concepts of physiological stress to understand is suppression of the immune system.


The immune reaction consumes considerable quantities of metabolic reserves. Additionally, aberrant reactions such as allergic reactions can be harmful and should be suppressed. Vitamin C has been shown to modify the immune response, *Pardue


(1983). Vitamin C has also been shown to improve reproductive efficiency.


In infectious diseases the food uptake is often reduced and the concentration of glu- cose in the blood plasma drops. Under these circumstances the extent of synthesis of vitamin C in the liver of mammals drops. At the same time the consumption of vitamin C increases because of the increase in secretion of glucocorticosteroids. Various investi- gations on domestic animals suffering from certain infections have shown a reduction in


the content of vitamin C in the blood plasma or serum.


In dogs suffering from distemper, administration of vitamin C at high levels for three days or longer usually results in improvement in the clinical condition and rapid recov- ery, especially if this treatment is used at an early stage (*Leveque, 1969). As a rule, an optimal supply level can be achieved by oral administration of 300 to 500mg vitamin C daily. Studies conducted by *Brehm (1964) indicate insufficient synthesis of vitamin C


in dogs suffering from various diseases.


These studies indicate that vitamin C levels of less than 0.4 mg/dl in a dog's blood plas- ma are evidence of insufficient synthesis. Supplementary administration of vitamin C is also advisable after surgery because it promotes the formation of collagen by the fibro- blasts, osteoblasts and osteocytes. Topical administration of vitamin C into the region of


bone fractures stimulates the healing process (*Pataky et al., 1963).


Parasitic infestation of the liver leads to a reduction in the synthesis of vitamin C which, in mammals, takes place in this organ.


Many investigations have shown that in diseases of domestic animals displaying higher than normal temperature and reduced food uptake, the concentration of vitamin C in the blood plasma drops considerably for some time. In view of the great importance of vitamin C for immune defense and for regeneration of tissue, administration of vitamin C in daily dosages of 200 to 300mg for small animals and of 2 to 3g for large animals is


advisable.


Scury-like symptoms in dogs are likely to be due to congenital inability to synthesise vita- min C. In such cases the concentration of vitamin C in the blood plasma is below 0.1mg/dl.


(Continued )


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