Comparison of the efficacy of two anti-uric acid diets in Dalmatian dogs

Commercial anti-uric acid diets for dogs may contain insufficient protein t o sustain growth and lactation. In order to investigate the efficacy of an experimental purine-free diet moderately low in protein, its effect on urin ary uric acid excretion was compared with that of a commercial dog food and a commercial low-protein anti-uric acid diet. The experimental diet, comme rcial dog food and commercial anti-uric acid diet contained 10.0, 12.8 and 5.0 g crude protein/MJ metabolizable energy, respectively. Twelve Dalmatian dogs were subjected to a 3 x 3 Latin square study. Although the plasma uri c acid concentration was significantly lower when the dogs were fed either the commercial anti-uric acid diet (18.7 +/- 6.0 mu mol/l, mean +/- SD, n = 12) or the experimental diet (19.2 +/- 8.3 mu mol/l), when compared to the commercial dog food (29.2 +/- 11.1 mu mol/l), no significant decrease of u ric acid concentration in urine collected before the morning meal was seen. The average concentration of urinary uric acid was 60 mu mol/l. There was a significant increase in the urea:creatinine ratio in urine when the dogs were fed the experimental diet compared to the commercial anti-uric acid di et, confirming that the experimental diet contained more protein. The exper imental diet lowered plasma uric acid and was relatively high in protein an d thus may be suitable for use in growing and lactating dogs to prevent amm onium urate urolithiasis.