Table 3.
Canine-matched case-control odds ratios for dichotomous owner-reported risk factors for CKD, with lower (LC) and upper (UC) 95% confidence limits.
| Risk factor description | Odds ratio | LC | UC | Yrs1 noticed before Dx (SD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Being female | .968 | .59 | 1.6 | |
| Being neutered | .55 | .20 | 1.5 | |
| Excessive thirst or drinking more than a usual amount of water: (x_thrst) | 4.4 | 2.3 | 8.4 | .74 (2.1) |
| Urinating more frequently than usual: (Ur_more) | 4.7 | 2.2 | 10 | .71 (2.2) |
| Urinating larger volume than usual: (Ur_large) | 3.8 | 1.6 | 9.4 | .51 (2.0) |
| Urinating in the wrong place: (Ur_acc) | 2.7 | 1.4 | 5.4 | .60 (1.8) |
| Unexplained weight loss: (Wgtloss) | 9.5 | 3.4 | 27 | .38 (1.8) |
| Visible loss of muscle/strength | 2.0 | .90 | 4.5 | |
| Unexplained weight gain | 3.0 | .81 | 11 | |
| Decreased appetite: (Dec_ap) | 5.1 | 2.5 | 10 | .43 (1.5) |
| Refusal to eat for > than one day: (Refusal) | 11.7 | 3.6 | 38 | .22 (1.2) |
| Vomiting (more frequently than other dogs): (Vomit) | 3.5 | 1.4 | 8.7 | .45 (2.0) |
| Lethargic (excessive sleeping, fatigue, low-energy): (Leth) | 2.3 | 1.2 | 4.2 | .16 (.45) |
| Constipation | 1.7 | .40 | 7.0 | |
| Excessive gas (flatulence) | 1.6 | .52 | 4.9 | |
| Dental problems | 1.6 | .64 | 3.9 | |
| Gum problems (oral ulcers, etc.) | 4.0 | .45 | 36 | |
| Excessive plaque or tartar on teeth: (Plaque) | 2.6 | 1.2 | 5.5 | .80 (2.5) |
| Bad breath: (Breath) | 2.9 | 1.4 | 6.0 | 1.2 (2.9) |
| Excessive skin or coat odor | 2.7 | .71 | 10 | |
| Abnormal or poor hair coat | .70 | .30 | 1.6 | |
| Pale mucous membranes (eyes, mouth, etc.) | 1.3 | .34 | 4.7 | |
| Eye problems or changes | 1.1 | .41 | 3.2 | |
| Mobility problems (stiffness or limping) | .62 | .33 | 1.1 | |
| Loss of vision | 1.6 | .73 | 3.5 | |
| Loss of hearing | 1.1 | .41 | 3.2 | |
| Teeth professionally cleaned at least yearly | 1.23 | .73 | 2.1 | |
| Water always available | — | — | — | |
| Outside more than just for walks | .56 | .26 | 1.2 | |
| Frequently exposed to dogs outside the household | .65 | .32 | 1.3 | |
| Sometimes or frequently exposed to mice | 1.1 | .53 | 2.2 | |
| Inappropriate urination, blood in urine, painful urination, infection, stones, cystitis, plugged, and so forth. | .90 | .37 | 2.2 | |
| Neurological disease | .5 | .13 | 2.0 | |
| Seizures | 1.4 | .54 | 3.8 | |
| Liver problems | 4.5 | .97 | 21 | |
| Dental problems | 2.0 | .81 | 5.0 | |
| Behavioral problems | 3.0 | .61 | 15 | |
| Neoplasm (cancer) | .47 | .19 | 1.1 | |
| Eye disease | 1.1 | .41 | 3.2 | |
| Glaucoma | 2.0 | .18 | 22 | |
| Ear infections or other ear problems | .63 | .33 | 1.2 | |
| Gastrointestinal problems | .64 | .25 | 1.6 | |
| Parasitic problems | .46 | .16 | 1.3 | |
| Reproductive problems | — | — | — | |
| Obesity | 1.6 | .77 | 3.3 | |
| Diabetes | 2.0 | .18 | 22 | |
| Hyperthyroidism | 1.0 | .20 | 5.0 | |
| Musculoskeletal (muscles, bones) | .69 | .30 | 1.6 | |
| Hip dysplasia | .33 | .07 | 1.7 | |
| Dermatologic (skin diseases) | .79 | .40 | 1.6 | |
| Cardiovascular diseases (heart disease) | 4.0 | .45 | 36 | |
| Osteodystrophy | — | — | — |
1Number of years before veterinary diagnosis when this disease was diagnosed or observation first noticed in the CKD case. Shown only for statistically significant risk factors.