THE ARTERIAL OXYGEN STATUS OF CLINICALLY HEALTHY DOGS AT AN ALTITUDE OF 1250 METERS

The blood-gas, acid-base, and arterial oxygen status of 6 healthy bloo d donor dogs was studied at an altitude of 1250 metres on 2 occasions 3 days apart. The values, and repeatability, of a number of derived va riables that describe oxygen status, including oxygen extraction tensi on (P-K), extractable oxygen concentration (C-X), and oxygen compensat ion factor (Q(X)) were established in clinically healthy dogs. The Oxy gen Status Algorithm computer programme which was developed for use in humans was used to calculate these derived variables. 2,3-Bisphosphog lycerate concentrations were measured spectrophotometrically and compa red with 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate concentrations calculated by the Oxyg en Status Algorithm. This study revealed that there were no significan t differences between the means of any of the variables used to descri be oxygen status on the two occasions. The mean P-X of 38,74 mm Hg, C- X of 4,38 ml/dl, and Q(X) of 1,2 were similar to those reported for ma n.