THE UREA CLEARANCE TEST IN NORMAL DOGS

Abstract

The urea clearance test was done according to the method of Moller, McIntosh and Van Slyke on 10 normal female dogs. The standard urea clearance varied according to the size of the dog so that it was not possible to arrive at a comparable figure for normal animals of varying sizes. However, when the standard clearance of each animal was divided by the animal''s surface area, thus giving the results in cc. of blood cleared per unit of body surface, the standard clearance for normal dogs was found to be 99.46 cc. per sq. m. with a deviation of 21.9. In 8 of the 10 dogs the kidneys were weighed. The standard clearance per 100 gm. of kidney substance averaged 76.88 cc. Seven of these had had surface area determinations made. The 8th dog was not measured and no surface area estimation could be made. In 3 of the 7 dogs in which both kidney weight and surface area were determined, the kidney weight in grams paralleled the square meters of body surface.