Urate-containing uroliths comprise approximately 25% of the canine uroliths submitted to the G.V. Ling Urinary Stone Analysis Laboratory [1]. Other data show that 6.4% of canine uroliths were classified as purines when at least 70% of the stone consisted of purine mineral. [2] A gene mutation in the SLC2A9 transporter has been identified as the underlying defect in Dalmatians and other unrelated breeds; this results in hyperuricosuria, a risk factor for urate urolithiasis [3].

Prevention strategies suggested for the management of urate uroliths in dogs with genetic hyperuricosuria include low purine diets (often achieved by feeding a low protein diet), urine alkalinisation, xanthine oxidase inhibitors, and increased water intake [4]. One method of decreasing purine intake is by restricting dietary protein, which can be associated with losses in lean body mass if intake of essential amino acids is inadequate [5]. As such, the amino acid adequacy of purine-restricted, low protein diets might be a concern if the amino acid profile and protein digestibility are not sufficient.

A higher protein but still purine-restricted veterinary therapeutic diet for the prevention of urate urolithiasis in dogs is available [6]. The aim of this study was to evaluate a group of hyperuricosuric dogs with a history of clinical urate urolithiasis that was recommended to consume a purine restricted diet. Our main hypothesis was that dogs consuming the test diet with water added to maintain the baseline urine specific gravity over a 1- year time period would: 1) have lower or similar 24- h urinary uric acid excretion values compared to when consuming their baseline diet. Furthermore, we hypothesized that dogs would 2) improve or maintain body condition and lean body mass, and 3) maintain normal plasma amino acid concentrations. Ultrasonographic examinations of the dogs were also obtained at designated time points to assess for the presence or absence of urolithiasis during the study period.

Dogs between the ages of 1–10 years, with a history of confirmed urate urolithiasis with no other comorbidity and 2 copies of the SLC2A9 mutation (confirmed by submitting DNA test; https://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/) were eligible for enrollment. Exclusion criteria included other systemic disorders that required medical therapy, obstructive ureteral calculi or nephroliths, and medications other than heartworm and flea preventatives. If allopurinol was being administered, it had to be discontinued at least two weeks prior to enrollment. The University of California, Davis Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, the School of Veterinary Medicine Clinical Trials Review Board, and the Royal Canin Ethics Committee approved the experimental protocol. The dog’s owners signed a consent form prior enrollment.

The test diet was provided free of charge (Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Urinary U/C Low Purine Dry Dog Food; 50 g protein/1000 kcal; Additional file 1: Table S1). Complete physical examination including body condition score (BCS) [7], abdominal ultrasounds, urinalyses (including urinary pH obtained by dipstick and pH meter), and urine cultures were performed at all visits (0, 2, 6, and 12 months). Body composition, plasma amino acid concentrations, CBC, and a serum biochemical panel were analyzed at 0 and 12 months. 24-h urine collections were analyzed at 0, 2, and 12 months.

For two weeks prior to each visit, owners maintained a food diary to record daily food intake in grams, plus treats. Based on BCS, adjustments in the amount fed were provided (to maintain or encourage ideal body condition; weight loss rates not to exceed 0.5% of body weight per week). A list of purine- restricted [8] treats and their calorie content was provided with instructions not to exceed 10% of the daily energy intake as treats (Additional file 2: Table S2). Owners were encouraged to add water to the test diet (which they had previously been instructed to do when feeding the baseline diet) to promote urine specific gravity (USG) for urolithiasis management (<1.020 based on clinical experience). Owners also completed questionnaires at each visit to assess their dog’s appetite, activity level, body condition (including muscle mass), and coat condition, by using subjective scales from 1 to 5 (Additional file 3: Chart S1).

Nine dogs were enrolled in the study; all were castrated males. Six of the dogs had uroliths removed previously that were comprised of 100% urate, one dog had a scant (1%) amount of struvite present in the outer layer, one dog’s urolith was composed of 100% urate in the core and 80% urate and 20% apatite in the outer layer, and one dog’s urolith was 95% urate with 5% calcium oxalate. Breeds included 7 Dalmatians, 1 American Bulldog, and 1 “Miniature” Dalmatian. Two dogs were lost to follow up after the 2 and 6 -month visit, respectively (both Dalmatians). The median age at enrollment was 5 years (range 2–8 years). During the study, one owner reported their dog was stranguric for one day, which resolved without intervention. All other dogs remained free of any upper or lower urinary tract signs including but not limited to stranguria, hematuria, pollakiuria, urethral obstructions, abdominal pain, decreased appetite and inappropriate urinations during the 12-month study period.

24-h urinary concentrations and excretions of purines metabolites

Table 3 depicts purine metabolites analysed by the CE method; only urinary uric acid concentration was lower on the test diet compared to baseline (p = 0.008). Urinary uric acid concentrations were significantly lower at visit 2 and at visit 4 compared to visit 1 (366 ± 48.2 vs. 549 ± 48.2; p = 0.033 and 356 ± 54.6 vs. 549 ± 48.2 mg/L; p = 0.036 respectively).

Variable	Baseline (visit 1)	2 month (visit 2)	12 month (visit 4)	P value
Urine volume	685 ± 167	846 ± 167	956 ± 178	0.110
Urine HX conc.	22.9 ± 3.8	18.0 ± 3.8	22.6 ± 4.4	0.581
Urine X conc.	16.4 ± 6.1	13.2 ± 6.1	17.0 ± 6.5	0.766
Urine UA conc.	549 ± 48.2	366 ± 48.2	356 ± 54.6	0.008
Urine ALL conc.	355 ± 83.8	384 ± 83.8	385 ± 92.2	0.713
Urine HX exc.	15.5 ± 2.6	12.4 ± 2.6	13.9 ± 2.9	0.320
Urine X exc.	9.7 ± 2.1	6.71 ± 2.1	9.7 ± 2.3	0.405
Urine UA exc.	361 ± 60.2	306 ± 60.2	271 ± 66.1	0.220
Urine ALL exc.	227 ± 32.3	232 ± 32.3	179 ± 36.5	0.593

Metabolites are reported as both concentrations (conc; in mg/L) and excretions (exc; in mg/24 h), and urine volume is expressed in mL/24 h. Data are presented as the least square means ± standard error. P values result from the contrast method comparing baseline visit to visits 2 and 4 together. UA = uric acid, HX = hypoxanthine, X = xanthine, ALL = allantoin

When analysed using the colourimetric assay, no significant differences in uric acid excretions or concentrations were detected among visits (Table 4). Furthermore, there was no significant correlation (R ² = 0.06; p = 0.24) when comparing the two methodologies. However, there was a significant, but weak, correlation when the Kendall Tau test was used for evaluation (R ² = 0.52, p = 0.0084; Fig. 1).

Variable	Baseline (visit 1)	2 month (visit 2)	12 month (visit 4)	P value
Urine UA conc	669 ± 119	655 ± 119	580 ± 127	0.573
Urine UA exc	409 ± 41	401 ± 41	349 ± 45	0.412

Data reported as both concentrations (conc; mg/L) and excretions (exc; mg/24 h). P values result from the contrast method comparing baseline visit to visits 2 and 4 together. Data are presented as the least square means ± standard error. UA = uric acid

To assess accuracy regarding the urine collections by the owners, the correlation between urine volume and urine creatinine concentration was assessed with a regression (REG procedure of SAS). The correlation between urine creatinine and urine volume was significant and negative (p <0.001, Pearson’s coefficient R ² = 0.56; Additional file 4: Figure S1).

Imaging studies

Results of the scheduled ultrasound examinations are presented in Table 6. Variable amounts of echogenic sand were noted in the bladder in almost every dog, and were usually mild (Fig. 2) and occasionally moderate (Fig. 3) in severity; however, no lower urinary tract signs were concurrently present. Both renal mineralisation and lower urinary tract sand varied from visit to visit. Renal mineralisation could not be definitively localized to the parenchyma, pelvis, and/or collecting system via ultrasound, but was subjectively evaluated as mild (Fig. 4) or moderate renal mineralisation (Fig. 5), or as definitive nephroliths (Fig. 6).

	Baseline Imaging	2-month visit	6-month visit	12-month visit
Upper urinary tract
Dog 1	No renal mineralization	static	static	static
Dog 2	Moderate renal mineralization (bilateral)	static	static	static
Dog 3	Moderate renal mineralization (bilateral)	static	static	static
Dog 4	Mild renal mineralization (bilateral)	No renal mineralization	No renal mineralization	Mild left renal mineralization
Dog 5	Mild renal mineralization (bilateral)	static	static	static
Dog 6	Moderate renal mineralization (bilateral)	static	static	Bilateral nephroliths (5.3 and 6.2 mm)
Dog 7	Mild renal mineralization (bilateral)	static	static	static
Dog 8a	No renal mineralization in L Mild renal mineralization in R	static	Mild bilateral renal mineralization	N/A
Dog 9b	Focal mild renal mineralization (bilateral)	static	N/A	N/A
Lower urinary tract
Dog 1	No mineralization in bladder	static	Mild echogenic sand in bladder	Mild echogenic sand in bladder
Dog 2	No mineralization in bladder	static	static	static
Dog 3	Mild echogenic sand in bladder	static	static	static
Dog 4	Multiple large cystic calculi (largest 7.6 mm)c	No mineralization in bladder	Mild echogenic sand in bladder	No mineralization in bladder
Dog 5	Focal pinpoint bladder mineralization	Mild echogenic sand in bladder	Mild echogenic sand in bladder	Mild echogenic sand in bladder
Dog 6	Mild echogenic sand with 4.3 mm cystic calculus	Mild echogenic sand with largest calculi 2.6 mm)	Mild echogenic sand with largest calculi 4.2 mm)	Mild echogenic debris
Dog 7	Mild echogenic sand in bladder	Moderate echogenic sand in bladder	Moderate echogenic sand in bladder with 2.3 mm calculi	moderate echogenic debris with numerous calculi (largest 3.7 mm)
Dog 8a	Moderate echogenic sand in bladder	Mild echogenic sand in bladder	Mild echogenic sand in bladder	N/A
Dog 9b	Multiple small cystoliths in bladder (largest 3 mm). Suture material present	Mild echogenic sand in bladder	N/A	N/A

^alost to follow-up after 6 months

^blost to follow-up after 2 months

^cSurgery done after baseline evaluation

n/a : not applicable

One dog (dog 7) formed numerous cystic calculi between the 6 and 12 month visits; this owner did not adhere to the test diet as described above. The second dog (dog 6) had progressive nephrolithiasis as well as cystic calculi; voiding urohydropropulsion was performed at study completion, and the cystic calculi were analysed as 100% calcium oxalate. This dog’s previous stone composition was 100% urate. Abdominal radiographs were subsequently performed and showed that the renal calculi were strongly radiodense. Radiographs were available for review from the beginning of the study and no evidence of radiodense calculi were noted.

Urinary purine metabolite concentrations in dogs consuming the test diet were similar to baseline values for all dogs that completed the study. The urinary purine values achieved while consuming the test diet may be appropriate for managing these dogs with the SLC2A9 mutation and historical clinical urate urolithiasis. The management of canine urate urolithiasis has involved the restriction of dietary purine often by lowering dietary protein intake in order to decrease concentrations of urinary purine metabolites. In short-term trials in healthy beagle dogs, a casein-based diet formulated with 10.4% protein and 1% potassium citrate (dry matter basis) significantly decreased the urinary activity product ratios of uric acid, sodium urate, and ammonium urate as well as 24-h urinary uric acid excretion compared to a meat based diet with 31.4% protein (dry matter basis) [14]. We found a significant decrease in 24-h urinary uric acid concentrations only at the 6 and 12-month visits compared to baseline when evaluated by the CE method. No other differences were noted with regard to other purine metabolites when evaluated by either method. It is unclear at this time why only one variable was significantly different. It was likely not due to urine dilution because the urine specific gravity was not significantly different over time. Furthermore, no other purine concentrations were significantly lower. These results suggest that the test diet may be suitable alternative for managing dogs with genetic hyperuricosuria and a history of clinical urate urolithiasis.

While studies in dogs are not published regarding the possible side effects of long-term protein restriction, it has been demonstrated that protein requirements increase in older dogs secondary to increased protein turnover [15], and the impact of low protein diets in individuals with lower energy requirements might be more pronounced. We did not find any significant difference at 12 months compared to baseline with regard to body composition or most plasma amino acid concentrations. This was interesting as most dogs in this study were younger or middle aged at enrollment, and their maintenance energy requirements (MER) were relatively low with a median of just 88% (range 35–118%) of the estimated values for inactive pet dogs established by the National Research Council (MER = 95 x kgBW^0.75) [16]. As such, of the 7/9 dogs eating the lower protein diet at the baseline visit, 4 were not eating protein in concentrations to meet the NRC minimal requirement (2.6 g/kgBW^0.75), while 2 dogs were consuming protein in amounts that fell between the minimal requirement and the recommended allowance, and only 1 exceeded the recommended allowance (3.3 g/kgBW^0.75). After consuming the test diet for 2 months, all dogs were ingesting protein in concentrations that exceeded the NRC recommended allowance per metabolic BW. By the 6 and 12 month visits, one dog’s energy requirements had decreased so that in order to maintain stable body weight the amount of test diet was reduced to the extent that the protein intake fell below the NRC minimal requirement. Regardless, we did not find any significant difference at 12 months compared to baseline with regard to body composition or most plasma amino acid concentrations for any dogs. However, our sample population was small and we did not compare essential amino acid profiles among the diets. Larger, longer- term studies may be warranted to examine the benefit, if any, of higher dietary protein concentrations.

We noted significant differences between two different methodologies for analyzing urinary uric acid. The CE method is fast and simple; however, the careful preparation of all standards is necessary for validation. Because this method is not readily available at our institution, we commonly use the colourimetric assay, which is useful for evaluating urinary uric acid trends. The primary clinical indication for determination of 24-h urinary uric acid excretion is to titrate the dosage of allopurinol [9].

Decreasing the urinary concentration of calculogenic substances by increasing urine volume is one of the cornerstones of urolithiasis prevention [17]. In the current study, mean USG was maintained <1.020 at every visit and was not significantly different from baseline, likely because we encouraged owners to continue to provide added water for their dogs. The test diet is only available as a dry formulation, but all dogs consumed the test diet readily with appropriate amounts of water added to produce target USG (<1.020). This test diet with added water appears to maintain low urinary purine metabolite excretion for dogs that require a purine-restricted diet. However, USG should be monitored periodically in dogs with clinical urolithiasis.

Aciduria is considered a risk factor for urate urolithiasis because ammonium and hydrogen ions may precipitate with uric acid [18]. In the current study, urinary pH was lower than historically recommended [18] for urate urolithiasis management at all visits and regardless of methodology. Urinary alkalinizing agents such as potassium citrate could be considered to increase the urine pH, although studies suggest supplementation in healthy dogs may have inconsistent effects on urinary pH [19].

While consuming the test diet with added water (2-, 6- and 12-month visits for the 7 dogs that completed the study and 2- and 6-month visits for 2 dogs lost to follow up), most dogs only had mild echogenic sand in their bladders with the exception of the dog whose owner did not strictly adhere to feeding only the test diet to her dog, which developed cystic calculi at the 6- and 12-month visits. While other studies have not reported the presence or absence of renal mineralisation, we noted these findings were also subjectively static throughout the one- year study period in the dogs that completed the trial. Despite their predisposition due to gender and genetics, all dogs in the current study remained free of upper or lower urinary tract signs, despite variable amounts of mineralization noted periodically. All dogs were managed without medications such as urinary alkalinizing agents or xanthine oxidase inhibitors while consuming the test diet with added water. However, urinary sand was present in 5/7 dogs at study completion; it is unknown if lowering urinary urine acid excretion any further would be of benefit in these dogs. Furthermore, they remained free of any clinical signs, so further intervention was not initiated.

Urate calculi are not often radiodense, and contrast cystourethrograms or ultrasonography is considered more sensitive for detection of uroliths. Radiography was only able to detect 32% of cases with urate uroliths in one study, with many more dogs that required contrast cystourethrograms [20]. We opted to utilize only ultrasonography in this study for our subjective assessment of urinary mineralisation, as sedation is required at our institution to perform contrast imaging and would preclude other tests during the same visit, which required scheduled meal consumption. Actual urolith recurrence rates could not be determined in this study due to varied stages of disease of the dogs at study enrollment. Furthermore, while we did follow the dogs for one year, recurrence rates are variable and could extend past this time point. However, when evaluating clinical signs only 1 dog in our trial exhibited signs suggestive of lower urinary tract disease, and resolved without intervention.

Two dogs did develop uroliths (1 dog with cystoliths; poor diet compliance and one dog with cystoliths and nephroliths determined to be calcium oxalate). However, in the dog that developed calcium oxalate urolithiasis, not all lower urinary tract calculi were removed and none of the nephroliths were removed. The owner did not wish to pursue another surgery, due to lack of clinical signs and the intervention required. The role of diet and any other individual or environmental factors in the formation of calcium oxalate urolithiasis in this case is unknown. The urinary pH was significantly lower at the end of the study period when spot urine samples were evaluated, which could have contributed to calcium oxalate formation in this dog. The dog was monitored and a customised homemade diet was instituted after study completion to manage the complex urolithiasis. Based on this case, if progression occurs in a dog with known genetic hyperuricosuria, radiographs and ultrasound together are warranted in order to aid in identification of potential development of different types of calculi. Urine pH (preferably several spot evaluations or 24-h pooled samples) should also be evaluated to help with management strategies. Further, any subsequent calculi should be removed and submitted for analysis to aid in management, regardless of history. Of the 1650 calculi that have been submitted from Dalmatians to our laboratory, only 3/1650 (0.001%) contained only calcium oxalate, although 43/1650 (0.03%) had some portion of calcium oxalate mixed with urate or another mineral (unpublished data, University of California, Davis Stone Laboratory, Westropp, 2014).

The limitations of the study include the small sample size. It was difficult to acquire additional dogs that could visit our facility at the scheduled time periods over a one year time period, and we only included dogs with a history of clinical urate urolithiasis. We did this to ensure the purine-restricted test diet was clinically indicated for their disease process. Furthermore, actual urolith recurrence could not be accurately evaluated because some of the mineralisation noted could not be removed prior to study enrollment. Furthermore, the dogs were only studied over a one- year time period. Finally, dogs had variable states of disease when enrolled in the study. While small amounts of echogenic “sand” were visible in the bladder in some dogs during the trial, this sediment was not removed and analyzed. We assumed this sediment was comprised of urate; however, infrared spectroscopy would be required to confirm composition. It is also possible that catheterisations performed 24 h prior to the ultrasonographic evaluations could have inadvertently removed small amounts of tiny cystoliths, therefore underestimating the number of cystic calculi present at the time of imaging.

Finally, 24-h urine collections were obtained from samples that owners collected, and the dogs were not housed in metabolism cages nor had indwelling urinary catheters placed. However, there are well known limitations to entire collections of urine even in controlled environments, which impacts the accuracy of nitrogen balance studies.[21] Probably more importantly in the case of veterinary patients, many dogs do not consume their typical intake of food and water under the conditions of stressful confinement in a hospital setting, which is a large factor influencing the accuracy of assessments based on 24-h urine collections regardless of whether catheterization or free catch techniques are used. The significant negative correlation noted between urine creatinine and urine volume suggests owners did not miss a micturition.

This study evaluated the use of a low purine veterinary therapeutic diet with added water and suggests it may be beneficial as part of the management of dogs with genetic hyperuricosuria and history of clinical urate urolithiasis. Urinary uric acid concentrations were lower, and the concentrations and excretions of all other purine metabolites analysed were not different compared to baseline values despite a higher protein intake. This study suggests that urinary tract mineralisation may be a common yet incidental finding in some dogs with genetic hyperuricosuria.