Some effects of water deprivation on dorcas gazelle (Gazella dorcas) in the Sudan

1. 1. The effects of dehydration for 10 days and subsequent rehydration for 2 days on some physiological and biochemical parameters were studied in the Dorcas gazelle. 2. 2. At the end of the 10 days of dehydration, feed intake and body weight were decreased by 42 and 29% of the control values, respectively. Rehydration restored most of the loss in feed intake and body weight. 3. 3. Dehydration decreased the water content in the faeces of the gazelles by 41%. Rehydration restored 36% of the lost faecal water. Urine volume in dehydrated animals decreased by 66%, an effect which was readily reversed by rehydration. 4. 4. Blood haemoglobin of dehydrated gazelles decreased by 22% but this effect was not reversed by rehydration for 2 days. 5. 5. Dehydration for 10 days decreased the concentration of serum glucose by 34% and increased that of urea and albumin by 34 and 18%, respectively. Dehydration for 2 days reversed these effects completely. 6. 6. The serum concentrations of sodium, potassium and chloride were increased by dehydration by 23, 44 and 18% respectively. After 2 days of rehydration the values returned to normal. 7. 7. No change in the heart rate, pulse or temperature was found during the dehydration period. 8. 8. The gazelles survived the 10 days of dehydration, although they tended to be drowsy, weak and emaciated during the last 2 days of dehydration. The animals appeared normal after rehydration.