Evaluation of the association between sex and risk of forming urate uroliths in Dalmatians.
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that urate uroliths are uncommonly detected in female Dalmatians, compared with males.


METHODS
Case-control study.


METHODS
Medical records of dogs evaluated at veterinary teaching hospitals in North America from 1981 to 2002 and compiled by the Veterinary Medical Database, and records of dogs with uroliths submitted for quantitative analyses to the Minnesota Urolith Center from 1981 to 2002.


METHODS
Crude odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated to assess whether sex (male vs female) was a risk factor for urate urolithiasis.


RESULTS
In Dalmatians evaluated by veterinary teaching hospitals in North America, males were more likely (OR, 13.0) to form uroliths, compared with females. In Dalmatians that formed uroliths analyzed by the Minnesota Urolith Center, males were more likely (OR, 14.0) to form urate uroliths, compared with females. In all dogs (Dalmatian and non-Dalmatian) that formed uroliths analyzed by the Minnesota Urolith Center, males were also more likely (OR, 48.0) to form urate uroliths, compared with females.


CONCLUSIONS
When conducting studies and formulating generalities about urate urolithiasis in Dalmatians, it is important to consider sex-related differences in urolith occurrence. Long-term dietary or drug protocols designed to minimize formation of urate uroliths in male Dalmatians may not be warranted in female Dalmatians.
Albasan
Hasan
H
Minnesota Urolith Center, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA.
Lulich
Jody P
JP
Osborne
Carl A
CA
Lekcharoensuk
Chalermpol
C
D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000032:analysis* / Q000652:urine; D014545:Urinary Calculi / Q000737:chemistry / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*
D014527:Uric Acid