Prevalence of asymptomatic urinary tract infections in morbidly obese dogs

Abstract

Background. Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in dogs and, as in humans, cost of care has increased due to associated comorbidities. In humans, asymptomatic urinary tract infections (UTI) may be more prevalent in the obese. Asymptomatic bacteriuria (AB) is the term used when UTI are asymptomatic. We hypothesized that morbidly obese dogs are similarly more likely to have asymptomatic bacteriuria than lean, overweight, and moderately obese dogs.Methods. A retrospective study was undertaken to explore a possible association between obesity and asymptomatic bacteriuria. Records from lean, overweight, and obese dogs receiving both a dual energy absorptiometry (DXA) scan and urine culture were included.Results. Six positive urine cultures were identified among 46 dogs fulfilling search criteria. All six positive cultures were found in dogs with body fat percentage of >45%. In dogs with body fat percentage of <45%, there were no positive urine cultures.Discussion. There was an increased prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria in the morbidly obese dogs in this study compared to those that were lean, overweight, or moderately obese. Whether antibiotic therapy is necessary in such cases is still being debated, but because asymptomatic bacteriuria may be associated with ascending infections, uroliths, or other complications, the data reported herein support the screening of obese patients for bacteriuria.

The frequency of urinary tract infection and subclinical bacteriuria in dogs with allergic dermatitis treated with oclacitinib: a prospective study

“…24 The prevalence of subclinical bacteriuria has been reported in healthy female dogs (8.9%), dogs presenting for elective surgical procedures (8.9%) and morbidly obese dogs (25%). [25][26][27] These data support the necessity of quantitative urine cultures as an indicator of bacteriuria in dogs without urinary tract signs. Subclinical bacteriuria has been reported in dogs with inflammatory skin disease treated chronically with ciclosporin in which nine of 71 (13%) dogs had positive urine cultures at a single time point of sample collection.…”

“…Urinary tract infection has been shown to occur in 17% of dogs presenting for necropsy for various reasons not necessarily related to urinary tract disease . The prevalence of subclinical bacteriuria has been reported in healthy female dogs (8.9%), dogs presenting for elective surgical procedures (8.9%) and morbidly obese dogs (25%) . These data support the necessity of quantitative urine cultures as an indicator of bacteriuria in dogs without urinary tract signs.…”

Pyelonephritis in Dogs: Retrospective Study of 47 Histologically Diagnosed Cases (2005–2015)

“…In addition, the findings from a previous study do not support the treatment of subclinical bacteriuria in healthy female dogs . However, the true risk for subclinical bacteriuria leading to a UTI, ascending infections, and pyelonephritis remains to be investigated, and other studies question the indication for antibiotic treatment in certain patients at risk for UTI (ie, morbidly obese dogs) . The need for treatment in cases with subclinical bacteriuria associated with concurrent immunosuppressive treatment, hyperadrenocorticism, diabetes mellitus, and CKD is more debatable and would be influenced by the colony count, bacterial species identified, past history of the patient including presence of other concurrent diseases, and clinician judgment.…”

“…41 However, the true risk for subclinical bacteriuria leading to a UTI, ascending infections, and pyelonephritis remains to be investigated, and other studies question the indication for antibiotic treatment in certain patients at risk for UTI (ie, morbidly obese dogs). 42 The need for treatment in cases with subclinical bacteriuria associated with concurrent immunosuppressive treatment, hyperadrenocorticism, diabetes mellitus, and CKD 43 is more debatable and would be influenced by the colony count, bacterial species identified, past history of the patient including presence of other concurrent diseases, and clinician judgment. In this study, we found a very low prevalence of pyelonephritis at necropsy (0.4-1.3%), and an even lower prevalence of asymptomatic pyelonephritis (38% of dogs did not show classic clinical signs of pyelonephritis).…”

Avaliação cardiovascular e determinação de fatores ateroscleróticos em cães obesos

“…Um estudo retrospectivo recente descreveu que cães obesos (com > 45% de gordura corporal) podem apresentar infecção no trato urinário, sugerindo uma relação entre a obesidade e a predisposição para este tipo de infecção (Wynn et al, 2016). As alterações encontradas na urinálise, que possibilitaram o diagnóstico de cistite bacteriana em algumas cadelas do grupo obesidade, concordam com os resultados deste estudo.…”