Effect of racing on serum sodium and potassium concentrations and acid-base status of Alaskan sled dogs

Abstract

Prolonged running is associated with decreases in serum cation concentration and estimated total exchangeable cation content in dogs, as in human beings and horses. However, the mechanism of the decrease in serum cation concentration likely differs among species. Clinical abnormalities associated with cation depletion were not observed in the dogs in this study.