Controlling Diet and Exercise

The acid-base balance mainly refers to whether the metabolic products generated from nutrients obtained through the diet are acidic or alkaline. Besides paying attention to nutritional balance, the acid-base balance of body fluids is equally important. Generally speaking, acidic or alkaline substances in a dog's body are mainly obtained through food. However, exercise also increases acidic substances, which is why our legs feel sore after intense physical activity.

1. Sources of Acidic Substances in the Body

1. Metabolism of sugars, fats, and proteins: produces carbon dioxide through biological oxidation, which combines with water to form carbonic acid and is excreted by the lungs.

2. Metabolism of sulfur-containing amino acids: oxidized to produce sulfuric acid and excreted by the kidneys.

3. Fatty acid metabolism: ketone bodies—acetoacetic acid, B-hydroxybutyric acid (both convert to acetyl-CoA), and acetone—are generated through oxidation in the liver.

4. Metabolism of nucleic acids, proteins, and phospholipids: decomposition produces phosphoric acid.

5. Intermediate products of sugar metabolism: intermediate sugar metabolites like lactic acid and pyruvic acid are oxidized to carbon dioxide and water.

6. Ingested acidic substances: such as acetic acid, etc.

7. Acidic drugs: ammonium chloride in cough syrup can decompose to produce acid.

2. Sources of Alkaline Substances in the Body

Mainly alkaline foods ingested from vegetables and fruits. They contain potassium or sodium salts of organic acids, such as sodium lactate and potassium lactate, which are weakly alkaline substances. Once inside the body, organic acids combine with hydrogen ions to form lactic acid, which is further oxidized to carbon dioxide and water and excreted. The liver synthesizes glycogen for storage, resulting in a decrease in hydrogen ion concentration in the blood. Potassium and sodium ions combined with organic acids bind with bicarbonate ions, indicating an increase in bicarbonate ion concentration in the blood and thus increasing the alkalinity of the blood.

It is not ideal for a dog's body to lean too much toward either acidic or alkaline over a long time, so it is essential to appropriately control diet and exercise to ensure the basic health of the dog.