-dogs-and-cats
  2. Silber RH (1944). Studies of Pantothenic Acid Deficiency in Dogs. Journal of Nutrition 27(5):425-433. https://academic.oup.com/jn/article-abstract/27/5/425/4725178
  3. Schaefer AE, McKibbin JM, Elvehjem CA (1942). Pantothenic Acid Deficiency Studies in Dogs. Journal of Biological Chemistry 143:321-330. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022316623134237
  4. National Research Council (1987). Vitamin Tolerance of Animals — Chapter 11: Pantothenic Acid. https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/949/chapter/13
  5. Merck Veterinary Manual. Nutritional Requirements of Small Animals. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/management-and-nutrition/nutrition-small-animals/nutritional-requirements-of-small-animals