Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Bacteria in urine of dogs and cats without urinary issues - what to
By Tallaksen, Jessica M et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2026·Department of Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Subclinical bacteriuria and pyuria in companion animals without signs of lower urinary tract disease: prevalence and associations in a prospective cross-sectional study using multimodal analytics.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that 9.81% of dogs and 6.67% of cats without any signs of urinary tract issues had bacteria in their urine (subclinical bacteriuria) and 2.88% of dogs and 1.05% of cats had white blood cells in their urine (subclinical pyuria). Certain health conditions, like previous urinary infections or kidney issues, were linked to higher chances of these findings, especially in dogs. While these conditions are often overlooked in pets, the study suggests that veterinarians may need to consider these factors when diagnosing urinary health.
People also search for: dog urinary tract infection symptoms · cat kidney disease signs · dog urine bacteria treatment
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Subclinical bacteriuria (SB) and pyuria (SP) are recognized in companion animals, yet their prevalence and comorbidities in those without signs of lower urinary tract disease (LUTD) remain underexplored. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: Determine SB and SP prevalence, identify associations, and compare species differences. ANIMALS: Two hundred eighty-seven cats and 533 dogs without LUTD signs. METHODS: Prospective cross-sectional study with retrospective analysis of medical records. RESULTS: Subclinical bacteriuria prevalence was 6.67% in cats and 9.81% in dogs. Subclinical pyuria was rarer in cats (1.05%) than in dogs (2.88%). Concurrent SB and SP occurred in 0.3% of cats and 2.5% of dogs (P = .0275), highlighting species-specific patterns. Higher urinary white blood cell levels were associated with higher urine bacterial levels (P < .001). In cats, key multivariable logistic regression associations increasing the composite outcome variable (SP, SB, or SP and SB) odds included previous diagnoses of lower urinary tract infection (LUTI; odds ratio [OR] 5.6 [95% confidence limit or 95CL 2-15.6), diabetes mellitus (OR 6.5 [95CL 1.4-30.3]), hyperthyroidism (OR 9.6 [95CL 1.2-77]), and current diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI; OR 7.5 [95CL 2.1-27]); in dogs, a previous diagnosis of AKI (OR 9.9 [95CL 1.3-76.9]), and current diagnoses of AKI (OR 9.9 [95CL 2.3-43.5]) and LUTI (OR 23.3 [95CL 12.5-43.5]). Machine learning revealed additional associations, including hypercortisolism in dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: These findings underscore distinct risk profiles between species, suggesting tailored diagnostic approaches in veterinary practice. The rarity of concurrent SB and SP, unlike in humans, questions the application of human guidelines to animals.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41742555/