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The Effects of Exercise on Microalbuminuria in Dogs

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SUMMARY:

• No quantitative increase in urine albumin concentration was seen after exercise in microalbuminuria positive dogs.
• Microalbuminuria negative dogs did not develop microalbuminuria at any time after exercise.
• Moderate exercise does not measurably affect urine albumin concentration as assessed by the E.R.D.-HealthScreen^® Canine Urine Test.

Microalbuminuria has been shown to be an early indicator of renal disease in dogs as well as people. Undetectable by routine qualitative methods that measure urine total protein, microabluminuria is defined in the dog as a urine albumin concentration >1 mg/dL and <30 mg/dL. Conditions associated with microalbuminuria in people include exercise, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, bacteriuria, severe systemic illness, and various glomerulopathies. An in-clinic assay designed as a screening test for early renal disease has recently become available to detect microalbuminuria in the dog. The clinical utility of this test is dependent on the specificity of microalbuminuria as an early indicator of renal disease. In people, exercise has been associated with reversible microalbuminuria in healthy and sick individuals. The purpose of this study was to determine if moderate exercise induced microalbuminuria in the dog.

Twenty-six healthy dogs were included in the study after undergoing screening tests to identify underlying health problems. A CBC, serum biochemical analysis, urinalysis, and urine protein:creatinine ratio were performed; animals with urinary tract infection, hyperglycemia, azotemia, or a urine protein:creatinine ratio >1 were excluded. Exercise consisted of running on a treadmill for 20 minutes on two separate occasions at least one week apart; 4 dogs were exercised only once. Most dogs ran at a speed of 5 and 7 mph for the 1st and 2nd exercise sessions, respectively, although some dogs ran faster or slower depending on size and physical condition. Urine was collected on two separate days prior to exercise, the morning of exercise, 3 hours post-exercise, 7-9 hours post exercise, and the two mornings immediately following the exercise session. Urine sediment examinations were performed on all samples collected the day of exercise. Samples were assayed for microalbuminuria using the E.R.D.-Screen™ Urine Test according to manufacturer instructions.

The population of dogs consisted of 11 males and 15 females with a mean age of 4.2 years and mean weight of 28.8 kgs. Four out of 26 dogs (15%) were positive for microalbuminuria. In each of these, microalbuminuria was present both before and after exercise. There was no quantitative increase in urine albumin concentration after exercise in microalbuminuria positive dogs. The remaining 22 dogs (85%) were microalbuminuria negative throughout the study and did not develop microalbuminuria at any time after exercise.

We conclude that moderate exercise does not measurably affect urine albumin concentration as assessed by the E.R.D.-Screen Urine.

Reproduced with permission of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.