I am very interested in research that relates to nutritional management of diseases, as well as the use of nutrition to prevent diseases. Some of my research has involved studying the role carnitine and taurine have in association with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs. Some of the more notable results from this research are:

1. Documenting that diet alone can induce taurine deficiency in dogs. Prior to this work, it was believed that dogs could not develop taurine deficiency from diet alone, however, we proved this was not true. In addition, just like in cats, dogs with taurine deficiency can develop DCM, and the DCM can be reversed with taurine supplementation.
2. Documenting a cause-and-effect relationship between carnitine deficiency and DCM in dogs. Prior to our work, an association between carnitine deficiency and DCM had been discovered, however, because dogs were diagnosed with carnitine deficiency after the onset of DCM, a cause-and-effect relationship could not be determined. We have been able to prove this cause and effect relationship.
3. Dilated cardiomyopathy is usually a progressive disease in dogs, and most dogs will succumb to their disease. However, in a clinical study in dogs with cystine or urate urolithiasis that developed DCM, we showed that carnitine and taurine supplementation can result in significant improvement in cardiac function, and in some cases, complete reversal of this disease. In addition, the survival times were higher for the dogs that received this supplementation when compared to a similar population of dogs that did not received carnitine and taurine supplementation (39 months vs 9 months, respectively). In fact, most of the dogs that received carnitine and taurine supplementation died from non-cardiac causes.
4. Some of this research has resulted in pet food companies reformulating some of therapeutic diets for dogs. Some of this research has also resulted in changes in the nutrient recommendations for dogs in the recently revised National Research Council (NRC) Manual for dogs.

Another area of research I am interested involves urology and nephrology. Most of this research has been in relation to the dietary management of patients with chronic renal failure or urolithiasis. For example, we have shown that 60% of dogs with cystine urolithiasis lose excessive amounts of carnitine in their urine, and these dogs may develop DCM as a result of this carnitinuria. We currently evaluating two dietary approaches for management of dogs with naturally occurring chronic renal failure.

Sanderson SL, Osborne CA, Lulich JP, Gross KL, Lowry SR, Pierpont ME, Ogburn PN, Koehler LA, Swanson LL, Bird KA, Ulrich LK. Effects of Dietary Fat and Carnitine on Urine Carnitine Excretion in Healthy Dogs. Veterinary Therapeutics—Research in Applied Veterinary Medicine 2:181-192, 2001.

Sanderson SL, Osborne CA, Lulich JP, Bartges JW, Pierpont ME, Ogburn PN, Koehler LA, Swanson LL, Bird KA, Ulrich LK. Evalation of Urinary Carnitine and Taurine Excretion in Five Cystinuric Dogs with Carnitine and Taurine Deficiency. J Vet Int Med 15:94-100, 2001.

Lulich JP, Osborne CA, Sanderson S, Ulrich LK, Koehler LA, Bird KA and Swanson L. Voiding Urohydropropulsion: 5 Years of Experience. Veterinary Clinics of North America-Small Animal Practice 29:283-291, 1999.

Osborne CA, Sanderson SL, Lulich JP, Bartges JW, Ulrich LK, Koehler LA, Bird KA and Swanson LL. Canine Cystine Urolithiasis: Cause, Detection, Treatment, and Prevention. Veterinary Clinics of North America—Small Animal Practice 29:193-211,1999.

Bartges JW, Osborne CA, Lulich JP, Kruger JM, Sanderson SL, Koehler L and Ulrich L. Canine Urate Urolithiasis: Etiopathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Management. Veterinary Clinics of North America—Small Animal Practice 29:161-191,1999.

Osborne CA, Lulich JP, Polzin DJ, Sanderson SL, Koehler LA, Ulrich LK, Bird KA, Swanson LL and Pederson LA. Analysis of 77,000 Canine Uroliths: Perspectives from the Minnesota Urolith Center. Veterinary Clinics of North America-Small Animal Practice 29:17-38, 1999.

Sanderson S. Case Commentary—A Brief Overview of Urolithiasis in Dogs. Compendium 21:662-667, 1999.

Sanderson S, Gross K, Lulich J, Osborne C, Ogburn P, Pierpont ME, Koehler L, Swanson L, Bird K and Ulrich L. Reliability of Taurine Concentrations Measured in Single Urine Samples Obtained from Dogs Eight Hours After Eating. Am J Vet Res 60:186-189, 1999.

Pion PD, Sanderson SL, Kittleson MD. The Effectiveness of Taurine and Levocarnitine in Dogs with Heart Disease. Veterinary Clinics of North America—Small Animal Practice 28:1495-1514, 1998

Osborne CA, Lulich JP, Thumchai R, Bartges JW, Sanderson SL, Ulrich LK, Koehler LA, Bird KA and Swanson LL. Diagnosis, Medical Treatment and Prognosis of Feline Urolithiasis. Veterinary Clinics of North America—Small Animal Practice 26:589-627,1996.

Osborne CA, Sanderson SL, Lulich JP, Johnston GR and Polzin DJ. Medical Management of Iatrogenic Rents in the Wall of the Feline Urinary Bladder. Veterinary Clinics of North America—Small Animal Practice 26:551-562, 1996.

Sanderson S, Osborne C, Lulich J, Pierpont ME, Gross K, Ogburn P, Koehler L and Carvalho M. Reliability of Carnitine Concentrations Measured in Single Postprandial Urine Samples from Dogs. Am J Vet Res 57:1185-1188, 1996.

Sanderson S, Ogburn P and Osborne C. Heart Disease Management—Indications for Nondrug Therapies. Veterinary Forum 13:36-43, 1996.

Osborne CA, and Sanderson SL. Recurrent Feline Hematuria, Dysuria and Pollakiuria: What's the Diagnosis, Prognosis and Therapeutic Plan? DVM 23: 24-25, 1992.