A comparison of health parameters in two different canine populations. Part II: Chemical pathology data

Blood samples were collected on a random basis from 2 canine populations. A selection of serum enzymes, serum electrolytes, serum protein fractions and serum concentrations of iron, creatinine and urea were investigated in a population of kennelled dogs and a population of dogs from a rural township in a developing country. Significant differences between the 2 populations were found for 16 of the 26 constituents evaluated, although differences in variance and distribution made comparisons difficult for some of the tests. The dogs from the rural township had a low mean serum iron, a very low mean serum albumin and a very high mean serum gammaglobulin concentration compared to that of the kennelled dogs. It is postulated that these differences were caused by environmental factors of a biological, physical and social nature.