Experimentally induced intestinal obstruction in sheep: paradoxical aciduria in metabolic alkalosis.

Ewes with surgically prepared obstruction of the duodenum were used as a model in the study of ruminant metabolic alkalosis and paradoxical aciduria. Metabolic alkalosis occurred as a result of irreversible chloride loss, presumably into the abomasum and forestomachs. Analysis of data on serum and urinary electrolye concentrations provided limited support for the explanation of paradoxical aciduria in terms of chloride and potassium deficiencies. The accumulation undetermined anions in the serum indicated that the decreased urinary pH was due to the excretion of titratable acid.