The effect of water diuresis on electrolyte excretion in unanaesthetized dogs

Abstract

The relation between water loading and electrolyte excretion in dogs fed on a meat diet proved impossible to evaluate owing to the large variability in electrolyte excretion rates in control experiments. In animals fed a synthetic diet of constant and known composition the administration of a water load of 2.5% of body weight caused significant increases in the rate of excretion of Na (P< 0.01) and K (P< 0.05). The chloride excretion rate also increased in the one animal tested. The significance of these results is discussed.