Background Studies have shown an increased prevalence of positive urine culture (PUC) in cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD); no information is available in dogs. Objectives To document the PUC frequency in a cohort of dogs with CKD, determine risk factors for PUC, and identify associations between clinicopathologic data and PUC. Animals Two hundred one client‐owned dogs with CKD. Methods Retrospective, observational study. Dogs recruited from 2 veterinary teaching hospitals were included if they were diagnosed with CKD and had a culture performed on urine collected by cystocentesis. The PUC frequency was calculated, multivariate analysis was performed to identify risk factors, and associations with clinicopathologic data were investigated. Results Sixty‐five dogs (32%) with CKD had PUC, including 8 (28%) in International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) stage 1; only 8% showed signs of a urinary tract infection. Escherichia coli was the most common isolate (67%). A PUC was more likely in females (odds ratio [OR], 3.22; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.67‐6.37; P < .001) than males and in dogs with isosthenuria (OR, 2.48; 95% CI, 1.24‐5.03; P = .01) than in dogs with urine‐specific gravity 1.013‐1.024. A positive leukocyte esterase test and microorganisms found by urine sediment analysis were significantly associated with PUC (both P < .001). Conclusions and Clinical Importance Dogs with CKD, even IRIS stage 1, have a high frequency of PUC and most cases are asymptomatic. A urine culture could be considered in the routine evaluation of dogs with CKD, but the clinical relevance of a PUC remains unknown and needs further evaluation.

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Background Limited information is available concerning treatment of ionized hypercalcemia in cats. Hypothesis/Objectives Describe clinical findings in a cohort of cats with persistent ionized hypercalcemia and evaluate long‐term tolerance and efficacy of alendronate in these patients. Animals Twenty cats with persistent ionized hypercalcemia of undetermined origin, presented for routine or referral consultation at the teaching hospital of Maisons‐Alfort (France). Methods Medical records were retrospectively reviewed. Cats were divided into Group 1 (cats that received alendronate as well as other treatments, n = 11) and Group 2 (cats that did not receive alendronate, n = 9). Survival analysis (Kaplan‐Meier method, log‐rank test, and Cox proportional hazard models) was conducted to compare time to selected outcomes. Results Azotemia was present in 15 cats (75%). Alendronate treatment was administered and well tolerated during the entire follow‐up period (median, 9.5 months; interquartile range [IQR], 6.3; 27) in all cats from Group 1, except in 1 cat that developed severe hypophosphatemia, prompting treatment discontinuation. Univariate analysis determined that alendronate treatment was significantly associated with shorter time to reach a 15% decrease in ionized calcium concentration (iCa) from baseline during follow‐up (119 days vs median not reached, P = .02). This association was no longer significant after adjustment for age and initial iCa. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Alendronate overall was well tolerated with chronic use in this cohort, and can be considered a treatment option for persistent ionized hypercalcemia in cats.

Objectives: Acquired oesophageal strictures remain challenging to manage in canine and feline patients. The aims of this study were to describe the treatment, complications, short-term outcome and long-term follow-up of benign oesophageal strictures treated by balloon dilatation or stenting in dogs and cats and to describe adjunctive techniques to minimise the complication rate of stent placement. Materials and MethOds: Retrospective analysis of medical records of dogs and cats with benign oesophageal stricture diagnosed under endoscopy between 2002 and 2019. results: Eighteen dogs and nine cats were included, representing 39 strictures. Balloon dilatation was used as first-line therapy, with a good outcome in 59% of cases. Stents were placed in eight cases due to stricture recurrence; 88% had a long-term satisfactory outcome. Short-term complications occurred in six of eight cases; migration and aberrant mucosal reaction were uncommon. In three cases, progressive mesh cutting during follow-up reduced discomfort and trichobezoars formation and improved long-term stent tolerance. Overall median survival time was 730 days. clinical significance: Long-term prognosis of balloon dilatation as a first-line therapy for esophageal strictures and of stenting as a rescue therapy was considered satisfactory. Although discomfort associated with stenting was frequent, tolerability might be improved by per-endoscopic adjunctive techniques. a These authors contributed equally.

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