Alkaline tide (mal del puerco) refers to a condition, normally encountered after eating a meal, where during the production of hydrochloric acid by the parietal cells in the stomach, the parietal cells secrete bicarbonate ions across their basolateral membranes and into the blood, causing a temporary increase in blood pH.
[1] During hydrochloric acid secretion in the stomach, the gastric parietal cells extract chloride anions, carbon dioxide, water and sodium cations from the blood plasma and in turn release bicarbonate back into the plasma after forming it from carbon dioxide and water constituents.
Postprandial alkaline tide has also been shown to be a causative agent of calcium oxalate urinary stones in cats,[3] and potentially in other species.
[4] A more pronounced alkaline tide results from vomiting, which stimulates the hyperactivity of gastric parietal cells to replace lost stomach acid.
[verification needed] Thus, protracted vomiting can result in metabolic alkalosis.