Hypoglycemic Effect of High Environmental Temperature on Dogs

Abstract

Exposure of unanesthetized dogs to high environmental temperature (120°F) and low humidity (< 20%) for 4 hours with no water available for drinking, results in a fall in both whole blood and plasma glucose concentration in spite of the dehydration which also occurs. In one group of dogs so tested the whole blood glucose fell 22%, in another group it fell 16%. The average dehydration was –6% body weight. One would expect such a concomitant dehydration to cause an increase in glucose concentration, much as has been reported in man. Under the experimental conditions imposed, a hypoglycemia resulted in dogs. The hypoglycemia is apparently associated with high temperature for when the animals were exposed to heat the glucose fell and the rectal temperature increased, when they were removed from heat and allowed to recover, the rectal temperature fell and the glucose returned towards normal. The fall in glucose is metabolic in nature for no evidence of any glycosuria was found.