Effect of five percent dehydration on breath hydrogen concentrations in dogs
Bissett, S.A.; Guilford, W.G.; Haslett, S.J.; Sunvold, G.D.
American Journal of Veterinary Research 59(3): 245-249
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9645 PMID: 9522937 Document Number: 487755
Expired breath samples were collected at baseline, and every 90 minutes for 18 hours after ingestion of a test meal (commercial dog food and kibbled wheat) in 10 fully hydrated dogs and in the same dogs when they had lost 5% of their body weight after food and water deprivation. The areas under the breath H2 concentration versus time curves for the dehydrated and non-dehydrated states were compared, using a two-stage, balanced, crossover, repeated measures technique. The number of breath samples considered to be contaminated by flatus were compared by use of a one-sided sign test. Expired breath H2 concentration of dogs during the dehydration test period was significantly greater than that during the non-dehydration test period. In addition, flatulence was significantly more frequent in dogs during the dehydration period. It is concluded that dehydration results in an increase in the net amount of H2 produced in the gastrointestinal tract. Care should be taken to assess the hydration status, and to correct hydration deficits of dogs before breath H2 testing.