Correction of serum chloride concentration in dogs with congestive heart failure.

Serum [Cl- ] increased after mathematical correction in Stage D CHF dogs but not in Stage C and NO-CHF dogs. Although c[Cl- ] was higher than m[Cl- ] in Stage D dogs supportive of relative water excess, hypochloremia persisted, consistent with concurrent loop diuretic effects on electrolytes. Future study correlating c[Cl- ] to antidiuretic hormone concentrations is warranted.