Metabolic Factors in the Development of Homeothermy in Dogs

Abstract

Dogs from 1 to 25 days of age were exposed to air temperatures of 5, 23 and 30°C and their oxygen consumption measured in a closed calorimeter. Animals 1–5 days old had a rise of 20–25% in metabolic rate, but rectal temperature fell, when they were exposed to 5 or 23°C. At 11–21 days of age dogs exposed to 5°C had a rise of about 75% in metabolic rate, but rectal temperature fell several degrees in 1 hour. In dogs 21–25 days of age metabolic rate increased about 75% at air temperatures of 5°C and rectal temperature fell only about 1°C. Under the same conditions a trained adult dog had a rise of 80% in metabolic rate, and no fall in rectal temperature. Since heat production in 2- to 3-week-old dogs was increased to about the same extent as in the adult on cold exposure, it was assumed that heat conservation lagged behind heat production in the development of homeothermy.