Canine physiological parameters pre and post agility competition at Bogotá, Colombia

Abstract

The study was carried out at Bogotá city, at a medium altitude of 2600 mosl, with temperature average of 14°C. A sampling was made in Polideportivo el Salitre, and another one in the Central Park of Modelia. The objective was to scan and standarize the physiological changes that appear in canine athletes, as response to the exercise made in Agility sport. Fifteen canine females of different races, of the schools of Atalanta and X-treme Dog Ltda were sampled. The control was obtained from individuals in rest, previous to the exercise, immediately to their arrival to the investigation area, where the tracks were located, and that, included the measure of rectal temperature, pulse, respiratory frequency and of arterial blood (femoral artery). The arterial sample was processed with portable sanguineous analyzer, obtaining hematocrite, hemoglobine, sodium, potassium, chloride, ureic nitrogen (BUN), glucose, sanguineous lactate, pH, carbon dioxide pressure (PCO2), oxigen pressure (PO2), carbon dioxide tension, (TCO2), bicarbonate, oxygen saturation (SO2), excess of base (BE), anion gap and osmolality. Then the training began so, that it simulated a real competition, where each canine passed four times by the track, and at the end the animals were analized, following the procedure for control samples. The results were compared pre and post exercise, appearing: increase for Temperature, respiratory Frequency, pulse, pH, Hematocrite, Hemoglobine, Sodium, Chloride and Osmolality (P<001); increase for Potassium, Lactate and Glucose (P<0.01); rise for PO2, SO2 and BUN (P<0.05); reduction for PCO2, TCO2, BE and Anion gap (P< 001). In summary, canines at Bogotá, had evidence of hyperthermia, tachycardia, hypocapnia, respiratory alkalosis accompanied with a compensatory metabolic acidosis and hemoconcentration by a dehydration classified as hyperosmotic, after an Agility competition.