Blood Electrolyte Levels in Male and Female Pitbull Dogs

Abstract

The study evaluates blood electrolytes in male and female pit bull dogs to ascertain their level of predominance in extracellular fluid. Blood samples were collected, processed and analyzed for electrolyte levels using standard protocol and absorbance reading taken by spectrophotometric method. Post statistical package for social science (SPSS) analysis indicates that mean serum electrolyte levels of male pit bull dogs were 179.2±66.79 mmol/l for sodium, 3.54±0.55 mmol/l for potassium, 43.72±2.72 mmol/l for bicarbonate, chloride was 116±12.81 mmol/l, phosphorus was 4.26±0.61, calcium and magnesium were 1.74±0.50 and 1.48±0.18 mmol/l respectively. The female pit bulls had a mean serum electrolyte level of 157.4±76.07 mmol/l for sodium, 5.12±1.23 mmol/l for potassium, 75.98±27.98 mmol/l for bicarbonate, chloride and phosphorus are 123.5±17.98 mmol/l and 4.06±0.95 mmol/l, calcium and magnesium were 1.56±0.16 and 1.70±0.39 mmol/l respectively. The result implies that serum concentration of sodium, bicarbonate, chloride, phosphorus and magnesium in both male and female pit bull dogs were significantly (p<0.05) higher than normal electrolyte range, while potassium and calcium levels were within range. The electrolyte imbalance could lead to impaired fluid level and electrolyte osmolarity resulting in neurological consequences such as seizure disorders, hypoparathyroidism, metabolic acidosis and alkalosis.