You should seek the advice of your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your pet.

Interpretation of laboratory results is complex if the sample has been collected from an animal that is on treatment with Vitamin C.

Vitamin supplements are widely available and given by owners to their pets. Pets being supplemented with Vitamin C may have altered laboratory values including the following :

• Blood Chemistry
  • Decreased blood cholesterol
  • Decreased blood glucose concentrations
• Urinalysis
  • Increased urinary glucose concentrations (reported with Clinitest)
  • Decreased urinary glucose concentrations (reported with Clinistix)
  • Decreased haemoglobinuria
  • Decreased urine nitrite concentrations
  • Decreased urine white blood cell count
  • Decreased urine pH 

During routine history taking owners should be asked if their pet is given vitamin supplements and these effects should be borne in mind when interpreting laboratory results in patients that are given Vitamin C supplements.

Last updated : January 2016