Alkaline Water and Acid Buildup in Dogs
Ionized Alkaline Water: New Strategy for Management of Metabolic Acidosis in Experimental Animals
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (dog)
- Authors
- Hassan Abol‐Enein, Osama A Gheith, Nashwa Barakat, Eman Nour, Abd‐Elhameed Sharaf
- Journal
- Therapeutic Apheresis and Dialysis
- Year
- 2009
- PMID
- 19527469
- Study Type
- Dog
- Delivery
- Water (Electrolysis)
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 13 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- Egypt
TL;DR
Ionized alkaline water was found to significantly improve acid-base balance in animal models with metabolic acidosis caused by kidney problems or gastrointestinal issues.
Key Finding
Ionized alkaline water significantly improved acid-base balance in animal models of metabolic acidosis caused by kidney failure or urinary diversion, with improvements comparable to or better than conventional dialysis approaches.
Summary
Researchers tested ionized alkaline water (water made alkaline through electrolysis) as a treatment for metabolic acidosis—a condition where the body becomes too acidic—in dogs and rats with kidney problems or urinary diversion (rerouted urine). When animals drank alkaline water or received it during dialysis (a kidney-failure treatment), their blood acid levels improved more than when they received regular water. The study suggests alkaline water might help manage this serious condition safely, but human studies are still needed.
Practical Takeaway
This is an animal-only study, so its findings cannot be directly applied to humans yet. While the results are promising and suggest alkaline water may be safe, the authors themselves call for human clinical trials before any therapeutic use can be recommended. Anyone with metabolic acidosis should work with their doctor on proven treatments rather than relying on alkaline water alone.
Abstract (excerpt)
Metabolic acidosis can occur as a result of either the accumulation of endogenous acids or loss of bicarbonate from the gastrointestinal tract or the kidney, which represent common causes of metabolic acidosis. The appropriate treatment of acute metabolic acidosis has been very controversial…