Purina and UC Davis partner to advance urinary tract health

Photo: Nikol/Adobe Stock

Nestlé Purina PetCare has announced a 5-year collaboration with the University of California, Davis (UC Davis), to advance scientific understanding of urinary conditions in dogs and cats. At the same time, the partners will provide care for patients afflicted with urinary diseases. A Purina grant of nearly $1 million over the 5-year span will allow companion animal veterinarians to provide free urinary stone analysis results to patients at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine’s GV Ling Urinary Stone Analysis Laboratory (USAL), in Davis, California.¹

“Urinary diseases are common and often recurrent problems in companion animals. The shared goal of the USAL and Purina’s global research teams is to advance the science of urinary tract health in companion animals by investigating the relationship between diet, environmental and patient factors, and urinary tract conditions, including urolithiasis.” Sheri Smithey, PhD, senior vice president, Global PetCare R&D at Purina, said in a news release.¹ “Data obtained through the USAL submission process will be essential to helping us better understand these relationships and expand clinical and research endeavors to improve urinary health in dogs and cats.”

The USAL will provide free analyses, interpretations, and consultations to veterinary practitioners for as many as 800 new stone submissions every year for the next 5 years.¹ Researchers hope to use the influx of data to improve their understanding of urolithiasis management and abnormal tissue mineralization.

“Because the risk factors for urinary stone disease are complex and multifactorial, our goal is to better understand urolith formation while helping veterinarians work with their clients to tailor and optimize preventative management strategies.” Jodi Westropp, DVM, PhD, director at USAL, said in the release.¹

Urolithiasis, commonly known as urinary stones or kidney stones, are a common condition responsible for lower urinary tract disease in cats and dogs. Several factors are responsible for the formation of bladder stones (calculi), including²:

• High salt concentration in urine
• Retention of salts and crystals for a significant amount of time
• Optimal pH favoring salt crystallization
• Scaffold for crystal formation
• Decrease in body’s natural inhibitors of crystal formation

Outward signs of pets afflicted with urolithiasis will vary depending on the location of the stones. The majority of urinary stones are located in the bladder or urethra. Stones lodged in kidneys or ureters are less common. Stones may damage the urinary tract lining, causing inflammation, which may predispose an animal to a bacterial urinary tract infection (UTI). There is a chance that stones block the flow of urine, which requires immediate veterinary attention.²

Evaluation of blood or urine is typically recommended for diagnosis of urinary stones. Imaging tests—like X-rays and ultrasounds—are the most performed imaging techniques for urinary stones. Urinary stones are named after their mineral composition. The most common stones are struvite, calcium oxalate, urate, cystine, and silicate stones.²

UC Davis Veterinary Medicine has led the way in urology research and development for years. In 2022, Larry Cowgill, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Internal Medicine), alum and professor at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, led the charge for the American College of Veterinary Nephrology and Urology (ACVNU) to be provisionally recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).³ Years later, UC Davis' collaboration with Purina, and the information they hope to gain, encourages future innovations in veterinary urology.

“Thanks to this generous grant from Purina, we look forward to building stronger relationships with veterinary practitioners and providing them with evidence-based tools to better manage patients and meet their needs,” Westropp said in the release.¹

References

1. Purina and UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine Announces 5-Year Collaboration to Advance Urinary Tract Health in Pets. News release. Nestle Purina Pet care. September 17, 2024. Accessed September 17, 2024. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/purina-and-uc-davis-school-of-veterinary-medicine-announce-5-year-collaboration-to-advance-urinary-tract-health-in-pets-302250460.html
2. Urinary Stones. American College of Veterinary Surgeons. Accessed September 17, 2024. https://www.acvs.org/small-animal/urinary-stones/
3. UC Davis spearheads formation of Nephrology and Urology Specialty College. dvm360. May 18, 2022. Accessed September 17, 2024. https://www.dvm360.com/view/uc-davis-spearheads-formation-of-nephrology-and-urology-specialty-college