Reliability of taurine concentrations measured in single urine samples obtained from dogs eight hours after eating.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the reliability of taurine concentrations measured in a single urine sample obtained from dogs 8 hours after eating, compared with taurine concentrations measured in 24-hour urine samples.


METHODS
18 healthy Beagles.


METHODS
After emptying the urinary bladder by transurethral catheterization, dogs were fed a canned maintenance diet. Approximately 8 hours later, urine, plasma, and serum samples were obtained for determination of fractional urinary excretion of taurine and urine taurine-to-creatinine concentration ratios (Utaur:Ucr). Results were compared with 24-hour urinary taurine excretion rate.


RESULTS
Unbound and total fractional urinary taurine excretion correlated well with unbound and total 24-hour urinary taurine excretion. However, bound fractional urinary taurine excretion correlated poorly with bound 24-hour urinary taurine excretion. Unbound and total Utaur:Ucr correlated well with unbound and total 24-hour urinary taurine excretion. However, bound Utaur:Ucr correlated poorly with bound 24-hour urinary taurine excretion.


CONCLUSIONS
Fractional urinary excretion of unbound and total taurine, and unbound and total Utaur:Ucr are reliable indicators of 24-hour urinary unbound and total taurine excretion in healthy dogs. However, determination of 24-hour urinary taurine excretion is recommended for evaluating urinary bound taurine concentrations of dogs.
Sanderson
S
S
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St Paul 55108, USA.
Gross
K
K
Lulich
J
J
Osborne
C
C
Ogburn
P
P
Pierpont
M E
ME
Koehler
L
L
Swanson
L
L
Bird
K
K
Ulrich
L
L
D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D004285:Dogs / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine*; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013654:Taurine / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine*; D013997:Time Factors; D014551:Urinary Tract / Q000378:metabolism*
D013654:Taurine; D003404:Creatinine