Time course of serum cobalamin, folate, and total iron binding capacity concentrations in pregnant bitches and association with hematological variables and survival

Background Hypocobalaminemia, hypofolatemia and iron deficiency are associated with pregnancy‐related anemia (PRA) and neonatal survival (NS) in women. Similar associations have not been investigated in pregnant bitches. Objectives To investigate time course and associations of serum cobalamin, folate and iron status indicators with hematological variables and NS in pregnant bitches. Animals Forty‐eight pregnant bitches. Methods A prospective cohort study. Pregnancy was confirmed by abdominal ultrasonography twice during mid‐ and late pregnancy, concurrently with blood sampling. Associations among pregnancy stage, NS and laboratory variables were assessed by generalized estimating equations. Results Compared with midpregnancy, serum cobalamin (adjusted mean [95% confidence interval, CI]) decreased at late pregnancy (430 pg/mL [394‐466] versus 330 pg/mL [303‐357], respectively; P