Comparison of body condition score and urinalysis variables between dogs with and without calcium oxalate uroliths

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To compare body condition score (BCS) and urinalysis variables between dogs with and without calcium oxalate (CaOx) uroliths. DESIGN Case-control study. ANIMALS 46 Miniature Schnauzers, 16 Bichons Frises, and 6 Shih Tzus. PROCEDURES Medical records were reviewed for Miniature Schnauzers, Bichons Frises, and Shih Tzus that were examined between January 2001 and November 2014 for another urolithiasis study or for a urolith removal procedure. Dogs with CaOx uroliths were classified as cases. Dogs without a history of urinary tract disease and with no evidence of radiopaque uroliths on abdominal radiographs were classified as controls. Each case was matched with 1 control on the basis of age (± 2 years), sex, and breed. Body condition score and urinalysis results were compared between cases and controls, and the relationship between BCS and urine pH was analyzed. RESULTS Median BCS was significantly greater for cases than controls, although the proportion of overweight dogs did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. Urine pH was negatively associated with age, but was not associated with BCS or the presence of CaOx uroliths. Cases infrequently had acidic urine or CaOx crystalluria but frequently had hematuria and proteinuria. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated that dogs with CaOx uroliths had a greater median BCS than control dogs, but the clinical importance of that finding was unclear. Acidic urine and CaOx crystalluria were uncommon and not adequate predictors of CaOx urolith status. Hematuria and proteinuria were commonly observed in dogs with CaOx urolithiasis, but they are not pathognomonic for that condition.

Measurement of preprandial and postprandial urine calcium to creatinine ratios in male Miniature Schnauzers with and without urolithiasis

“…We did not identify proteinuria as significantly associated with CaOx urolithiasis, which is in contrast to previous findings and likely a consequence of our limited sample size. The association of CaOx urolithiasis with dyslipidemia was an interesting finding, but the influence of other confounding variables such as older age in the urolith former group has not been eliminated.…”

“…Urine Ca/Cr was sensitive enough to detect a significant difference in calciuresis between the affected and control dogs. We did not identify proteinuria as significantly associated with CaOx urolithiasis, which is in contrast to previous findings 9 Larger studies also would allow regression analysis to identify and better quantify contributions from other variables such as proteinuria, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertriglyceridemia.…”

“…Several dog variables including age, body condition, proteinuria, hypertriglyceridemia, and hypercholesterolemia were selected for further analysis of their potential effect on urolith status, based on both previously published associations with CaOx urolith formation and preliminary inspection of the data …”

Pathogenesis of calcium oxalate urinary stone disease: species comparison of humans, dogs, and cats

“…Experimentally induced chronic metabolic acidosis leads to decreased tubular calcium reabsorption in healthy dogs [74]; however, these effects have not been studied in stone forming dogs. There are conflicting results regarding the role of acidic urine pH as a risk factor among two studies, both of which were retrospective in nature and thus subject to inherent bias and limitations [58, 75]. Two small studies have not detected a difference in urinary citrate excretion between calcium oxalate stone forming dogs and non-stone forming controls [59, 61].…”

Urolithiais bei einer Heimtier-Ratte (Rattus norvegicus)

“…Übergewicht und Bewegungsmangel oder Bewegungsstörungen können die Entstehung von Konkrementen begünstigen [17] [24] [37]. Die Ratte wies gemäß Body Condition Score [38] zwar einen guten Ernährungszustand auf, war jedoch nicht adipös.…”