Acute kidney injury is common in dogs with septic peritonitis and is associated with increased mortality.

OBJECTIVE

To identify the frequency of and risk factors for acute kidney injury (AKI) in dogs undergoing abdominal surgery for septic peritonitis, and to evaluate outcome and kidney-related risk factors for survival to discharge in those dogs.

ANIMALS: 77 dogs that underwent abdominal surgery for septic peritonitis.

METHODS

Medical records of dogs that underwent surgery for septic peritonitis from 2012 through 2022 were reviewed. Data regarding signalment, clinical and biochemical findings at presentation, blood creatinine concentration throughout hospitalization, surgery characteristics, postoperative monitoring, and outcome were collected. Dogs were classified based on occurrence of AKI and whether they presented with or developed AKI in-hospital. Perioperative risk factors were evaluated, and outcomes were compared with univariable logistic regression.

RESULTS

31 dogs (40.3%) had AKI diagnosed; 18/77 (23.4%) dogs presented with AKI, 11 (61.1%) of which had it postoperatively, and 13/77 (16.9%) dogs developed AKI postoperatively. Significant factors for presenting with AKI included increasing baseline respiratory rate (OR 2.5 for every 10 beats per minute higher), decreasing systolic blood pressure (OR 0.8 for every 10 mm Hg higher), and increasing body condition score (OR 2.2 for every score greater). No significant factors for developing AKI postoperatively were identified after multiple comparisons adjustment. Sixteen dogs (20.8%) did not survive to discharge; 12 (75.0%) had AKI and 4 (25.0%) did not. Dogs with AKI had decreased odds of survival to discharge (OR 0.2).

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: AKI was common in dogs with septic peritonitis and was a significant risk factor for survival to discharge. Clinical surveillance of AKI is critical in this population.