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Canine Mendelian disease record

Hyperuricosuria (HUU)

Hyperuricosuria (HUU). Autosomal recessive. Observed in 61 of 266 breeds tested in the Sniff Atlas, with measured carrier frequencies drawn from 242,658 dogs (Donner 2023). Per-dog phenotype outcome depends on penetrance, modifiers, and environment; the carrier frequencies below describe variant prevalence, not disease incidence.

OMIA identifier
OMIA:001033-9615
Autosomal recessive
Source dataset
Sniff Atlas v1.0.1 / DOI
The plain version

Hyperuricosuria (HUU) is a condition where a dog's body produces too much uric acid, which can affect the urinary system and potentially lead to issues like bladder stones.

How it is inherited. This condition is inherited in an autosomal recessive way, meaning a dog needs to inherit two copies of the gene variant, one from each parent, to be affected.

It is known to occur in Dalmatians and Weimaraners, with a high carrier rate especially in Dalmatians.

Being a carrier is not the same as being affected, and it’s worth asking your vet about testing if you have one of these breeds.

Carrier rates in well-studied breeds
  • Dalmatian · 92%
  • Weimaraner · 14%

Educational carrier context from the Sniff disease layer (Donner 2023 (carrier) + substrate; educational, not diagnostic). Not a diagnosis and not a prediction about your dog. See the full carrier chart below for sample sizes and the Donner cohort when available.

Context source: Donner 2023 (carrier) + substrate; educational, not diagnostic · dataset doi:10.5281/zenodo.20566358 . We would rather give you a short plain summary with a receipt than invent comfort.

The human connection

Related human gene biology (not the same disease)

This involves the same gene (SLC2A9, a urate transporter) studied in people. In dogs, HUU means high uric acid in blood and urine (hyperuricemia / hyperuricosuria) and urate-stone risk. A related human condition, renal hypouricemia type 2, is defined by low blood uric acid from a kidney reabsorption defect. Shared transporter biology, not the same disease. Not a diagnosis; talk with your veterinarian for clinical interpretation.

SLC2A9 OMIM:606142

Gene-level shared biology only. Not a disease-level model-of link, not a diagnosis, and not a claim that the canine condition equals a human disease.

About this disease

From OMIA's curated record

Documented in OMIA (Online Mendelian Inheritance in Animals). This describes the disease as recorded in the published literature, not a prediction for any individual dog. As of 2026-08-27.

Summary

This entry focuses on hyperuricosuria and hyperuricemia and resulting urate urolithiasis. Not all dogs with hyperuricosuria and hyperuricemia will develop urolithiasis. For cystine urolithiasis see various entries for cystinuria: OMIA:000256-9615 : Cystinuria, type I - A in Canis lupus familiaris (dog), OMIA:001879-9615: Cystinuria, type II - A in Canis lupus familiaris (dog), OMIA:001880-9615 : Cystinuria, type II - B in Canis lupus familiaris (dog), OMIA:001881-9615 : Cystinuria, type III in Canis lupus familiaris (dog). The reference list below includes some papers relating to other forms of urolithiasis (e.g. calcium oxalate or struvites) and it is noted that some forms of urolithiasis do not have a genetic aetiology. For example, any cause of severe hepatic dysfunction may predispose dogs to urate lithogenesis (Bartges et al., 1999).

Clinical features

Individuals with a mutation at the SLC2A9 gene accumulate uric acid due to inefficient transport of uric acid in both the liver and renal proximal tubules (Bannasch et al., 2008). High levels of uric acid excretion predispose the formation of ammonium urate uroliths (Bartges and Callens, 2015). Clinical signs are secondary to urate urolith formation in the ureter, bladder, and urethra. Uroliths are more commonly reported in male dogs with the first episode of calculus formation in Dalmatians in males at about 4.5 years and in females at 5.5 years of age (Case et al. 1993). Affected "dogs may have pollakiuria or hematuria, or they may be asymptomatic. Small uroliths may be voided in urine, or the urine may be turbid. If urethral obstruction is present, owners may notice the dog attempting to urinate and not voiding any urine or systemic signs of obstructive uropathy (i.e., anorexia, vomiting, muscle fasciculations, depression, collapse). Urate nephroliths may be asymptomatic or may be associated with silent gross hematuria. Nephroliths that obstruct both renal pelves or both ureters are associated with systemic signs of postrenal azotemia" (Bartges et al. 1999) Systemically, hyperkalemia, metabolic acidosis, and dehydration can be observed in some animals (Bartges and Callens, 2015). IT thanks DVM student Nancy Wang, who provided the basis of this contribution in May 2023.

Molecular genetics

Sequencing and expression analysis of one of the four positional candidate genes (see Mapping section) by Bannasch et al. (2008) identified the causal mutation as "a missense mutation (G616T;C188F)" in the SLC2A9 gene. All Dalmations are homozygous for this mutation. Karmi et al. (2010) conducted two studies in which they genotyped dogs of several other breed for this variant and identified that the variant is present with lower allele frequencies in American Staffordshire Terrier, Australian Shepherd, German Shepherd Dog, Giant Schnauzer, Parson (Jack) Russell Terrier, Labrador Retriever, Large Munsterlander, Pomeranian, South African Boerboel, Weimaraner, Bulldogs and Black Russian Terriers breeds. Cosgrove, Hammond and Mclauchlan (2015) identified the variant in Spanish Water dogs.

History

All Dalmations are homozygous for a SLC2A9 mutation that causes hyperuricosuria and hyperuricemia and this mutation occurs at lower allele frequency in many other breeds.

Related human gene

OMIA records a human gene entry in OMIM for the shared transporter. Disease-level human counterparts are not asserted here.

Gene · OMIM 606142

Source: OMIA (Nicholas, Tammen & the Sydney Informatics Hub), entry OMIA:001033-9615, doi:10.25910/2AMR-PV70 (CC-BY 4.0).

OMIA curates the disease definition, the clinical description and the reference list. The cross-species disease identity is Monarch's. Sniff renders these and adds the breed-level frequencies, the plain-language summary, and a stated reason wherever a number is missing.

The evidence

Published references

The peer-reviewed papers behind this disease, curated by OMIA. Starred entries are OMIA-designated landmark papers. Showing 6 of 83.

References curated by OMIA (Nicholas, Tammen & the Sydney Informatics Hub), doi:10.25910/2AMR-PV70 (CC-BY 4.0). Full list at the OMIA entry.

Predict a litter

Set each parent's status for Hyperuricosuria (HUU) and see the odds for their puppies. Single recessive variant, exact Mendelian math.

Parent A
Parent B
NNClear
NmCarrier
NmCarrier
mmAffected
Clear25%
Carrier50%
Affected25%

These are the genetic odds for one known variant, not a promise: a real litter varies around them, and penetrance or other genes can change whether the condition ever appears. Use it to avoid pairing two carriers and to keep a line healthy, not to engineer a dog. Inheritance mode per OMIA.
Your breed

See what Hyperuricosuria (HUU) looks like in your dog's breed.
Carrier frequency by breed

Top 25 well-sampled breeds (n ≥ 50)

Maximum per breed across variants in the Donner 2023 cohort, with . The list below is split into well-sampled breeds (n ≥ 50 tested) and small-sample breeds (n < 50, where the Wilson CI typically spans more than 20 percentage points and frequencies should not be compared directly to the well-sampled entries). Frequencies are population-level, not per-litter or per-line.

0%50%100%
Dalmatian92.7% · n 820
Bulldog Standard17.9% · n 4,816
Weimaraner14.6% · n 647
Schnauzer Giant12.2% · n 230
Bulldog American11.5% · n 540
Anatolian Shepherd Dog7.6% · n 66
American Staffordshire Terrier6.3% · n 42,793
Parson Russell Terrier5.5% · n 181
Boerboel5.2% · n 165
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog4.2% · n 59
Airedale Terrier4.0% · n 200
Australian Shepherd3.1% · n 2,296
Kromfohrlander3.0% · n 197
Argentine Dogo2.0% · n 225
Catahoula Leopard Dog1.9% · n 154
n = 53,389 dogs · Donner et al. 2023 carrier-screening cohort · Sniff Atlas
Each bar is one well-sampled breed; the whisker is its Wilson 95% CI, and fainter bars have wider intervals. Frequencies are population-level, not per-litter. Carrier status for Hyperuricosuria (HUU) is measured; phenotype outcome depends on penetrance and modifiers.
▸ Full table with Wilson 95% confidence intervals
Breed Carrier frequency n tested
Dalmatian 92.7% 820
Bulldog Standard 17.9% 4,816
Weimaraner 14.6% 647
Schnauzer Giant 12.2% 230
Bulldog American 11.5% 540
Anatolian Shepherd Dog 7.6% 66
American Staffordshire Terrier 6.3% 42,793
Parson Russell Terrier 5.5% 181
Boerboel 5.2% 165
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog 4.2% 59
Airedale Terrier 4.0% 200
Australian Shepherd 3.1% 2,296
Kromfohrlander 3.0% 197
Argentine Dogo 2.0% 225
Catahoula Leopard Dog 1.9% 154
German Wirehaired Pointer 1.8% 84
Lagotto Romagnolo 1.3% 623
Spanish Water Dog 1.0% 96
Danish Swedish Farmdog 0.82% 61
Boston Terrier 0.81% 3,702
Presa Canario 0.78% 64
German Shorthaired Pointer 0.72% 1,252
Belgian Malinois 0.72% 1,186
Cane Corso 0.69% 145
Russell Terrier 0.63% 239

Top 25 of 52 well-sampled breeds with at least one observed carrier shown.

▸ Also observed in 9 small-sample breeds (n < 50)

Frequencies in this section are statistical estimates with wide Wilson 95% confidence intervals (typically >20 percentage points). Treat these as "carriers observed but the true population frequency is not yet measurable" rather than as comparable to the well-sampled entries above.

Breed Estimate n tested
Black Russian Terrier 21.7% 23
Munsterlander Large 20.0% 5
Schapendoes 20.0% 45
Wirehaired Vizsla 16.7% 3
Munsterlander Small 10.0% 15
German Hunting Terrier 7.7% 13
Maremma Sheepdog 6.8% 37
Basset Fauve De Bretagne 1.9% 27
Lacy Dog 1.6% 32

205 additional breeds in the Donner 2023 cohort were tested but showed no carriers.

Penetrance

From genotype to phenotype

Carrier status is not the same as disease status. Penetrance is the fraction of at-risk dogs that develop the phenotype. The Donner 2023 S4 table tracks this for 1 variant(s) underlying this disease in the cohort.

At-risk dogs evaluated
1
Phenotype confirmed
0
Penetrance range
not yet quantifiable

Fewer than 20 at-risk dogs evaluated; too few to state a penetrance figure.

Predicted disease relevance at the per-dog level is UNPROVEN. The carrier frequency is measured; phenotype outcome is governed by penetrance, environment, and modifier loci. Consult a veterinarian for clinical interpretation.

How to cite this record

Citations

If you use this record in published work, cite the Sniff Atlas (the published dataset that carries the breed-level carrier frequencies) and the upstream sources:

  • Sniff Atlas v1.0.1 for the per-breed carrier frequencies:

    Gehring, M. (2026). Sniff Atlas v1.0.1. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20566358. CC-BY 4.0.

  • OMIA for the disease definition, inheritance, and gene assignment:

    Nicholas, F. W., & Tammen, I. (2024). OMIA. Sydney Informatics Hub, The University of Sydney. https://doi.org/10.25910/2AMR-PV70. Entry: OMIA:001033-9615.

  • Donner et al. 2023 for the breed × variant carrier-frequency cohort:

    Donner, J., Freyer, J., Davison, S., Anderson, H., Blades, M., Honkanen, L., et al. (2023). Genetic prevalence and clinical relevance of canine Mendelian disease variants in over one million dogs. PLOS Genetics, 19(2), e1010651. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1010651.

Full citation formats (BibTeX, RIS, CITATION.cff) at sniff.world/cite.

Related

Related

Last updated
Sources: Sniff Atlas v1.0.1 · OMIA OMIA:001033-9615 · Donner et al. 2023