Association between hyperadrenocorticism and development of calcium-containing uroliths in dogs with urolithiasis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine, among dogs with urolithiasis, whether dogs that had hyperadrenocorticism would be more likely to have calcium-containing uroliths than would dogs that did not have clinical evidence of hyperadrenocorticism.


METHODS
Retrospective case-control study.


METHODS
20 dogs that had urolithiasis and hyperadrenocorticism and 42 breed-matched dogs that had urolithiasis but did not have clinical evidence of hyper-adrenocorticism.


METHODS
Signalment, urolith composition, results of bacterial culture of urine, and results of adrenal axis tests were recorded. A multivariate logistic regression model was created, including terms for age, sex, and hyperadrenocorticism. The outcome variable was presence or absence of calcium-containing uroliths.


RESULTS
Among dogs with urolithiasis, those that had hyperadrenocorticism were 10 times as likely to have calcium-containing uroliths as were dogs that did not have clinical evidence of hyperadrenocorticism (odds ratio, 10.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.5 to 23.4). Neutered and sexually intact females were less likely to have calcium-containing uroliths than were neutered males (odds ratios, 0.041 [95% confidence interval, 0.0057 to 0.29] and 0.024 [95% confidence interval, 0.0012 to 0.51, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Prompt diagnosis and treatment of hyperadrenocorticism may decrease prevalence of calcium-containing uroliths in dogs.
Hess
R S
RS
Department of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104-6010, USA.
Kass
P H
PH
Ward
C R
CR
D000308:Adrenocortical Hyperfunction / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014545:Urinary Calculi / Q000737:chemistry / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*
D002118:Calcium