During acute hypercapnia (5% carbon dioxide) in resting conscious dogs, ventilation (Ve) attained a new level above control within 5 min, but rectal temperature decreased gradually to reach a steady state lower than control after 40-60 min. At 2 days of breathing 5% carbon dioxide, Ve remained elevated, as in acute hypercapnia, but Paco2 increased and the threshold of the ventilatory response shifted to a higher Paco2. By 2 days of hypercapnia, rectal temperature (Tr) had returned to normal, reflecting an alteration of hypothalamic temperature control that might be expected to result in enhanced respiratory drive. Surprisingly, despite blood acid-base compensation between 2 and 14 days of hypercapnia, Ve did not decrease, whereas Paco2 decreased to the level observed during acute hypercapnia, and the threshold of the ventilatory response returned to normal. Therefore, at 14 days of respiratory acidosis, acid-based compensation resulting from increase in bicarbonate was not associated with reduced respiratory drive. This result could not be accounted for on the basis of a temperature mechanism because temperature adaptation occurred earlier.