INFLUENCE OF 4 DIETS CONTAINING APPROXIMATELY 11-PERCENT PROTEIN (DRY-WEIGHT) ON URIC-ACID, SODIUM URATE, AND AMMONIUM URATE URINE ACTIVITYPRODUCT RATIOS OF HEALTHY BEAGLES

Urine activity product ratios of uric acid (APRua), sodium urate (APRn a), and ammonium urate (APRau), and urinary excretion of 10 metabolite s were determined in 24-hour urine samples produced by 6 healthy Beagl es during periods of consumption of 4 diets containing approximately 1 1% protein (dry weight) and various protein sources: a 72% moisture, c asein-based diet; a 10% moisture, egg-based diet; a 72% moisture, chic ken-based diet; and a 71% moisture, chicken-based, liver-flavored diet . Significantly (P < 0.05) higher APRua, APRna, and APRau were observe d when dogs consumed the egg-based diet, compared with the other 3 die ts; there were no differences in these ratios among the other 3 diets. Twenty-four-hour urinary excretions of chloride, potassium, phosphoru s, and oxalic acid were significantly (P < 0.05) higher when dogs cons umed the egg-based diet. Twenty-four-hour urinary excretions of sodium were significantly (P < 0.05) higher when dogs consumed the egg-based diet, compared with the casein-based diet and the chicken-based, live r-flavored diet, but were not significantly different between the egg- based diet and chicken-based diet. Twenty-four-hour urine volume was s imilar when dogs consumed the 4 diets. Twenty-four-hour endogenous cre atinine clearance was significantly (P < 0.05) lower when dogs consume d the casein-based diet; there were no differences among the other 3 d iets. Although consumption of all diets was associated with production of alkaline urine, the 24-hour urine pH was significantly (P < 0.05) higher when dogs consumed the egg-based diet. These results suggest th at use of diets containing approximately 10.5% protein (dry weight) an d 70% moisture in protocols designed for dissolution and prevention of urate uroliths may be beneficial. The source of dietary protein in ca nned formulated diets does not appear to significantly influence the s aturation of urine with uric acid, sodium urate, or ammonium urate.