Research Communications of the 24th ECVIM-CA Congress

In 53 of 100 dogs SBP exceeded 160 mmHg, none of the dogs had fundoscopic lesions secondary to hypertension. Body condition score was abnormal in 41 animals, 39 were overweight or obese. Physical examination revealed a heart murmur in 22, submandibular lymphadenopathy in 13, moderate to severe dental plaque in 51 and one or more (sub)cutaneous masses in 56 dogs. Twenty-three dogs were leukopenic, 29 had a decreased phosphorus, 32 an increased serum creatinine and one dog a decreased total thyroxine (with concurrent increased thyroid stimulating hormone). Crystalluria was commonly detected (62/96) and mostly due to low numbers (<1/high power field) of amorphous crystals (82%). Struvite crystals were present in 18% of the crystalluric dogs. Overt and borderline proteinuria were detected in 13 and 18 of 98 dogs, respectively. Four dogs had a positive urinary culture. SBP was not significantly different between the senior and geriatric group. There was no significant effect of obesity or gender on SBP. The platelet count (p = 0.014), total thyroxine concentration (p = 0.008) and the frequency of orthopedic problems (p = 0.007) and cutaneous masses (p = 0.002) were significantly higher in the geriatric compared to the senior dogs. Hematocrit (p = 0.007) and body temperature (p = 0.044) were significantly lower in the geriatric group.