Studies have shown an increased prevalence of urinary tract infection (UTI) in cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD) but no information is available in dogs. The aims of our study were to determine the prevalence of UTI in a cohort of dogs with CKD and to investigate the impact of age, sex (including neuter status) and IRIS stage.

Dogs were retrospectively recruited from two veterinary teaching hospitals between January 2010 and June 2016 if they were diagnosed with CKD and had a culture performed on urine collected by cystocentesis. CKD was diagnosed in dogs with an increased blood creatinine concentration (≥125 µmol/L) and consistent clinical and/or ultrasonographic signs (azotemic dogs); and in dogs with a creatinine concentration <125 µmol/L but having renal proteinuria, minimally concentrated urine with ultrasonographic signs of CKD or abnormal renal histology (IRIS stage 1). Azotemic dogs were categorized in IRIS stages 2 to 4 if they had creatinine values measured at least two weeks apart, others were left unstaged. Dogs with diseases which could predispose to UTI or receiving treatment which could impact urinary specific gravity were excluded. Differences between groups were assessed using the Chi-square or the Mann-Whitney tests with statistical significance defined as p<0.05.

Two hundred and one dogs were included and 32% of them had a UTI. Escherichia coli was identified in 73% of them. Lower urinary tract signs were only reported in 9% of dogs with a UTI. Sixty-one azotemic dogs could not be staged and 41% of them had a UTI. Twenty-eight percent of dogs with stage 1, 44% of dogs with stage 2, 30% of dogs with stage 3 and 9% of dogs with stage 4 CKD had a UTI. Dogs with stage 4 had significantly less UTI than dogs in stage 2 or 3 (p=0.005 and 0.046, respectively). There was no significant difference between the other groups. No significant difference was found in the prevalence of UTI with age or neutering, but the prevalence of UTI was higher in females (46%) than in males (21%) (p=0.0003).

The prevalence of UTI in this population of dogs with CKD was 32% but most of them were asymptomatic. As already described, females were overrepresented. Because of this high prevalence, a urine culture could be recommended in any dog with CKD regardless of its age, sex and IRIS stage; even though the true clinical impact of this finding is currently unknown.

Disclosures

No disclosures to report.