sodium-bicarbonate and Swine-Diseases

Maintenance of gastric pH above 4.0 aids the prevention of bile acid-mediated ulcerative damage to the pars esophageal tissue in pigs. One means of doing so is the addition of buffering compounds, such as sodium bicarbonate, to the water supply; however, any potential physiological effect of buffer consumption has yet to be determined. Experiment 1 tested the acute effects of buffer addition to the water supply on systemic acid-base and electrolyte balance in swine (BW 40.7 +/- 3.0 kg). Consumption of water calculated to a 200 mOsm solution with sodium bicarbonate for 24 h increased (P < 0.05) blood Na+, HCO3(-), and pCO2, although these effects were all within physiologically tolerable levels. Urine pH and Na+ excretion increased (P < 0.001) following the consumption of NaHCO3, with Na+ concentration almost threefold higher in treated pigs compared with controls. Experiment 2 determined the chronic systemic effects of buffer consumption by measuring blood and urine variables, with pigs consuming NaHCO3-treated water throughout. Water consumption increased (P < 0.001) during buffer consumption, although intake levels remained within normal ranges. Blood pH levels were not affected by long-term consumption of dietary buffer; however, blood HCO3(-) (P < 0.05), Na+, and pCO2 (P < 0.01) increased. Urine pH and urine Na+ concentration increased (P < 0.01) in buffer-treated compared with control animals. Results indicate that sodium bicarbonate can safely be added to the water supply for pigs, with no clinically relevant alterations in acid-base balance because the animals readily compensate for buffer intake.

Topics: Acid-Base Equilibrium; Adaptation, Physiological; Animals; Anti-Ulcer Agents; Drinking; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Male; Random Allocation; Sodium; Sodium Bicarbonate; Stomach; Stomach Ulcer; Swine; Swine Diseases

Previous attempts at eliminating the problem of PSE pork by genetic selection or rapid postmortem cooling have been only partially successful. A new approach, namely, postmortem injection of sodium bicarbonate (SBC), was tested on halothane-positive gilts. Sixteen pigs were used to establish a suitable SBC concentration. At approximately 15 min after death, the longissimus of one side of the carcass was injected with 10% (by weight) of .2 to .4 M SBC solutions containing .7% NaCl (wt/vol). All concentrations resulted in a higher ultimate pH, improved muscle color, and reduced drip loss. In a second experiment, with 23 pigs, .3 M SBC was injected into the longissimus and the biceps femoris at either 15 min or 24 h after death and with or without inclusion of .7% NaCl (wt/vol). Compared with controls, the 15-min SBC + NaCl injected samples had darker color (L* of 47 vs 53 in controls), higher ultimate pH (5.6 vs 5.3), lower drip loss (5% vs 10%), and increased protein solubility (140 vs 115 mg/g). Injection at 24 h reduced drip loss (from 10% to 5.7%) but did not correct the color defect. The SBC alone and SBC + NaCl treatments had essentially the same effects in reducing drip loss, increasing ultimate pH, and improving color; but the SBC-NaCl injected samples had improved juiciness and flavor compared with SBC. Early postmortem sodium bicarbonate injection seems to prevent the development of PSE pork when injected into carcasses of halothane-sensitive pigs.

Topics: Animals; Body Temperature; Female; Halothane; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Malignant Hyperthermia; Meat; Muscle, Skeletal; Postmortem Changes; Sodium Bicarbonate; Sodium Chloride; Swine; Swine Diseases

An 11-month-old female Vietnamese pot-bellied pig was examined for severe dehydration and neurologic signs including disorientation, ataxia, blindness, and involuntary twitching of the muscles of the neck and head. Biochemical analyses of serum revealed hypernatremia, hyperchloremia, hyperkalemia, azotemia, hyperphosphatemia, hyperalbuminemia, and high activities of aspartate transaminase and creatine kinase. A diagnosis of salt toxicosis/water deprivation was made. Medical management consisted of intravenous administration of a high-sodium crystalloid solution, anti-inflammatory drugs, and other supportive care. Sodium concentration of fluids administered intravenously was adjusted to be slightly less than the pig's serum sodium concentration so that the serum sodium concentration was reduced gradually over 48 hours. Resolution of clinical signs was rapid and the pig was discharged after 8 days of hospitalization. Fourteen days after the initial examination, the pig appeared healthy except for visual deficits. Historically, prognosis with conventional treatment of salt toxicosis/water deprivation is poor; however, this alternative approach to treating this condition appears promising.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Brain Edema; Dehydration; Dexamethasone; Dimethyl Sulfoxide; Drug Combinations; Female; Fluid Therapy; Hypernatremia; Infusions, Intravenous; Rehydration Solutions; Sodium; Sodium Bicarbonate; Sodium Chloride; Swine; Swine Diseases; Swine, Miniature; Water Deprivation

An inexpensive therapeutic concept compared to the dantrolene-therapy to counter the malignant hyperthermia (MH) is to be discussed, using a case-study from swine-anaesthesia. Hyperventilating the animals (with O2), administering metamizol, beta-blocker, bicarbonate and sufficiently cooling the patient can, if the symptoms are recognized early enough, arrest the hypermetabolic cascade in its track. All the animals that were treated according to this scheme survived the (MH) crisis without any lasting post operative damage.

Topics: Animals; Dipyrone; Female; Hypothermia, Induced; Malignant Hyperthermia; Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; Pindolol; Sodium Bicarbonate; Swine; Swine Diseases

An experiment was conducted with growing-finishing pigs to evaluate the interactive effects of dietary sodium bicarbonate (1%) and excess dietary Cu (250 mg/kg diet) on growth, liver Cu accumulation and incidence of gastric ulceration. A 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments was used and each treatment was replicated four (Trial 1) or three (Trial 2) times with four pigs per replicate. Initial weight of the pigs was 57 (Trial 1) and 32 kg (Trial 2). Growth rate and efficiency of feed utilization were not affected (P > .10) by treatment. Sodium bicarbonate increased (P < .06) the incidence of gastric ulceration and decreased (P < .01) dressing percentage. Dietary Cu (P < .01) increased liver Cu concentration but did not affect (P > .10) the incidence of gastric ulceration.

Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Bicarbonates; Copper; Growth; Incidence; Liver; Sodium; Sodium Bicarbonate; Stomach Ulcer; Swine; Swine Diseases

Two trials were conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary replacement of .30% sodium chloride (NaCl) with a sodium-equivalent amount of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) on leg weakness in swine. Three lines of Duroc swine established by six generations of divergent selection for front leg structure were used. In the first trial, a total of 80 low-line (increased leg weakness), 75 high-line (decreased leg weakness), 80 control-line (intermediate leg weakness) and 80 high x low pigs were used. Pigs were assigned within litter to an experimental or control diet and tested from approximately 37 to 104 kg live weight. The experimental diet contained .43% NaHCO3, replacing .30% NaCl in the control diet. Pigs had ad libitum access to feed. In the second trial, 48 high- and 48 low-line pigs were fed the same diets from 29 to 104 kg. At the completion of each trial, pigs were scored for various leg traits. The model used for statistical analyses included the effects of replicate, genetic line, dietary treatment and the dietary treatment x genetic line interaction. Trials were analyzed separately. Results indicated that there was no significant improvement in clinical signs of leg weakness due to dietary supplementation with NaHCO3 for front leg structure and movement, rear leg movement or rear toe size. Rear hock angle was improved in Trial 1 (P less than .05) but was reduced in Trial 2 (P less than .10).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Bicarbonates; Diet; Extremities; Female; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Lameness, Animal; Male; Random Allocation; Sodium; Sodium Bicarbonate; Swine; Swine Diseases

T-2 toxin, a trichothecene mycotoxin suspected of being used as a chemical warfare agent, was administered iv to swine at a dose of 3.6 mg/kg body weight (iv LD50 approximately 1.2 mg/kg). Four different therapeutic protocols were assessed for their efficacy in the treatment of the resultant acute T-2 toxicosis syndrome. One therapeutic protocol included the combined use of metoclopramide, activated charcoal, magnesium sulfate, dexamethasone sodium phosphate, sodium bicarbonate and normal saline. The other 3 protocols utilized the same agents less 1 of the following: the combination of activated charcoal and magnesium sulfate, sodium bicarbonate, or normal saline. All 4 treatment groups showed improved survival times compared to a positive T-2 control group. Within the limits of the study, it would appear that the removal of activated charcoal and magnesium sulfate was most detrimental to the T-2 toxin-dosed swine.

Topics: Animals; Bicarbonates; Charcoal; Dexamethasone; Female; Lethal Dose 50; Magnesium Sulfate; Metoclopramide; Mushroom Poisoning; Sesquiterpenes; Sodium; Sodium Bicarbonate; Swine; Swine Diseases; T-2 Toxin; Time Factors

The effect of replacing dietary sodium chloride by sodium bicarbonate on leg weakness, osteochondrosis and growth in young fattening pigs was studied in two experiments using 104 and 126 animals. The experimental pigs were fed 0.43% dietary sodium bicarbonate, which replaced the sodium chloride (0.30%), was present in the diets of the control groups. It was found that the clinical symptoms of leg weakness could be improved significantly in the experimental group which received bicarbonate. No positive effects on osteochondrosis, however, could be shown. The treated animals even tended to have more severe osteochondral lesions. Reasons for the negative tendency are discussed. Daily weight gain and food conversion were not influenced by the experimental bicarbonate diet excluding a chloride deficiency. Differences in carcass grading were not significant, although barrows fed the NaHCO3-containing diet tended to score better, while the carcass quality of the experimental gilts was slightly less in comparison to the control animals.

Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Bicarbonates; Body Weight; Female; Lameness, Animal; Male; Osteochondritis; Sodium; Sodium Bicarbonate; Sodium Chloride; Swine; Swine Diseases