REPEATABILITY OF ENERGY-EXPENDITURE MEASUREMENTS IN CLINICALLY NORMALDOGS BY USE OF INDIRECT CALORIMETRY

Energy expenditure (EE) was determined, using an open-flow indirect ca lorimetry system in a group of 20 clinically normal, apparently restin g, client-owned dogs. Five evaluations were performed over an 8-hour p eriod to determine reliability of the method. The intraclass correlati on coefficient was calculated as the ratio of within- and between-subj ect variances, using repeated-measures ANOVA. When only the middle 3 e valuations were included, the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0 .87, indicating good reliability. The first evaluation was higher than the subsequent 4 evaluations for rate of O-2 consumption (Vo(2))/kg a nd Vo2(0.75); (p less than or equal to 0.01), and EE/kg and EE/kg(0.75 ) (P less than or equal to 0.005). The respiratory quotients at the fi rst (P = 0.004) and second (P = 0.l3) evaluations were different from the respiratory quotient at the fourth evaluation. Therefore, the firs t evaluation may not be representative of the actual EE. The mean valu e of at least 3 subsequent evaluations after an adequate adaptation pe riod (5 to 10 minutes) to the equipment will be useful for predicting energy requirements of apparently resting, clinically normal dogs.