Abstract
Water deprivation and its effect on some blood constituents was studied in the Idmi Gazelle, Gazella gazella. Animals were deprived of water for 8 d in winter and 3 d in summer. Blood was collected and analysed during three phases of experimentation; hydrated, dehydrated and rehydrated. The gazelle's dehydration led to an increase in many of blood parameters such as RBCs, WBCs, PCV, Hb, serum Na+, Cl−, BUN and serum osmolality. The gazelles seem to be well-adapted physiologically to live in harsh desert extremes. Possible implications obtained from the results would be useful in captive breeding of this species.