Suspected renal tubular acidosis in two dogs

Clinical signs of hyperventilation, muscle weakness and lethargy were recognised in a one-year-old female Bichon Frise and a three-year-old male Poodle. One dog was also hyperexcitable and pyrexic. The diagnosis of renal tubular acidosis was confirmed by demonstrating the tendency to an elevated urine pH, a low blood pH and low blood bicarbonate level, and by eliminating other causes of metabolic acidosis. Both dogs were treated with oral sodium bicarbonate resulting in improvement in their clinical condition and a return to near normal blood pH and bicarbonate levels.     

Suspected renal tubular acidosis in two dogs

Clinical signs of hyperventilation, muscle weakness and lethargy were recognised in a one-year-old female Bichon Frise and a three-year-old male Poodle. One dog was also hyperexcitable and pyrexic. The diagnosis of renal tubular acidosis was confirmed by demonstrating the tendency to an elevated urine pH, a low blood pH and low blood bicarbonate level, and by eliminating other causes of metabolic acidosis. Both dogs were treated with oral sodium bicarbonate resulting in improvement in their clinical condition and a return to near normal blood pH and bicarbonate levels.     

Canine cystine urolithiasis

Cystine uroliths form as a result of a complex metabolic disturbance in amino acid metabolism and transport. The inheritance of this disease is obscure because it does not follow a standard mendelian pattern. Uroliths are a vexing clinical problem because the recurrence rate is high. Accurate diagnosis of uroliths requires use of crystallographic methods. The renal defect leading to excessive excretion of cystine is variable. The only effective method of prevention of recurrence is use of D-penicillamine, which is poorly tolerated by some dogs.     

Secondary renal tubular acidosis in a Hereford calf

A 3-month-old Hereford heifer calf was presented for lethargy. Blood gas analysis and plasma biochemical testing revealed severe metabolic acidosis, azotemia, hyponatremia, hyperchloremia, and normal anion gap. Results of a urinalysis were consistent with acute tubular necrosis with inadequate acidification of urine based on the degree of acidemia. Salmonella enterica serovar agona was cultured from both urine and feces. The calf was treated with intravenous polyionic fluids, bicarbonate, and antimicrobials. Acidosis and azotemia resolved, and 4 months following initial presentation the heifer was clinically normal.     

Distal renal tubular acidosis and hepatic lipidosis in a cat

Clinical and laboratory evidence of hepatic failure was found in a chronically anorectic cat. Simultaneous blood and urine pH determinations established a diagnosis of distal renal tubular acidosis. The cat did not respond to treatment. Necropsy revealed distal tubular nephrosis and hepatic lipidosis. The finding of distal renal tubular acidosis in a cat with hepatic lipidosis emphasizes the importance of complete evaluation of acid-base disorders in patients.     

Distal renal tubular acidosis in a cat with pyelonephritis

A four-year-old castrated male domestic shorthair cat with recent onset of lethargy and depression was found to have hypokalaemia, low plasma bicarbonate concentration and a urine pH of 7. Subsequent findings of hyperchloraemic metabolic acidosis with failure to produce acid urine led to a diagnosis of distal renal tubular acidosis. Pyelonephritis associated with Escherichia coli infection of the urinary tract was also diagnosed. The urinary tract infection was eliminated by antibiotic treatment. For two years subsequently, the clinical effects of distal renal tubular acidosis have been controlled by oral administration of potassium bicarbonate, although some biochemical abnormalities have persisted.     

Transient proximal renal tubular acidosis and Fanconi syndrome in a dog

A 9-year-old spayed female Labrador Retriever was evaluated for anorexia, lethargy, and vomiting of 5 days' duration. Laboratory abnormalities included azotemia, high liver enzyme activities, hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis, glucosuria, ketonuria, proteinuria, and aminoaciduria. These laboratory abnormalities were diagnostic of proximal renal tubular acidosis and Fanconi syndrome. Results of initial and convalescent serologic tests for leptospirosis were negative. The dog was treated with amoxicillin, sodium bicarbonate, and potassium citrate at discharge. Repeated evaluations revealed resolution of the acidosis, azotemia, proteinuria, glucosuria, ketonuria, and high liver enzyme activities. Alkali administration was gradually discontinued, and the dog was clinically normal 8 months after discharge. The dog's clinical condition appeared to have been transient in nature, a phenomenon that is rarely seen in human or veterinary medicine.     

Clinical features and treatment of renal tubular acidosis in two horses

Two horses were admitted separately for evaluation and treatment of profound hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis without azotemia. One, an 11-year-old Quarter Horse mare, had been depressed and ataxic for 2 days. The other, a 2-year-old Quarter Horse colt, had a 6-week history of depression, anorexia, and weight loss. Both horses responded to fluid and electrolyte therapy, but required daily oral administration of sodium bicarbonate for maintenance. In each case, the diagnosis was renal tubular acidosis.     

Canine primary hyperparathyroidism and its association with urolithiasis

Primary hyperparathyroidism results from autonomous secretion of parathyroid hormone by a single or multiple parathyroid glands. Clinical signs result from various combinations of hypercalcemia, hypercalcemic nephropathy, urolithiasis, or mobilization of calcium and phosphorus from bone. Following parathyroidectomy, the prognosis for dogs with primary hyperparathyroidism is good if the disorder is diagnosed before renal disease is advanced.     

Canine urolithiasis: epidemiology and analysis of urinary calculi

The incidence of canine urolithiasis was found to lie between 0–5 to 1 per cent of the canine population. Epidemiological and analytical data were collected for 1731 urinary stones, and causal relationships investigated. Calculi were found in 72 breeds. While they were relatively common among dachshunds, dalmatians, cocker spaniels, Pekingese, bassets, poodles, schnauzers and small terrier breeds, urinary stones were relatively rare among German shepherd dogs, boxers, collies, chow chows, old English sheepdogs, spitz and rottweiler breeds. Struvite, which was found in 55-6 per cent of all calculi, proved to be the most common constituent, followed by cystine (22-5 per cent) and ammonium urate (6-6 per cent). Xanthine calculi were rare (six cases), while silicium dioxide calculi were present in only one case. The likelihood of calculi in male animals was twice that of bitches, although the latter were found to be more prone to infection of the urinary tract. Adiposity was present in 29 per cent of all dogs with calculi. The average age of the animals was seven years. In 98-7 per cent of all cases the calculi were found in the lower urinary tract, and surgical removal of the stones was required in 87-5 per cent of cases. The main types of calculi appear among specific breeds, which indicates that a careful breeding programme may help to reduce the frequency of urinary calculi.     

Canine urolithiasis: incidence, chemical composition and outcome of roo cases

In 100 cases of canine urolithiasis the main chemical component was either phosphate (fifty-three), cystine (twenty), oxalate (fourteen) or urate (thirteen). Oxalate and cystine calculi were confined to males, while phosphates predominated in the female. The incidence was higher than average in the Cairn, Dalmatian and Pekingese. The mean age incidence was 5.9 years, and oxalate calculi occurred in an older age group (8.5 years). The incidence of urolithiasis in the patient population was 1.2 per cent. Seventeen animals died within 1 week of admission, generally from uraemia. Few animals were alive 4 years after first admission, but there were few later deaths from, or recurrence, of urolithiasis. Survival rates were similar for each calculus type. The low long-term survival was principally due to other unrelated causes of death. Résumé. Sur 100 cas d'urolithíase caníne, le composant chimique le plus important était soit le phosphate (53), soit la cystine (20), soit l'oxalate (14) ou l'urate (13). Les calculs d'oxalate et de cystine s'observant chez les mâles, alors que ceux composés de phosphate prédominent chez les femelles. La fréquence est plus grande que la moyenne chez les Cairns, les Dalmatiens et les Pékinois. L'âge moyen des sujets atteints est de 5,9 ans, mais les calculs d'oxalate s'observent dans un groupe d'âge plus avancé (8,5 ans). La fréquence d'urolithiase dans la population canine générale était de 1,2%. 17 animaux succombèrent au bout d'une semaine après l'admission, habituellernent par urémie. Quelques animaux étaient vivants 4 ans après la première admission, mais on a noté quelques survies plus longues, la mort survenant par urolithiase; dans d'autres cas, on a noté des rechutes de celle-ci. Les proportions de survie étaient identiques dans tout les groupes chimiques d'urolithiase. Le raccourcissement de la suivie a été essentiellement dû à d'autres causes de mort. Zusammenfassung. In 100 Fällen von Urolithiasis des Hundes war der chemische Haupt-bestandteil entweder Phosphat (53), Cystin (20), Oxalat (14) oder Urat (13). Oxalat- und Cystinkonkremente waren auf männliche Tiere beschränkt, während Phosphate bei den weiblichen Tieren vorherrschten. Die Häufigkeit war bei den Rassen Cairn, Dalmatiner und Pekinese höher. Die mittlere Altershäufigkeit betrug 5,9 Jahre, und Oxalatcalculi traten in einer Gruppe höheren Alters (8,5 Jahre) auf. Die Häufigkeit der Urolithiasis im Patienten-stamm betrug 1,2%. 17 Tiere starben innerhalb 1 Woche nach der Einlieferung, im allgemeinen an Urämie. Nur wenige Tiere waren noch 4 Jahre nach der ersten Beobachtung am Leben, jedoch gab es nur wenig spätere Todesfalle durch Urolithiasis oder durch deren erneutes Auf-treten. Die Überlebenszahlen waren bei jeder Konkrementtype ähnlich. Das geringe langzeitige Überleben war hauptsächlich anderen, damit nicht zusammenhängenden Todesursachen zuzu-schreiben.     

Canine urolithiasis in Sweden and Norway: Retrospective survey of prevalence and epidemiology

It was estimated that 23 to 24 dogs per 10,000 in Sweden were operated on for urolithiasis between 1956 and 1982. During this period urinary calculi were confirmed in 2898 dogs of 95 breeds, chiefly in chondrodystrophic and well proportioned (not short legged) miniature breeds. The distribution between the sexes in the period 1956 to 1970 was estimated at 57 per cent male and 43 per cent female in the chondrodystrophic breeds, 74 per cent male and 26 per cent female in the well proportioned miniatures, and 83 per cent and 17 per cent female in the large breeds; in the dalmatian (1956 to 1982) 94 per cent were male and 6 per cent female. Urinary calculi were found at a younger age in the chondrodystrophic breeds (1956 to 1970) than in the well proportioned miniature dogs and in large dogs (P<0–001). It was estimated that five dogs per 10,000 in Norway were operated on for urolithiasis between 1956 and 1970. During this period urinary calculi were diagnosed in 71 dogs of 28 breeds. Seventy-nine per cent were male and 21 per cent were female. Urolithiasis in dogs appears to be chiefly constitutionally dependent. Chondrodystrophic breeds and small breeds are particularly susceptible.     

Canine calcium oxalate urolithiasis. Case-based applications of therapeutic principles.

The case study presented here illustrates the diagnosis and management of calcium oxalate urolithiasis in a Bichon Frise, a breed at increased risk for this type of stone. If the Bichon Frise had persistent hypercalcemia, we would have evaluated serum concentrations of ionized calcium, parathyroid hormone, and vitamin D to identify an underlying cause. Because his urine was alkaline, additional potassium citrate was not provided. Likewise, as a fortified diet was fed to him, vitamin B6 therapy was not considered. This case study illustrates the benefits of radiographic evaluation immediately following surgery and during follow-up examinations. If we had postponed radiographs until the patient developed clinical signs, additional surgical procedures may have been required.