Reliability of carnitine concentrations measured in single postprandial urine samples from dogs.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the reliability of urine carnitine concentrations measured in single postprandial samples, compared with carnitine concentrations measured in 24-hour urine samples.


METHODS
19 healthy Beagles.


METHODS
After emptying the urinary bladder by catheterization, dogs were fed a canned canine maintenance diet. Approximately 8 hours later, urine, plasma, and serum samples were obtained for determination of urinary carnitine fractional excretion and urine carnitine-to-creatinine concentration ratio. Results were compared with 24-hour urinary carnitine excretion rate.


RESULTS
Fractional excretion of carnitine and urine carnitine-to-creatinine ratios correlated poorly with 24-hour urinary carnitine excretion.


CONCLUSIONS
Determination of 24-hour urinary carnitine excretion is recommended to measure urine carnitine concentrations in dogs.
Sanderson
S
S
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St Paul 55108, USA.
Osborne
C
C
Lulich
J
J
Pierpont
M E
ME
Gross
K
K
Ogburn
P
P
Koehler
L
L
Carvalho
M
M
D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D002331:Carnitine / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009919:Orchiectomy; D010052:Ovariectomy; D019518:Postprandial Period; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
D015415:Biomarkers; D002331:Carnitine