Strong ion difference approach to acid-base imbalances with clinical applications to dogs and cats.

ABSTRACT

Stewart's strong ion difference, first introduced more than 10 years ago, offers an innovative approach for the analysis of non-respiratory acid-base disorders. This article addresses the concept of strong ion difference and discusses its clinical applications. A brief review of base excess and anion gap is also included. Clinical cases are provided to demonstrate a step-by-step method using strong ion difference to evaluate nonrespiratory acid-base imbalances.