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.
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St Paul 55108, USA.
S
S
Sanderson
K
K
Gross
J
J
Lulich
C
C
Osborne
P
P
Ogburn
M E
ME
Pierpont
L
L
Koehler
L
L
Swanson
K
K
Bird
L
L
Ulrich
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