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Multicenter Study
. 2019 Mar;33(2):640-647.
doi: 10.1111/jvim.15434. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Frequency of bacteriuria in dogs with chronic kidney disease: A retrospective study of 201 cases

Anaïs Lamoureux  1 , Fiona Da Riz  2 , Julien Cappelle  3   4 , Henri-Jean Boulouis  5 , Ghita Benchekroun  2 , Jean-Luc Cadoré  1 , Emilie Krafft  1 , Christelle Maurey  2
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

Frequency of bacteriuria in dogs with chronic kidney disease: A retrospective study of 201 cases

Anaïs Lamoureux et al. J Vet Intern Med. 2019 Mar.

Abstract

Background: Studies have shown an increased prevalence of positive urine culture (PUC) in cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD); no information is available in dogs.

Objectives: To document the PUC frequency in a cohort of dogs with CKD, determine risk factors for PUC, and identify associations between clinicopathologic data and PUC.

Animals: Two hundred one client-owned dogs with CKD.

Methods: Retrospective, observational study. Dogs recruited from 2 veterinary teaching hospitals were included if they were diagnosed with CKD and had a culture performed on urine collected by cystocentesis. The PUC frequency was calculated, multivariate analysis was performed to identify risk factors, and associations with clinicopathologic data were investigated.

Results: Sixty-five dogs (32%) with CKD had PUC, including 8 (28%) in International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) stage 1; only 8% showed signs of a urinary tract infection. Escherichia coli was the most common isolate (67%). A PUC was more likely in females (odds ratio [OR], 3.22; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.67-6.37; P < .001) than males and in dogs with isosthenuria (OR, 2.48; 95% CI, 1.24-5.03; P = .01) than in dogs with urine-specific gravity 1.013-1.024. A positive leukocyte esterase test and microorganisms found by urine sediment analysis were significantly associated with PUC (both P < .001).

Conclusions and clinical importance: Dogs with CKD, even IRIS stage 1, have a high frequency of PUC and most cases are asymptomatic. A urine culture could be considered in the routine evaluation of dogs with CKD, but the clinical relevance of a PUC remains unknown and needs further evaluation.

Keywords: asymptomatic bacteriuria; chronic kidney disease; lower urinary tract disease; urinalysis.

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Conflict of interest statement

Anaïs Lamoureux's residency post at VetAgro Sup is financially supported by Royal Canin.

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