Case-Control Study of Risk Factors Associated with Feline and Canine Chronic Kidney Disease

Table 1

Feline-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
Being female	.91	.49	1.7
Being neutered	—	—	—
Excessive thirst or drinking more than a usual amount of water^1	4.6	2.0	10
Urinating more frequently than usual^1	4.0	1.5	11
Urinating larger volume than usual^1	7.5	1.7	33
Urinating in the wrong place (not in the litter box or outside)^1	.47	.19	1.1
Unexplained weight loss^1	1.6	.90	3.0
Visible loss of muscle/strength ^1	1.0	.42	2.4
Unexplained weight gain^1	—	—	—
Decreased appetite^1	1.4	.76	2.7
Refusal to eat for $>$ than one day^1	1.8	.74	4.7
Vomiting (more frequent, not just hairballs)^1	1.1	.64	2.1
Lethargic (excessive sleeping, fatigue, low-energy)^1	1.2	.60	2.5
Constipation^1	.88	.32	2.4
Excessive gas (flatulence)^1	—	—	—
Dental problems^1	1.0	.43	2.3
Gum problems (oral ulcers, etc.)^1	.83	.25	2.7
Excessive plaque or tartar on teeth^1	.90	.37	2.2
Bad breath^1	.90	.37	2.2
Excessive skin or coat odor^1	.57	.11	4.0
Abnormal or poor hair coat^1	.79	.36	1.7
Pale mucous membranes (eyes, mouth, etc.)^1	.33	.067	1.7
Eye problems or changes^1	.55	.20	1.5
Mobility problems (stiffness or limping)^1	1.2	.51	2.9
Loss of vision^1	.20	.023	1.7
Loss of hearing^1	.60	.14	2.5
Never had teeth professionally cleaned	.96	.55	1.7
Water always available^2	—	—	—
Having water refill only once per day^2	.52	.25	1.1
Cat was outside at least some of the time^2	.84	.43	1.6
Sometimes exposed to other cats^2	.71	.32	1.6
Some exposure to house mice^2	.66	.37	1.2
Lower urinary tract disease (including infection, stones, cystitis, plugged, etc.)^2	1.5	.72	3.1
Neurological disease^2	.67	.11	4.0
Seizures^2	1.0	.14	7.1
Liver problems^2	.20	.023	1.7
Dental problems^2	.87	.41	1.8
Behavioral problems^2	.63	.20	1.9
Neoplasm (cancer)^2	.43	.11	1.7
Eye disease^2	1.3	.34	4.7
Glaucoma^2	—	—	—
Ear infections or other ear problems^2	.57	.17	2.0
Frequent vomiting (not just hairballs)^2	.81	.39	1.7
Gastrointestinal problems ^2	1.2	.39	3.5
Parasitic problems^2	2.5	.49	13
Reproductive problems^2	—	—	—
Obesity^2	.93	.44	2.0
Diabetes^2	2.0	.37	11
Hyperthyroidism^2	4.5	.97	21
Musculoskeletal (muscles, bones)^2	.33	.035	3.2
Hip dysplasia^2	—	—	—
Dermatologic (skin diseases)^2	1.2	.37	3.9
Cardiovascular diseases (heart disease)^2	.75	.26	2.2
Osteodystrophy^2	—	—	—

¹Observations in the one year before the CKD diagnosis in the case.
²Observations in all years before the CKD diagnosis in the case.