Studies on inorganic salt metabolism. II. The effect of the sudden alteration of the acid-base balance of the diet on dogs.

Abstract

During the course of a study on inorganic salt metabolism in dogs which has been in progress in this laboratory for the past 4 years, it has frequently been observed that convulsions, usually followed by death, occur in the experimental animals after the sudden alteration of the acid-base balance of the diet. The convulsions appear to result from an increase in the acid or alkali content of the diet beyond the limit of tolerance of the animal as well as after the sudden reversal of the dietary reaction. The nutritive condition of the dogs has been excellent, there having been no known dietary fault other than a disproportion of its acid-base balance. The onset of the symptoms has been sudden, the attacks, which are characterized by marked twitching, clonic contractions of the limbs, rapid respiration, gasping for breath and excessive salivation, are of short duration, as a rule. The animals recover quickly and appear to be hungry, eating with relish any food that may be available. From the standpoint of our studies, no significance was at first attached to these observations, the condition being attributed to other causes. It occurred, however, with such frequency, and the convulsive attacks were so similar in the various animals affected, that it seemed there must be some common underlying cause. In order to determine whether or not a disturbance in the acid-base balance of the diet was an etiological factor in producing this condition the following experiment was planned :

Five large adult dogs, 4 females and 1 male, ranging in age from 3 to 8 years, and 2 puppies, 5 months of age were used. All of the animals appeared to be in excellent physical condition.