Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Blood urea nitrogen to albumin ratio predicts death risk in dogs
By Baek, Minsu et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary science·2026·Department of Obstetrics, South Korea·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Blood urea nitrogen-to-albumin ratio predicts mortality in dogs with pyometra.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A female dog with pyometra, a serious infection of the uterus, was evaluated for her chances of recovery using a blood test that measures the ratio of blood urea nitrogen to albumin (BUN/ALB). The results showed that dogs with higher BUN/ALB ratios were more likely to not survive, both before and after surgery. This test could help veterinarians predict outcomes in dogs with pyometra and make better treatment decisions. The study suggests that monitoring this ratio can be a useful tool in managing this condition.
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Abstract
IMPORTANCE: Pyometra is a common reproductive disorder in intact female dogs and can progress to sepsis and multi-organ dysfunction. Accurate prognostic indicators are needed to guide clinical management. The blood urea nitrogen-to-albumin ratio (BUN/ALB) has been reported as a prognostic marker in human sepsis but has not been evaluated in canine pyometra. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prognostic value of the BUN/ALB in canine pyometra before and after surgery. METHODS: In this retrospective study, BUN/ALB was compared among survivors, non-survivors, and healthy dogs. The BUN/ALB was calculated as blood urea nitrogen (mg/dL) ÷ albumin (g/dL). Analyses included one-way analysis of variance with the Holm-Sidaktest, Mann-Whitney tests, Jonckheere-Terpstra trend analysis, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. RESULTS: Preoperative BUN/ALB was higher in dogs with pyometra than in healthy dogs, with the highest values in non-survivors. ROC analysis showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.86 and an optimal cut-off of 8.935 (sensitivity of 73.08%, specificity of 90.91%). Postoperatively, the BUN/ALB remained higher in non-survivors (AUC, 0.81; cut-off, 8.445; sensitivity, 68.28%, specificity, 83.33%). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The BUN/ALB was significantly associated with mortality in dogs with pyometra both pre- and postoperatively. The BUN/ALB may serve as a simple, inexpensive, and readily available prognostic marker to support clinical decision-making in canine pyometra.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41947680/