Urinary stones composed of calcium oxalate (CaOx) are common in dogs. Certain canine breeds have a strikingly high prevalence of disease, while others appear protected. For example, the Miniature Schnauzer and Bichon Frise have greater than 20 times the risk of developing CaOx stones compared to mixed breed dogs. Other commonly affected breeds include the Shih Tzu, Lhasa Apso, Pomeranian, poodle (miniature and toy), Dachshund, and terrier (e.g. Yorkshire, Cairn, Jack Russell). These breed predispositions strongly support underlying genetic risk factors for the disease. Our project currently involves the collection of DNA samples from dogs with a history of CaOx stones (cases) and dogs that have never formed this stone type (controls). We aim to compare the DNA of these two groups to identify genetic determinants of the disease. An understanding of the pathophysiology of CaOx stones is fundamental to the development of therapeutic and preventative strategies in canine breeds.
