Epidemiologic evaluation of canine urolithiasis in Thailand from 2009 to 2015.

The cross-sectional study described the epidemiology of 8560 canine urolith submissions from Thailand to the Minnesota Urolith Center between January 2009 and December 2015. The frequency of urolith types, the relationships between urolith type and breed, sex, and neutered status, and change of annual submission proportion over the study period were analyzed. Struvite was the most common canine urolith (44%), and was commonly found in intact females with a mean age of 6.

Comparison of foods with differing nutritional profiles for long-term management of acute nonobstructive idiopathic cystitis in cats.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of nutrition on recurrent clinical signs of lower urinary tract (LUT) disease in cats with idiopathic cystitis.

Design: Randomized, controlled, masked clinical trial.

Animals: 31 cats with acute nonobstructive idiopathic cystitis.

Risk factors for calcium carbonate urolithiasis in goats.

Objective: To identify demographic or signalment factors associated with calcium carbonate urolith formation in goats.

Design: Retrospective case series and case-control study.

Animals: 354 goats with calcium carbonate uroliths (case animals) and 16,366 goats without urinary tract disease (control animals).

An APRT mutation is strongly associated with and likely causative for 2,8-dihydroxyadenine urolithiasis in dogs.

2,8-Dihydroxyadenine (2,8-DHA) urolithiasis in people is caused by autosomal recessive mutations in the adenine phosphoribosyltransferase gene (APRT). 2,8-DHA urolithiasis has recently been reported in two dogs, but, to the authors' knowledge, no studies have yet investigated the genetic basis for susceptibility to the development of 2,8-DHA urolithiasis in this species. Our aim was to sequence APRT in dogs affected by 2,8-DHA urolithiasis and compare the results to clinically healthy dogs of similar ancestral lineages.

Efficacy of two commercially available, low-magnesium, urine-acidifying dry foods for the dissolution of struvite uroliths in cats.

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of using 2 commercially available, low-magnesium, urine-acidifying dry foods to dissolve sterile struvite uroliths in cats.

Design: Prospective, multicenter, randomized clinical trial .

Sample: 37 cats with presumed struvite uroliths.

Epidemiological evaluation of cystine urolithiasis in domestic ferrets (Mustela putorius furo): 70 cases (1992-2009).

Objective: To determine the prevalence of cystine uroliths in domestic ferrets with urolithiasis and determine whether age, breed, sex, reproductive status, anatomic location, and season are risk factors associated with cystine urolith formation.

Design: Retrospective cross-sectional case-control study.

Sample: Records of 435 ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) with uroliths submitted for analyses between 1992 and 2009, of which 70 were cystine uroliths.

Effects of storage in formalin on composition of canine and feline uroliths.

Objective: To determine whether storage in neutral-buffered 10% formalin in vitro has any effect on the composition of biogenic minerals of canine and feline uroliths.

Design: Prospective in vitro study.

Sample Population: Canine and feline uroliths submitted to the Minnesota Urolith Center from 34 dogs and 27 cats.

Risk factors for urate uroliths in cats.

Objective: To identify demographic factors associated with urate urolithiasis in cats and determine whether the rate of urolith submission to a laboratory had changed over time.

Design: Case series and case-control study.

Animals: Cases consisted of 5,072 cats with urate uroliths submitted to the Minnesota Urolith Center between January 1, 1981, and December 31, 2008.

Effects of a urolith prevention diet on urine compositions of glycosaminoglycans, Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein, and nephrocalcin in cats with calcium oxalate urolithiasis.

Objective: To evaluate urine concentrations of glycosaminoglycans, Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein, and nephrocalcin in cats fed a diet formulated to prevent calcium oxalate uroliths.

Animals: 10 cats with calcium oxalate urolithiasis.

Procedures: In a previous study conducted in accordance with a balanced crossover design, cats were sequentially fed 2 diets (the diet each cat was consuming prior to urolith detection and a diet formulated to prevent calcium oxalate uroliths).

Followership and leadership: promoting unity in academia.

As we plan our future in the twenty-first century, many believe that we face more problems than ever before, including the rising cost of sustaining teaching, research, and service programs in a climate in which state support for higher education is declining. Some commonly held opinions blame leaders and thus propose solutions that are based on the premise that leaders who are perceived to be ineffective should be replaced by those who promise to correct the situation. Leadership is a frequently discussed term, whereas the concept of followership is generally ignored.

Epidemiology of struvite uroliths in ferrets: 272 cases (1981-2007).

Objective: To confirm that the predominant mineral type in naturally occurring uroliths in ferrets is struvite; to determine whether age, breed, sex, reproductive status, geographic location, season, and anatomic location are risk factors associated with urolith formation in ferrets; to compare features of struvite uroliths in cats with those in ferrets; and to determine whether there is a logical evidence-based rationale for clinical trials of the safety and efficacy of diet-induced dissolution of struvite uroliths in ferrets.

Design: Retrospective case-control study.

Animals: 408 ferrets with uroliths (272 struvite uroliths) from the Minnesota Urolith Center, and 6,528 control ferrets from the Veterinary Medical Database.

Enterolith with a stingray spine nidus in an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus).

In March 2006, a dead, male bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) was found in the salt marsh in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. During necropsy, an enterolith was found completely obstructing the intestinal lumen. Further examination of the enterolith revealed a stingray spine nidus.

Rate and frequency of recurrence of uroliths after an initial ammonium urate, calcium oxalate, or struvite urolith in cats.

Objective: To determine frequency of and interval until recurrence after initial ammonium urate, calcium oxalate, and struvite uroliths in cats and whether breed, age, or sex was associated with increased risk for urolith recurrence.

Design: Case-control study.

Animals: 4,435 cats with recurrent uroliths.

Comparison of laser lithotripsy and cystotomy for the management of dogs with urolithiasis.

Objective: To compare efficacy, required resources, and perioperative complications between laser lithotripsy and cystotomy for urolith (ie, urocystoliths and urethroliths) removal in dogs.

Design: Retrospective case-control study.

Animals: 66 dogs with urolithiasis treated by laser lithotripsy (case dogs) and 66 dogs with urolithiasis treated by cystotomy (control dogs).

Efficacy and safety of laser lithotripsy in fragmentation of urocystoliths and urethroliths for removal in dogs.

Objective: To characterize the efficacy and safety of laser lithotripsy in the fragmentation of urocystoliths and urethroliths for removal in dogs.

Design: Prospective case series.

Animals: 100 dogs with naturally occurring urocystoliths and urethroliths.

Analysis of 451,891 canine uroliths, feline uroliths, and feline urethral plugs from 1981 to 2007: perspectives from the Minnesota Urolith Center.

Urolithiasis is a general term referring to the causes and effects of stones anywhere in the urinary tract. Urolithiasis should not be viewed conceptually as a single disease with a single cause, but rather as a sequela of multiple interacting underlying abnormalities. Thus, the syndrome of urolithiasis may be defined as the occurrence of familial, congenital, or acquired pathophysiologic factors that, in combination, progressively increase the risk of precipitation of excretory metabolites in urine to form stones (ie, uroliths).

Canine uroliths: frequently asked questions and their answers.

This article is devoted to answering frequently asked questions from veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and pet owners about urolithiasis and the detection, treatment, and prevention of various types of uroliths from various locations in the urinary tract. It has been divided into the following topics: urolith analysis, urolith types, diagnosis, treatment and prevention, urolith recurrence, urinalysis, diet, water, and miscellaneous. The information is geared toward both professionals (eg, the chemical analysis of uroliths) and pet owners (eg, the practical considerations of diet).

Changing paradigms in the treatment of uroliths by lithotripsy.

Surgery remains a common procedure for removal of uroliths from the lower urinary tract of dogs. Incorporation of intracorporeal laser lithotripsy and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy has provided impetus for a paradigm shift in the way veterinarians manage urinary stones, however. These minimally invasive techniques provide a successful alternative to surgical urolith extraction.

Paradigm changes in the role of nutrition for the management of canine and feline urolithiasis.

Results of experimental and clinical investigation have confirmed the importance of dietary modifications in medical protocols designed to promote dissolution and prevention of uroliths. The objectives of medical management of uroliths are to arrest further growth and to promote urolith dissolution by correcting or controlling underlying abnormalities. For therapy to be most effective, it must promote undersaturation of urine with lithogenic crystalloids by 1) increasing the urine solubility of crystalloids, 2) increasing the volume of urine in which crystalloids are dissolved or suspended, and 3) reducing the quantities of lithogenic crystalloids in urine.

Changing paradigms in ethical issues and urolithiasis.

This article defines the ethics involved in the medical treatment of patients. Using a case example, the authors discuss the treatment of uroliths from an ethical and medical perspective. Uroliths are defined, and treatment is discussed and explained.

Changing paradigms in the diagnosis of urolithiasis.

A paradigm shift is a fundamental change from a traditional model of thinking. This article presents four paradigm shifts in the diagnoses of urolithiasis, based on the experiences of the authors in the treatment of uroliths in dogs and cats. Case examples are provided to illustrate points regarding urine storage, ultrasonography, use of radiography to assure complete removal of uroliths, and the frequency of upper tract uroliths in cats.