Urinalysis in Great Dane Puppies from Birth to 28 Days of Age

Abstract

Urinalysis, a common test in infants, could represent a suitable non-invasive clinical tool in puppies. In dog neonates, urine is easily collected by stimulating the somato-vesccal reflex. Information on urine characteristics during the neonatal period is missing. Beside instrumental laboratory analyses, the dipstick was proven useful for rapid urinalysis to evaluate specific gravity (SG), pH, leukocytes, nitrites, glucose, proteins, ketones, urobilinogen, bilirubin, and blood. The present study aimed to describe urinalysis features by the dipstick test and refractometer along the neonatal period. Urine samples (n = 624) were collected by manual stimulation from 48 healthy Great Danes, daily from birth to seven days, then twice a week until 28 days, to assess age-related changes (ANOVA, p < 0.05) and the possible effects of gender and litter (T-test, p < 0.05). The SG and pH significantly changed during the neonatal period. Other parameters did not vary significantly in relation to age. No significant differences were observed either among litters or between genders. The present study confirmed that canine kidneys are able to concentrate urine from the second week of age when the urinary SG started to be similar to adults, while pH still increased towards the typical values of adults at 28 days. Significant glucosuria and proteinuria were never detected. Dipstick urinalysis represents a useful first-line complementary tool in newborns clinical examination, providing information about systemic homeostasis.

Effects of Alfaxalone or Propofol on Giant-Breed Dog Neonates Viability During Elective Caesarean Sections

“…Sixty-nine healthy, viable [21,22,40], and normal-weighted [23,49,50] puppies were born. In order to ensure the collection of both amniotic and allantoic fluids from the same puppy, and to reduce to the minimum the possibility of mistakes between fetal fluids collection/identification and newborn records, it was chosen not to sample entire litters, but around half of the total number of puppies from each litter.…”

“…However, the study of the possible effect of a drug on fetal distress and neonatal outcome could be affected by several factors, namely the methods to assess fetal distress or newborn viability, the clinical requirement of C-section (emergency or planned), and the type of anesthesia protocol [13,14,15,16]. Furthermore, also the health and the management of the pregnant bitch could influence the fetal well-being and development [17,18], and, when an elective C-section is planned, also the identification of the correct day for surgery, in terms of physiologic end of pregnancy and fetal maturation for birth is pivotal [18,19,20,21,22,23,24].…”

Neonatal Proteinuria in Calves—A Quantitative Approach

“…Proteinuria occurs in healthy newborns of many animal species and humans; however, high species and individual variability in the frequency, duration and 24 h quantity of excreted proteins is observed, especially in the first days after birth [ 3 , 8 , 11 , 14 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ].…”

“…It should be noted, however, that the causes of neonatal proteinuria, mechanism, frequency and dynamics have not been clearly explained. Many studies have focused on proteinuria in newborn and sick children and animals, especially dogs and cats [ 4 , 11 , 13 , 19 , 20 , 21 ]. There are no data in the literature on the occurrence of proteinuria in neonatal calves.…”

Urinalysis in dog and cat: A review

“…Glucose may appear in the urine if glycemia surpasses the renal threshold or even if renal tubular reabsorption is reduced [41]. Chemical strip detects glucose through an enzyme chemical reaction that leads to a color change proportional to the amount of glucose available.…”