Dietary and animal‐related factors associated with the rate of urinary oxalate and calcium excretion in dogs and cats

Abstract

This paper reports the results of a cohort study and randomised clinical trial (RCT) in cross-over design. In the cohort study, the range of urinary oxalate (Uox) and calcium (Uca) excretion was determined within a sample of the Dutch population of dogs and cats, and dietary and animal-related factors associated with these urine parameters were identified. Spot urine samples were collected from privately owned dogs (n=141) and cats (n=50). The RCT determined the effect of a commercial raw meat diet versus a dry diet on Uox and Uca excretion rate in 23 dogs. In the cohort study, Uox excretion ranged from 21.1 to 170.6 mmol oxalate/mol creatinine in dogs and 27.5 to 161.6 in cats. Urinary calcium excretion ranged from 3.4 to 462.8 mmol calcium/mol creatinine in dogs and 10.1 to 128.0 in cats. In dogs, increased Uox and Uca excretion was associated with (1) the intake of a dry diet as the primary source of energy, (2) receiving no snacks and (3) breed. Increased Uox excretion was associated with males as well. In cats, urine collection in anaesthetised subjects was identified as a confounder. In the RCT, feeding the dry diet resulted in higher Uox (P<0.001) and Uca (P=0.021) excretion rates in dogs.

Factors contributing to the variation in feline urinary oxalate excretion rate1

“…1). These findings were in agreement with the results of a study with privately owned cats using spot urine sampling (Dijcker et al, 2012a). Season as external factor was also not associated to changes in Uox excretion rate (Table 3).…”

Current knowledge about the risks and benefits of raw meat–based diets for dogs and cats

“…[7][8][9]26 Although changes may be anecdotally reported by pet owners and veterinarians, potential health benefits have not undergone scientific evaluation. Investigators in a recent study 27 found indications of lower calcium excretion in urine of dogs eating a commercial RMBD, compared with excretion in dogs eating a commercial dry extruded diet, which suggested a benefit of RMBDs for dogs prone to calcium oxalate urolithiasis. However, the RMBD contained half as much calcium, less than a third as much sodium, and considerably more water than did the dry extruded diet, so it is difficult to interpret the importance of these results.…”

Targeted Metabolomics With Ultraperformance Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-MS) Highlights Metabolic Differences in Healthy and Atopic Staffordshire Bull Terriers Fed Two Different Diets, A Pilot Study

“…A growing movement based on lay publications and anecdotal evidence regarding canine nutrition asserts that a diet consisting of raw meats lowers the risk of disease in canines (13,15,16). Diet as a form of disease prevention has become popular in human research but has yet to be adopted by the mainstream veterinary science community.…”

“…Although the raw ingredients themselves are minimally processed (8) (chopped, mixed, and frozen), minerals and vitamins are often added. The processing of the individual ingredients used to produce kibble may significantly alter their nutritional value and the overall health of the dog, although the reasons for this remain poorly understood (15,16). The KD macronutrient profile differs remarkably from the RMBD profile.…”