Is the Urine P:C Ratio of benefit in dogs and cats that have evidence of a urinary tract infection?
In the majority of cases of postrenal disease, a urine protein:creatinine ratio offers little diagnostic benefit and may be misinterpreted as a false-positive result. The protein in postrenal disease is of cellular origin (RBC, WBC, bacteria, tumor cells, etc.), and is not indicative of glomerular disease. In this case, a high urine protein:creatinine ratio may result due to a high protein level without a corresponding high creatinine level. Glomerular function cannot be evaluated until the underlying postrenal disease is resolved. It is important to mention that pyelonephritis (bacterial infection of the kidneys) will also have bacteria in the urine and should be suspected in complicated UTI cases or whenever there is a UTI in a clinically ill patient.
