Effect of five percent dehydration on breath hydrogen concentrations in dogs.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of mild dehydration (5%) on expired breath H2 concentrations in dogs.


METHODS
10 healthy, colony-source dogs.


METHODS
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 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 (AUC) for the dehydrated and nondehydrated 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.


RESULTS
Expired breath H2 concentration of dogs during the dehydration test period was significantly (P < 0.02) greater than that during the nondehydration test period. In addition, flatulence was significantly (P < 0.033) more frequent in dogs during the dehydration period.


CONCLUSIONS
Dehydrated dogs have greater expired breath H2 concentration and produce more flatus after ingestion of a carbohydrate-containing meal. Considered together, these findings suggest that dehydration results in an increase in the net amount of H2 produced in the gastrointestinal tract.


CONCLUSIONS
Care should be taken to assess the hydration status, and to correct hydration deficits of dogs prior to breath H2 testing.
Bissett
S A
SA
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Guilford
W G
WG
Haslett
S J
SJ
Sunvold
G D
GD
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D003681:Dehydration; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D012119:Respiration; D013997:Time Factors
D015415:Biomarkers; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D006859:Hydrogen