Patient and environmental factors associated with calcium oxalate urolithiasis in dogs

Objective-To test the hypothesis that breed, age, sex, body condition, and environment are risk factors for development of calcium oxalate uroliths in dogs. Design-Case-control study. Animals-1,074 dogs that formed calcium oxalate uroliths and 1,724 control d ogs that did not have uroliths, Procedure-A validated multiple-choice questionnaire was designed to collect information from veterinarians and owners within 1 year of the date of uro lith detection concerning signalment and environment of the dogs, Univariat e and multivariate analyses were performed to calculate odds ratios to asse ss whether breed, age, sex, body condition, and environment were risk facto rs for calcium oxalate urolith formation. Results-Middle-aged (8- to 12-year-old) castrated male dogs had increased r isk for formation of calcium oxalate uroliths, Urolith formation was also a ssociated with increasing age. Dogs of certain breeds, including Miniature and Standard Schnauzer, Lhasa Apso, Yorkshire Terrier, Bichon Frise, Shih T zu, and Miniature and Toy Poodle, had increased risk for developing calcium oxalate uroliths, Overweight dogs also had increased risk. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Knowledge of patient and environmental r isk factors for development of calcium oxalate uroliths may facilitate deve lopment of surveillance strategies that result in earlier detection of this disease. Modification of environmental factors and body weight may minimiz e calcium oxalate urolith formation and recurrence.