title: Effect of castration on the urinary protein-to-creatinine ratio of male dogs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the urinary protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPCR) of healthy sexually intact male dogs and to compare the UPCR of these dogs before and after castration.
  
  
  METHODS
  19 client- or shelter-owned healthy adult sexually intact male dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Physical, hematologic, and biochemical examinations and urinalysis (including calculation of the UPCR) were performed on each dog. Dogs were then castrated, and physical examination and urinalysis (including calculation of the UPCR) were performed again at least 15 days after castration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A dipstick test yielded positive results for protein in the urine of 10 sexually intact male dogs, but the UPCR was < 0.5 for all sexually intact male dogs. Mean UPCR for sexually intact male dogs was 0.12 (range, 0.10 to 0.32). The UPCR was < 0.2 for all castrated dogs, except for 1. Mean UPCR for all castrated dogs was 0.08 (range, 0.05 to 0.69). There was a significant difference between mean UPCR before and after castration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, pathological proteinuria was not detected in sexually intact male dogs. Positive results for a urine dipstick test should be interpreted with caution in sexually intact male dogs and should be confirmed by assessment of the UPCR. An increased UPCR in sexually intact male dogs may be considered abnormal.
authors.forename: Marie-Blanche
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Bertieri
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lapointe
authors.forename: Bérénice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Conversy
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gara-Boivin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine*; D004285:Dogs; D008297:Male; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry; D009919:Orchiectomy; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000662:veterinary*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016482:Urinalysis / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D003404:Creatinine