Evaluation of urinary carnitine and taurine excretion in 5 cystinuric dogswith carnitine and taurine deficiency

Five client-owned dogs with cystinuria were diagnosed with carnitine and ta urine deficiency while participating in a clinical trial that used dietary management of their urolithiasis. Stored 24-hour urine samples collected fr om the cystinuric dogs before enrollment in the clinical diet trial were qu antitatively evaluated for carnitine and taurine. These results were compar ed to those obtained from 18 healthy Beagles. Both groups of dogs were fed the same maintenance diet for a minimum of 2 weeks before 24-hour urine col lection. The protocol used for 24-hour urine collections was the same for c ystinuric dogs and healthy Beagles except that cystinuric dogs were cathete rized at baseline. 8 hours. 12 hours, and at the end of the collection, whe reas Beagles were catheterized at baseline, 8 hours, and at the end of the collection. Three of 5 dogs with cystinuria had increased renal excretion o f carnitine. None of the cystinuric dogs had increased renal excretion of t aurine, but cystinuric dogs excreted significantly less (P <.05) taurine in their urine than the healthy Beagles. Carnitinuria has not been recognized previously in either humans or dogs with cystinuria, and it may be I risk factor for developing carnitine deficiency. Cystinuric dogs in this study w ere not taurinuric; however, cystine is a precursor amino acid for taurine synthesis. Therefore. cystinuria may be 1 risk factor for developing taurin e deficiency in dogs. We suggest that dogs with cystinuria be monitored for carnitine and taurine deficiency or supplemented with carnitine and taurin e.