Hyperuricosuria (HUU)

last updated DRAFT STAGE

Hyperuricosuria (HUU)

Hyperuricosuria (HUU) is an inherited disorder among dogs causing them to metabolise waste products as uric acid. This excessive level of uric acid in the urine, predisposes dogs to form stones in their bladders or sometimes kidneys.
Most dogs that form stones will do so beginning at around four years of age.

Commonly Symptoms:
Recurrent urinary tract inflammation, frequent urination, blood in the urine, and straining to urinate.
In some cases, dogs with the disease experience lethargy, loss of appetite, and vomiting due to the build-up of toxins inside the body.

Urinary stones in the bladder can cause urinary tract infections or more seriously, blockage of the Urethra.

Both male and female dogs can be affected, but obstruction of urine flow is more common in males due to differences in anatomy, and is more dangerous, where the blockage of the urinary tract can become life threatening.

Removal of these stones often requires surgery. 

Reading

I can find no direct evidence of HUU in English Cocker Spaniels - at this stage


HUU Around The World

Genetic testing has proven to be a invaluable tool and an intrinsic part of breeding healthy cockers and reducing the likelihood of disease.

% are more important when considering these statistics rather than the numbers recorded above, as some dogs results may have been duplicated in different databases

Research Notes HUU

...

Hyperuricosuria is a metabolic disorder resulting in elevated levels of uric acid in blood and urine. This trait predisposes dogs to form urate bladder stones

Symptoms
Difficulty urinating, blood in urine, urinary incontinence, abdominal pain. Some complications are possible: acute kidney failure, urinary tract infection, or rupture of bladder. Predisposition to urate bladder stones caused by this mutation is variable according to breeds. Most of homozygous mutated dogs never show symptoms.

This condition, can occur in any breed but is most commonly found in American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Dalmatians, Bulldogs, Black Russian Terriers, Large Munsterlander , Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla, Weimaraner and Spanish Waterdog.

informal data collected from CSDB
Data lasted updated January 2025

HUU
Fatal Renal (kidney) failure.
Mode of Inheritance
 Autosomal Recessive
This is a heredity condition passed on from the parents.
Onset
 Juvenile
Clinical Symptoms usually develop 6mths - 2yrs.
Testing Available
 DNA
Reliable DNA testing is available for this disorder through multiple ninternational Labs (It can not be done at your local vets).
Clinical Symptoms
Urate stones can also be produced due to another condition known as a Portosystemic Shunt
Breeding Strategy
 1 Clear Parent
To ensure progeny are not affected by this condition at least 1 parent must be clear.

Urate stones can also be produced due to another condition known as a Portosystemic Shunt

Gene involved SLC2A9 Mutation tested c.616G>T Transmission mode: Autosomal recessive Publication: Bannasch et al. (2008). Mutations in the SLC2A9 Gene Cause Hyperuricosuria and Hyperuricemia in the Dog.