In Adult Dogs, Does Feeding a Raw Food Diet Increase the Risk of Urinary Calculi Formation Compared to Feeding a Complete Dry Kibble Diet?

a Knowledge Summary by

Emma Taylor BSc (Hons) 1

Nieky van Veggel MSc CBiol FHEA 1*

1Writtle University College, Lordship Road Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 3RR, United Kingdom
*Corresponding Author (nieky.vanveggel@writtle.ac.uk)

Vol 3, Issue 2 (2018)

Published: 17 Apr 2018

Reviewed by: Morag Moseley (RVN DMS Cert SAN) and Sue Badger (MEd, Cert Ed, RVN)

Next Review date: 1 Jun 2019

DOI: 10.18849/VE.V3I2.155
PICO question

In adult dogs, does feeding a raw food diet alter urine composition compared to a kibble diet?

Clinical bottom line

The evidence provided by the single study identified is weak and the outcomes can neither support nor challenge the hypothesis that a raw food diet increases the risk of urinary calculi compared to a kibble diet. Therefore, professionals working within the veterinary science or nutrition field should proceed with caution when advising clients and rely on their professional experience until more evidence is generated.

Clinical scenario

During consultation you are asked by a client if a raw food diet supports the prevention of kidney stone formation in dogs because they have read on an internet forum that a raw food diet is a healthy and natural alternative to kibble that alleviates a number of health issues. The client is now seeking additional advice from you. You decide to explore the available literature that investigates the effect of raw feeding is on urine composition in dogs.

The evidence

There is currently very little published evidence which studies the effect of raw feeding on urine composition.

The literature search returned 129 records of which 120 records were excluded because they were not related to the PICO.  A further 5 records were excluded because they investigated the use of meat-meal with carbohydrate biscuit rather than raw meat, 1 record was excluded as it was non-primary research and 1 record excluded for investigating non-urinary parameters. The study by Dijcker et al., (2012) identified that currently, evidence is undetermined on whether a raw food diet maintains healthy urinary composition parameters or increases the risk or urolithiasis in adult canine dogs. The findings from this paper found that feeding a commercially available dry kibble diet was associated with a high urine calcium to creatinine (Ca/Cr) ratio compared to the raw diet which was associated with a lower Ca/Cr ratio. 

Summary of the evidence

Dijcker (2012)
Population: Dogs aged between 1.3 to 16.1 years of age, 13 female (of which 4 entire), 10 male (of which 4 entire), bodyweight range 12-35 kg.
Sample size: 23
Intervention details: Treatment group 1 (n = 23): Fed raw food over a 4-week period Treatment group 2 (n = 23): complete and balanced dry extruded feed over a 4-week period. Each diet started with a 3-day gradual diet change, and diets were provided by owners.  
Study design: Cohort (study 1) and RCT (study 2) in crossover design
Questionnaire from private owners
Outcome Studied:

Uox and Uca excretion rates and the dietary and animal related factors which are associated with these parameters.

A single urine sample was collected in week 4 of the diet by the owner through natural voiding. Urine sample was divided immediately between a non-acidified vial and an acidified vial containing 2N HCl. Samples were stored at -20 °C until analysis.

Uox was measuring using isotope dilution mass spectrometry, whereas Uca was measured atomic absorption spectroscopy.
Main Findings
(relevant to PICO question):		 Urinary creatinine concentration high in dogs fed raw meat diet (TG1)
Limitations:
  • High degree of non-completers (38/64) with another 3 dogs excluded as outliers.
  • Small sample size (n = 23)
  • Questionnaire with high risk of bias. Inconsistencies with urine sampling by owners
  • Inconsistences in urine storage by owners
  • Reliance on owners providing research diets

Appraisal, application and reflection

The option to feed a raw diet to dogs has grown in popularity and is now readily available commercially.  Historically, there has been concern regarding excessive protein intake and the potential increase of calculi promoting substances such as calcium and uric acid (Robertson et al., 1979).  This concern has been steadily increasing (Lulich et al., 1999) which has led to the association of a high protein diet with the increased risk of renal damage (Singer, 2003). Interest in the health benefits of a protein fed diet is increasing, however studies measure the relationship between protein and growth rather than welfare and health. Studies are also based on results from comparatively brief studies of less than 6 months.  Furthermore, the majority of research conducted focusing on raw feeding, assesses the transmission rate of zoonotic disease and the risk this poses to human health (Joffe and Schlesinger, 2002; Strohmeyer et al., 2006; Finley, et al., 2006; Lefebvre et al., 2008).

It was noted at the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) 2016 Congress, that standardised information and advice is limited and not easily available to veterinarians, which reduces their ability to advise clients correctly. This lack of evidence-based peer reviewed research was addressed by Goh (2016), who found that advice concerning a raw feed diet often stems from anecdotal evidence only.

There is currently very little published evidence which studies the effects of raw feeding on urine composition and therefore on urinary calculus formation or urinary tract health. Additionally, there is still little evidence-based scientific research and a lack of feeding trials which supports the hypothesis that raw diets are a healthier or more nutritionally balanced than other diets (Michel, 2006; van Veggel & Armstrong, 2017).

Methodology Section

Search Strategy
Databases searched and dates covered: CAB Abstracts (1973-2017), PubMed (1950-2017)
Search terms: (dog OR dogs OR canine OR canines OR bitch OR bitches) AND (raw OR BARF OR 'biologically appropriate raw feed' OR natural OR meat OR 'raw food*' OR 'raw diet*') AND (urine and (composition or analysis or constituent))
Dates searches performed: 1st June 2017

Exclusion / Inclusion Criteria
No limitations regarding study design, setting, sample size or study population were imposed.
Exclusion:
  • Review Papers
  • Dogs under 1 year of age
  • Mixed diet
  • Non-urinary parameters
  • Non-peer reviewed publications
Inclusion:
  • Primary research papers
  • Dogs over 1 year of age
  • Urinary composition
  • Complete raw feed

Search Outcome

Database

Number of results

Excluded – not related to PICO

Excluded – non-primary research

Excluded – under 1 year of age

Excluded – not complete raw food

Excluded – non-urinary composition

Total relevant papers

CAB Abstracts

 32 29 1 0 1 0 1

PubMed

 97 91 0 0 4 1 1

Total relevant papers when duplicates removed

 1

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

  1. Dijcker, J. C., Hagen-Plantinga, E. A., Everts, H., Bosch, G., Kema, I. P. and Hendriks, W. H. (2012) ‘Dietary and animal-related factors associated with the rate of urinary oxalate and calcium excretion in dogs and cats.’ The Veterinary record, 171(2) p. 46. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/vr.100293
  2. Finley, R., Reid-Smith, R., Ribble, C., Popa, M., Vandermeer, M. and Aramini, J. (2008) ‘The occurrence and antimicrobial susceptibility of salmonellae isolated from commercially available canine raw food diets in three Canadian cities.’ Zoonoses and Public Health, 55(8–10) pp. 462–469. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1863-2378.2008.01147.x
  3. Finley, R., Reid-Smith, R. and Weese, J. S. (2006) ‘Human health implications of Salmonella-contaminated natural pet treats and raw pet food.’ Clinical Infectious Diseases: An Official Publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, 42(5) pp. 686–691. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/500211
  4. Goh, L.-M. (2016) ‘BSAVA Congress 2016 - Raw food diets for dogs and cats: do we know enough?’ Veterinary Record, 178 pp. 549–550.
  5. Joffe, D. J. and Schlesinger, D. P. (2002) ‘Preliminary assessment of the risk of Salmonella infection in dogs fed raw chicken diets.’ The Canadian Veterinary Journal = La Revue Veterinaire Canadienne, 43(6) pp. 441–442.
  6. Lefebvre, S. L., Reid-Smith, R., Boerlin, P. and Weese, J. S. (2008) ‘Evaluation of the risks of shedding Salmonellae and other potential pathogens by therapy dogs fed raw diets in Ontario and Alberta.’ Zoonoses and Public Health, 55(8–10) pp. 470–480. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1863-2378.2008.01145.x
  7. Lulich, J.P., Osborne, C.A., Thumchai, R., Lekcharoensuk, C., Ulrich, L.K., Koehler, L.A., Bird, K.A., Swanson, L.L. and Nakagawa, Y. (1999) ‘Epidemiology of canine calcium oxalate uroliths.’ Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 29(1) pp. 113-122. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0195-5616(99)50007-7
  8. Lunn, K. F. (2011) ‘Raw Food Diets in Dogs: Concerns for Canine and Human Health.’ Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, 24(2) pp. 1–2. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.asams.2011.01.001
  9. Michel, K. E. (2006) ‘Unconventional Diets for Dogs and Cats.’ Veterinary Clinics: Small Animal Practice, 36(6) pp. 1269–1281. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2006.08.003
  10. Robertson, W. G., Heyburn, P. J., Peacock, M., Hanes, F. A. and Swaminathan, R. (1979) ‘The effect of high animal protein intake on the risk of calcium stone-formation in the urinary tract.’ Clinical Science (London, England: 1979), 57(3) pp. 285–288. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1042/cs0570285
  11. Schlesinger, D. P. and Joffe, D. J. (2011) ‘Raw food diets in companion animals: A critical review.’ The Canadian Veterinary Journal, 52(1) pp. 50–54.
  12. Singer, M. A. (2003) ‘Dietary protein-induced changes in excretory function: a general animal design feature.’ Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 136(4) pp. 785–801. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpc.2003.08.012
  13. Strohmeyer, R. A., Morley, P. S., Hyatt, D. R., Dargatz, D. A., Scorza, A. V. and Lappin, M. R. (2006) ‘Evaluation of bacterial and protozoal contamination of commercially available raw meat diets for dogs.’ Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 228(4) pp. 537–542. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2460/javma.228.4.537
  14. van Veggel, N. and Armstrong, M. (2017) ‘In Dogs with Periodontal Disease Is Feeding a Complete Raw Meat Diet More Effective Than a Complete Kibble “Dental” Diet at Reducing Periodontal Disease?’ Veterinary Evidence, 2(2). DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18849/ve.v2i2.88

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