AUTHOR=Schneider Sabrina , Hartmann Katrin , Dörfelt René 

TITLE=Influence of intravenous 10% amino acids infusion on serum albumin concentration in hypoalbuminemic dogs

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1198534

DOI=10.3389/fvets.2023.1198534

ISSN=2297-1769

ABSTRACT=Objective: To evaluate the effect of parenteral amino acid application in hospitalized hypoalbuminemic dogs. 
Material and Methods: Medical records of client-owned hypoalbuminemic dogs (albumin ≤25 g/l) were analyzed. Dogs receiving amino acids for only 1 – 2 days, receiving transfusions or surgery, or <6 months of age were excluded. Dogs were grouped as those receiving intravenous amino acids (AA, 80 dogs) over 3 days and longer, and those without additional amino acid treatment (CON, 78 dogs). Duration of hospitalization, albumin and total protein concentrations were compared between groups by Mann-Whitney U test. Course of albumin and total protein concentration was evaluated by Friedman test and Dunn´s multiple comparison test.  Significance was set to p ≤0.05.
Results: Dogs in group AA received 10% amino acid solution intravenously over median 4 days (3 – 11 days). No significant differences regarding survival and adverse effects were observed between groups. Dogs of group AA had significantly longer duration of hospitalization (median 8 days; 3 – 33 days) compared to group CON dogs (median 6 days, 3 – 24 days; p <0.001). Initial albumin concentration was lower in group AA compared to CON (p <0.001). This difference was no longer present on day 2 (p = 0.134). 
Conclusions and clinical relevance: Intravenous application of 10% amino acid solution in hypoalbuminemic dogs can improve albumin concentration after 2 days, but does not influence outcome.