Diflunisal and blood acid base status in the rabbit

Both diflunisal and acetylsalicylic acid given orally caused respiratory alkalosis and metabolic acidosis. However the fall in standard bicarbonate was much less in diflunisal-treated rabbits and pH in these animals remained elevated for the duration of the experiment. Whilst the severity of the fall in arterialized venous PCO2 was a good indicator of the degree of acetylsalicylic acid intoxication this was not the case for diflunisal as fatalities occurred with trivial changes in PCO2. Diflunisal toxicity was associated with markedly elevated temperatures. This was not observed in acetylsalicylic acid-treated rabbits.