Short-term Effects of Surgical Sterilization on Urinary PH and Specific Gravity, Blood Urea Nitrogen, Serum Creatinine, and Urinary Protein to Creatinine Ratio in Sexually Intact Male and Female Dogs

Surgical sterilization is a widely accepted method for mitigating the birth of unwanted dogs and reducing the incidence of reproductive diseases. However, the sterilization of domestic dogs has sparked debate among veterinarians and owners about its effect on urinary parameters. This study aimed to investigate the short-term impacts of surgical sterilization on urinary parameters in healthy adult sexually intact male and female dogs. Ten healthy adult sexually intact mongrel dogs (۵ males and five females) weighing ۱۵ to ۲۰ kg participated in this study. This study only included those who were at least ۱-year-old to ensure they had reached sexual maturity. If a dog's urine sample is abnormally colored or turbid, has a pH greater than ۷.۵, and is confirmed to have a positive bacterial culture, it will be excluded. Physical, CBC, and biochemical examinations such as measuring blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (Cr) concentrations and urinalysis (including to determine urine pH and specific gravity (USG) measurement, calculation of the urinary protein to creatinine (UPC) ratio, and dipstick evaluation) were performed on each dog. After sterilization surgery, the dogs underwent physical, CBC, biochemical examination, and urinalysis at least ۱۵ days later. Urine samples were collected by cystocentesis and stored at ۴° C for analysis. After being centrifuged at ۳۰۰۰ g for ۵ minutes, the urinalysis was conducted within ۴ hours of collection. There were no significant differences (P>۰.۰۵) between the mean BUN and Cr, UPC, USG, and urine pH before and after ovariohysterectomy and castration. The study found castration and ovariohysterectomy did not short-term impact urinary parameters in healthy adult sexually intact male and female dogs. However, it is uncertain how sterilization affects urinalysis results in sexually intact dogs, and more research with larger sample sizes is necessary to determine the impact.

Keywords:

Dogs , Female , Male , Surgical sterilization , Urinalysis