NUTRITIONAL RESTRICTION AND ACID-BASE-BALANCE IN WHITE-TAILED DEER

We examined the effect of progressive nutritional restriction on acid- base balance in seven captive, adult white-tailed deer (Odocoileus vir ginianus) from 4 February to 5 May 1988 in north central Minnesota (US A). Metabolic acidosis was indicated by low mean blood pH (7.25 to 7.3 3) in deer throughout the study. Mean urinary pH values declined (P = 0.020) from a mean (+/-SE) baseline of 8.3 +/- 0.1 to 6.7 +/- 0.3 as r estriction progressed. Acidemia and aciduria were associated with sign ificant variations in mean blood CO2 (P = 0.006) and pO(2) (P = 0.032) , serum potassium (P = 0.004) concentrations, and with a significant ( P = 0.104) handling date x group interaction in urinary potassium: cre atinine values. Mean bicarbonate: carbonic acid ratios were consistent ly below 20:1 during nutritional restriction. Mean packed cell volume increased (P = 0.019) and serum total protein decreased (P = 0.001); t hus there was evidence for progressive dehydration and net protein cat abolism, respectively. Blood pCO(2), serum sodium, and urinary sodium: creatinine were stable throughout the study. We propose that acidosis and aciduria are metabolic complications associated with nutritional r estriction of white-tailed deer.