Abstract
BackgroundRecently, urine protein:creatinine ratios (UPC) were shown to be lower in urine samples from dogs collected at home (AH) as compared to those collected in hospital (IH). Stress‐inducing procedures and travel to the hospital have been hypothesized to cause prerenal proteinuria.ObjectivesEvaluate patient stress using urine cortisol:creatinine ratios (UCCr) and correlate UCCr to UPC in urine samples obtained AH and IH.AnimalsThirty‐six healthy, client‐owned dogs.MethodsProspective, non‐masked study. Two voided urine samples were obtained (AH and IH). Complete urinalysis as well as UPC and UCCr were performed. Clients graded their dogs' stress level AH, in transport, and IH.ResultsThe UCCr was significantly higher in IH samples than in AH samples (P < .0001), but UPC was not significantly different between AH and IH urine samples (P = .14). In all samples and in both collection settings, UCCr was not significantly correlated with UPC. Travel time and time IH were not correlated with change in UCCr or UPC. In 8 dogs with borderline or overt proteinuria, no significant difference was found in UPC between settings, but UCCr was significantly higher in IH samples.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceThe UPC was not higher when measured in urine samples collected IH compared to AH. Dogs had higher UCCr IH, but UCCr was not associated with UPC. Stress, as estimated by UCCr, did not affect proteinuria. Further evidence is needed to support the claim that stress may result in proteinuria in healthy dogs.
Highlights
urine cortisol:creatinine ratios (UCCr) was higher in samples collected from dogs at a veterinary hospital compared to UCCr in samples collected at home (AH), before transport
Despite the increase in UCCr suggesting an increase in stress, dogs did not experience a concurrent significant increase in urine protein:creatinine ratios (UPC), regardless of the initial UPC result
The similar findings in UPC in AH and in hospital (IH) environments differ from results of previous studies.[3,20]
Summary
The method and timing of urine collection may influence urinalysis and other urine test results.[1,2] Voided urine samples may be obtained by the client at home (AH) or samples may be collected during theJ Vet Intern Med. 2020;34:777–782.wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/jvim CITRON ET AL.patient's evaluation in hospital (IH). Other nonrenal factors, such as stress, have been hypothesized to cause transient, nonpathologic prerenal proteinuria in dogs.[3]. Urine protein:creatinine ratios (UPC) were shown to be lower in urine samples from dogs collected at home (AH) as compared to those collected in hospital (IH). Stress-inducing procedures and travel to the hospital have been hypothesized to cause prerenal proteinuria. Objectives: Evaluate patient stress using urine cortisol:creatinine ratios (UCCr) and correlate UCCr to UPC in urine samples obtained AH and IH. Complete urinalysis as well as UPC and UCCr were performed Clients graded their dogs' stress level AH, in transport, and IH. In 8 dogs with borderline or overt proteinuria, no significant difference was found in UPC between settings, but UCCr was significantly higher in IH samples. Further evidence is needed to support the claim that stress may result in proteinuria in healthy dogs
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