Blood acid-base and serum electrolyte values in red deer (Cervus elaphus).

Acid-base, serum electrolyte, plasma protein, and packed cell volume (PCV) values were determined in venous blood samples from 30 red deer (Cervus elaphus) of both sexes showing no clinical signs of disease. The animals were 5 months of age and kept on pasture in the Valley of Mexico, at an altitude of 2450 m. Blood samples were collected without sedation. Mean blood values were: pH 7.411 +/- 0.041, pCO2 37.7 +/- 4.4 mmHg, base excess 0.7 +/- 3.2 mmol/L, actual bicarbonate 24.3 +/- 3.1 mmol/L, total CO2 25.3 +/- 3.2 mmol/L and anion gap 23.5 +/- 5.5 mmol/L. Mean serum electrolyte levels were: Na+ 142.3 +/- 2.5 mmol/L, Cl- 100.5 +/- 2.3 mmol/L, and K+ 7.03 +/- 1.03 mmol/L. Plasma protein and PCV values were 60.0 +/- 6.6 g/L and 0.47 +/- 0.05 L/L, respectively. Blood values determined in this study can be considered reference data for health control and disease diagnosis.