Accuracy of serum beta-hydroxybutyrate measurements for the diagnosis of diabetic ketoacidosis in 116 dogs.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of serum beta-hydroxybutyrate (beta-OHB) measurements for the diagnosis of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in dogs. One hundred sixteen diabetic dogs were prospectively enrolled in the study: 18 insulin-treated (IT) diabetic dogs that had a positive urine ketone test and 88 untreated, newly diagnosed diabetic dogs. Venous blood gas tensions and pH, serum glucose and urea nitrogen (SUN), and electrolyte (Na+, Cl-, and K+) and urine acetoacetate (AA) concentrations were measured concurrently with serum beta-OHB concentrations.