Retrospective Evaluation of the Prevalence and Prognosis of Hypochloremia in Dogs and Cats

TL;DR

This study found that low chloride levels in pets are common and linked to higher death rates, especially in cats and hospital-acquired cases.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into the prevalence and prognosis of corrected hypochloremia in veterinary patients.

Findings

Corrected hypochloremia was found in 13.9% of dogs and 34.9% of cats.

Hospital-acquired hypochloremia had higher case-fatality rates than prehospital cases.

Urologic, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal diseases were the most common associated conditions.

Abstract

To determine the prevalence, case‐fatality rate, and primary disease processes associated with corrected hypochloremia (hypo[Cl−]) in dogs and cats.

Single‐center retrospective study.

Electronic medical records were reviewed to identify dogs and cats with at least one chloride and sodium concentration measured simultaneously during a 60‐month period.

A total of 17,120 dogs and 4197 cats presented to a veterinary teaching hospital.

None.

Measured hypo[Cl−] was diagnosed in 23.3% (3981/17,120) dogs and 59.0% (2475/4197) cats. Corrected hypo[Cl−] was diagnosed in 13.9% (2388/17,120) dogs and 34.9% (1463/4197) cats. The case‐fatality rates were higher in animals with measured and corrected hypo[Cl−] than those with normal corrected [Cl−] (p < 0.0001). The case‐fatality rate was also higher in cats with corrected hypo[Cl−] than those with measured hypo[Cl−] (p = 0.0002), but they were not different in dogs (p = 0.74). Of the dogs and cats with corrected hypo[Cl−], a total of 74.5% (1779/2388) dogs and 74.6% (1091/1463) cats were categorized as prehospital corrected hypo[Cl−], and a total of 20.9% (498/2388) dogs and 17.3% (253/1463) cats were categorized as hospital‐acquired corrected hypo[Cl−]. The case‐fatality rates of dogs and cats with hospital‐acquired corrected hypo[Cl−] were higher than those with prehospital corrected hypo[Cl−] (p < 0.0001). Various primary disease processes were identified in animals with corrected hypo[Cl−]. Of these, urologic, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal diseases were the three most common disease processes identified in dogs and cats with corrected hypo[Cl−].

Corrected hypo[Cl−] was a common electrolyte abnormality and was associated with higher case‐fatality rates than normal corrected [Cl−]. Various disease processes were associated with corrected hypo[Cl−], and closer attention to corrected hypo[Cl−] is warranted.

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