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SUMMARY

Urine activity product ratios of uric acid, sodium urate, and ammonium urate and urinary excretion of metabolites were determined in 24-hour samples produced by 6 healthy Beagles during periods of consumption of a low-protein, casein-based diet (diet A) and a high-protein, meat-based diet (diet B). Comparison of effects of diet A with those of diet B revealed: significantly lower activity product ratios of uric acid (P = 0.025), sodium urate (P = 0.045), and ammonium urate (P = 0.0045); significantly lower 24-hour urinary excretion of uric acid (P = 0.002), ammonia (P = 0.0002), sodium (P = 0.01), calcium (P = 0.005), phosphorus (P = 0.0003), magnesium (P = 0.01), and oxalic acid (P = 0.004); significantly (P = 0.0001) higher 24-hour urine pH; and significantly (P = 0.01) lower endogenous creatinine clearance. These results suggest that consumption of diet A minimizes changes in urine that predispose dogs to uric acid, sodium urate, and ammonium urate urolithiasis.

Free access
in American Journal of Veterinary Research

Summary

Eighteen 6-month-old male Beagles with normal renal function were allotted at random to 3 groups of 6 dogs each. For 21 days, each group was fed a diet that was similar except for protein content (high protein, 27.3%; medium protein, 13.7%; and low protein, 9.4%). After the conditioning period, gentamicin was administered at a dosage of 10 mg/kg of body weight, IM, every 8 hours for 8 days, and the respective diet was continued. Clearance of endogenous creatinine, 24-hour urinary excretion of protein and enzymes (γ-glutamyltransferase, and N-acetyl- β-d-glucosaminidase, and fractional clearance of sodium and potassium (%) were determined before and after dietary protein conditioning and on days 2, 4, 6, and 8 of gentamicin administration. Additionally, trough serum gentamicin concentration was determined on days 2, 4, 6, and 8 of gentamicin administration. At the end of the study, all dogs were euthanatized; renal histologic features were graded, using a continuous ranking scale, and renal cortical gentamicin concentrations were measured. Data were ranked and analyzed, using a nonparametric equivalent of a two-way anova; P < 0.05 was considered significant.

After the dietary conditioning period (prior to gentamicin), dogs fed the high-protein diet had higher endogenous creatinine clearance and urinary excretion of protein, compared with dogs fed the low-protein diet. Differences existed among groups after 8 days of gentamicin administration. Dogs fed the high-protein diet had higher creatinine clearance, lower serum creatinine concentration, lower fractional clearance of sodium, lower urinary excretion of N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase and lower trough serum gentamicin concentration, compared with dogs fed the medium- and low-protein diets. Dogs fed the high-protein diet also had lower urinary excretion of protein and lower fractional clearance of potassium, compared with dogs fed the low-protein diet. There was no difference in urinary excretion of γ-gluta-myltransferase among groups on day 8 of the study. Proximal tubular necrosis was more severe in dogs fed the medium-protein diet, compared with dogs fed the high-protein diet; however, there were no differences in renal cortical gentamicin concentrations among groups. In conclusion, feeding the high-protein diet prior to and during gentamicin administration reduced nephrotoxicosis in these dogs.

Free access
in American Journal of Veterinary Research

SUMMARY

Urine activity product ratios of uric acid (aprua), sodium urate (aprna), and ammonium urate (aprau), and urinary excretion of 10 metabolites were determined in 24-hour urine samples produced by 6 healthy Beagles during periods of consumption of 4 diets containing approximately 11% protein (dry weight) and various protein sources: a 72% moisture, casein-based diet; a 10% moisture, egg-based diet; a 72% moisture, chicken-based diet; and a 71% moisture, chicken-based, liver-flavored diet. Significantly (P < 0.05) higher aprua, aprna, and aprau were observed when dogs consumed the egg-based diet, compared with the other 3 diets; there were no differences in these ratios among the other 3 diets.

Twenty-four-hour urinary excretions of chloride, potassium, phosphorus, and oxalic acid were significantly (P < 0.05) higher when dogs consumed the egg-based diet. Twenty-four-hour urinary excretions of sodium were significantly (P < 0.05) higher when dogs consumed the egg-based diet, compared with the casein-based diet and the chicken-based, liver-flavored diet, but were not significantly different between the egg-based diet and chicken-based diet. Twenty-four-hour urine volume was similar when dogs consumed the 4 diets. Twenty-four-hour endogenous creatinine clearance was significantly (P < 0.05 lower when dogs consumed the casein based diet there were no differences among the other 3 diets. Although consumption all diets was associated with production alkaline urine, the 24-hour urine pH was significantly (P < 0.05) higher when dogs consumed the egg-based diet.

These results suggest that use diets containing approximately 10.5% protein (dry weight) and 70 moisture protocols designed for dissolution and prevention urate uroliths may be beneficial. The source dietary protein in canned formulated diets does not appear significantly influence the saturation of urine with uric acid, sodium urate, or ammonium urate.

Free access
in American Journal of Veterinary Research

SUMMARY

Casein has been used as a protein source in diets designed to dissolve canine ammonium urate uroliths and to prevent their recurrence, because it contains fewer purine precursors than do many other sources of protein. However, an important question is whether reduced quantities of dietary casein have any benefit in modifying saturation of urine with urates. To answer this question, activity productd ratios of uric acid, sodium urate, and ammonium urate were determined in 24-hour urine samples produced by 6 healthy Beagles during periods of consumption of a 10.4% protein, casein-based (10.4% casein) diet and a 20.8% protein, casein-based (20.8% casein) diet. Significantly lower activity product. ratios of uric acid, sodium urate, and ammonium urate were observed when dogs consumed the 10.4% casein diet. Significantly lower 24-hour urinary excretions of ammonia and phosphorus were observed when dogs consumed the 10.4% casein diet. Twenty-four-hour urinary excretions of magnesium and 24-hour urine pH values were significantly higher when dogs were fed the 10.4% casein diet. These results suggest that use of the 10.4% casein diet in protocols designed for dissolution and prevention of uric acid, sodium urate, and ammonium urate uroliths in dogs may be beneficial.

Free access
in American Journal of Veterinary Research

Abstract

Objective—To determine whether high systolic blood pressure (SBP) at the time of initial diagnosis of chronic renal failure in dogs was associated with increased risk of uremic crisis, risk of dying, or rate of decline in renal function.

Design—Prospective cohort study.

Animals—45 dogs with spontaneous chronic renal failure.

Procedure—Dogs were assigned to 1 of 3 groups on the basis of initial SBP (high, intermediate, low); Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards methods were used to estimate the association between SBP and development of a uremic crisis and death. The reciprocal of serum creatinine concentration was used as an estimate of renal function.

Results—Dogs in the high SBP group were more likely to develop a uremic crisis and to die than were dogs in the other groups, and the risks of developing a uremic crisis and of dying increased significantly as SBP increased. A greater decrease in renal function was observed in dogs in the high SBP group. Retinopathy and hypertensive encephalopathy were detected in 3 of 14 dogs with SBP ≥ 180 mm Hg. Systolic blood pressure remained high in 10 of 11 dogs treated with antihypertensive drugs.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggested that initial high SBP in dogs with chronic renal failure was associated with increased risk of developing a uremic crisis and of dying. Further studies are required to determine whether there is a cause-and-effect relationship between high SBP and progressive renal injury and to identify the risks and benefits of antihypertensive drug treatment. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 2003;222:322–329)

Full access
in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association

Abstract

Objective—To determine whether a diet used for dogs with renal failure (renal food [RF]) was superior to an adult maintenance food (MF) in minimizing uremic crises and mortality rate in dogs with spontaneous chronic renal failure.

Design—Double-masked, randomized, controlled clinical trial.

Animals—38 dogs with spontaneous chronic renal failure.

Procedure—Dogs were randomly assigned to a group fed adult MF or a group fed RF and evaluated for up to 24 months. The 2 groups were of similar clinical, biochemical, and hematologic status. The effects of diets on uremic crises and mortality rate were compared. Changes in renal function were evaluated by use of serial evaluation of serum creatinine concentrations and reciprocal of serum creatinine concentrations.

Results—Compared with the MF, the RF had a beneficial effect regarding uremic crises and mortality rate in dogs with mild and moderate renal failure. Dogs fed the RF had a slower decline in renal function, compared with dogs fed the MF.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Dietary modifications are beneficial in minimizing extrarenal manifestations of uremia and mortality rate in dogs with mild and moderate spontaneous chronic renal failure. Results are consistent with the hypothesis that delay in development of uremic crises and associated mortality rate in dogs fed RF was associated, at least in part, with reduction in rate of progression of renal failure. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 2002;220: 1163–1170)

Full access
in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association

Abstract

Objective—To determine whether hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) reduces urinary calcium excretion in dogs with calcium oxalate urolithiasis.

Design—Original study.

Animals—8 dogs with calcium oxalate urolithiasis.

Procedure—4 treatment protocols were evaluated in each dog (a low calcium, low protein diet designed to prevent calcium oxalate urolith formation with and without administration of HCTZ [2 mg/kg (0.9 mg/lb) of body weight, PO, q 12 h] and a maintenance diet with higher quantities of protein and calcium with and without administration of HCTZ). At the end of each 2-week treatment period, 24-hour urine samples were collected. Blood samples were collected during the midpoint of each urine collection period. Analysis of variance was performed to evaluate the effects of HCTZ and diet on urine and serum analytes.

Results—Hydrochlorothiazide significantly decreased urine calcium and potassium concentration and excretion. Hydrochlorothiazide also significantly decreased serum potassium concentration. Compared with the maintenance diet, the urolith prevention diet significantly decreased urine calcium and oxalic acid concentration and excretion. Dogs consuming the urolith prevention diet had significantly lower serum concentrations of albumin and urea nitrogen.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Administration of HCTZ decreased urine calcium excretion in dogs with a history of calcium oxalate urolith formation. The greatest reduction in urine calcium concentration and excretion was achieved when dogs received HCTZ and the urolith prevention diet. Results of this study suggest that the hypocalciuric effect of HCTZ will minimize recurrence of calcium oxalate urolith formation in dogs; however, long-term controlled clinical trials are needed to confirm the safety and effectiveness of HCTZ. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 2001;218:1583–1586)

Full access
in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association

Abstract

Objective—To determine whether urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (UP:C) ≥ 1.0 at initial diagnosis of chronic renal failure (CRF) is associated with greater risk of development of uremic crises, death, and progression of renal failure in dogs.

Design—Prospective cohort study.

Animals—45 dogs with CRF.

Procedure—Dogs were prospectively assigned to 2 groups on the basis of initial UP:C < 1.0 or ≥ 1.0. The association between magnitude of proteinuria and development of uremic crises and death was determined before and after dogs with initial UP:C ≥ 1.0 were assigned to 3 subgroups and compared with dogs with initial UP:C < 1.0. Changes in reciprocal serum creatinine concentration were used to estimate decrease in renal function.

Results—Initially, dogs had similar clinical characteristics with the exception of systolic blood pressure and UP:C. Relative risks of development of uremic crises and death were approximately 3 times higher in dogs with UP:C ≥ 1.0, compared with dogs with UP:C < 1.0. Relative risk of adverse outcome was approximately 1.5 times higher for every 1-unit increment in UP:C. The decrease in renal function was of greater magnitude in dogs with UP:C ≥ 1.0, compared with dogs with UP:C < 1.0.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Initial UP:C ≥ 1.0 in dogs with CRF was associated with greater risk of development of uremic crises and death, compared with dogs with UP:C < 1.0. Initial determinations of UP:C in dogs with naturally occurring CRF may be of value in refining prognoses. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 2005;226:393–400)

Full access
in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association

Abstract

Objective—To evaluate the effects of a food supplemented with fish oil omega-3 fatty acids on weight bearing in dogs with osteoarthritis.

Design—Randomized, double-blinded, controlled clinical trial.

Animals—38 client-owned dogs with osteoarthritis examined at 2 university veterinary clinics.

Procedures—Dogs were randomly assigned to receive a typical commercial food (n = 16) or a test food (22) containing 3.5% fish oil omega-3 fatty acids. On day 0 (before the trial began) and days 45 and 90 after the trial began, investigators conducted orthopedic evaluations and force-plate analyses of the most severely affected limb of each dog, and owners completed questionnaires to characterize their dogs' arthritis signs.

Results—The change in mean peak vertical force between days 90 and 0 was significant for the test-food group (5.6%) but not for the control-food group (0.4%). Improvement in peak vertical force values was evident in 82% of the dogs in the test-food group, compared with 38% of the dogs in the control-food group. In addition, according to investigators' subjective evaluations, dogs fed the test food had significant improvements in lameness and weight bearing on day 90, compared with measurements obtained on day 0.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—At least in the short term, dietary supplementation with fish oil omega-3 fatty acids resulted in an improvement in weight bearing in dogs with osteoarthritis.

Full access
in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association