Urinary delta amino levulinic acid (ALA) in the cow, dog and cat

The level of delta amino levulinic acid (ALA) was determined in the urine of normal cows and dogs, and in the urine of dogs, cows and cats with a variety of diseases. ALA was measured in the urine of two steers and two dogs experimentally poisoned with lead. Experimental lead poisoning was followed by increased excretion of ALA in the urine. Higher levels of ALA were present in the urine of sick dogs and cats than in the urine of sick cows.