Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Low chloride metabolic alkalosis in ICU dogs and cats
By Chih, Annie et al.Ā·Published in Journal of veterinary emergency and critical care (San Antonio, Tex. : 2001)Ā·2018Ā·Emergency and Critical Care ServiceĀ·View original on PubMed ā
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Original publication title: Incidence of hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis in dogs and cats with and without nasogastric tubes over a period of up to 36 hours in the intensive care unit.
Plain-English summary
A group of 49 dogs and 16 cats in an intensive care unit were monitored to see if using a nasogastric tube (NGT) for feeding would lead to a condition called hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis (HCMA), which can cause imbalances in blood chemistry. The pets had their blood tested every 12 hours, and none developed HCMA during the study. The results showed that while blood pH levels increased over time in pets with the NGT, there were no significant differences in blood chemistry between those with and without the tube. Overall, using an NGT for up to 36 hours did not harm the pets in this small group.
People also search for: dog ICU care nasogastric tube Ā· cat blood pH levels Ā· hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis in pets
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence of hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis (HCMA) in dogs and cats in the ICU that had intermittent nasogastric tube (NGT) aspiration for up to 36 hours. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study (December 2013 to October 2014). SETTING: Privately owned emergency and referral teaching hospital. ANIMALS: Forty-nine client-owned dogs and 16 client-owned cats. INTERVENTIONS: Patients wherein NGT placement was recommended and client consent was obtained were included in the interventional group. Those with an NGT placed (NGT group) had the NGT aspirated every 4 hours. Patients for whom placement of a NGT was declined by the owner served as a reference group (NoNGT). Venous blood gas and electrolyte values were obtained every 12 hours. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Thirty-five dogs and cats had an NGT placed. Thirty dogs and cats did not have an NGT placed. The serum venous blood gas and electrolyte changes were compared over time within the NGT group and between the NGT and NoNGT groups. No cases developed HCMA. In the NGT group, blood pH increased over time. There was no significant difference between the NGT and the NoNGT group in the average value of pH, HCO, base excess, chloride, or corrected chloride. Serum venous blood gas, chloride, and corrected chloride changes were not associated with the volumes of gastric fluid aspirated over time. CONCLUSIONS: In this small population of dogs and cats, intermittent NGT aspiration was not associated with the development of HCMA over a period of up to 36 hours after NGT placement.
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Search related cases āOriginal publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29727526/