Association between hyperlipidemia and calcium oxalate lower urinary tract uroliths in dogs

Metabolic syndrome is associated with formation of calcium oxalate (CaOx) uroliths in humans.

To investigate the association between obesity and hyperlipidemia with CaOx lower urinary tract uroliths in client-owned dogs.

Dogs with (n = 55, U [uroliths]-dogs) and without (n = 39, UF [uroliths-free]-dogs) CaOx lower urinary tract uroliths.

Case-control study. U-dogs were retrospectively enrolled and compared to UF-dogs. Body condition score (BCS; 1-9 scoring scale), serum triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (CH) concentrations and glycemia (after >12-hour food withholding) were recorded in both groups.

On univariate logistic regression, when excluding Miniature Schnauzers, odds of having uroliths increased by a factor of 3.32 (95% CI 1.38-11.12) for each mmol/L of TG (P = .027), of 39 (95% CI 9.27-293.22) for each mmol/L of glycemia (P < .0001), and of 2.43 (95% CI 1.45-4.45) per unit of BCS (P = .002). In multivariable models, the effect of TG was retained when all breeds were included for analysis and odds of having uroliths increased by a factor of 4.34 per mmol/L of TG (95% CI 1.45-19.99; P = .02).

Serum lipid screening in dogs diagnosed with CaOx uroliths might be recommended to improve their medical staging and management.