Effect of water restriction on renal function in ostriches (Struthio camelus).
The production of a white urine by ostriches can be indicative of illness or water deprivation. A metabolic renal study was carried out by dehydrating young, healthy ostriches for 2 days, the period during which urine was still excreted. It was found that the normally copious colourless urine changed to a thick, white excretion after 2 days dehydration and no fluid was excreted after 3 days. From the blood and urine analyses it is concluded that the ostrich conserves body water by an excellent renal concentrating mechanism which excretes urates. This excretion is a useful sign to the fanner that for some reason the animals are not drinking, be it due to a lack of drinking water or to illness.
Levy
A
A
Faculty of Health Sciences, Beersheva, Israel.
Perelman
B
B
Grevenbroek
M V
MV
Creveld
C V
CV
Agbaria
R
R
Yagil
R
R