kidney disease in dogs genetic
Kidney Disease in Dogs: Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment
Your dogs kidneys are essential organs that filter waste products from the bloodstream. When the kidneys are weakened, either by acute or chronic kidney disease, your dogs health could suffer. Because kidney disease progresses over time, its important to learn the common symptoms so tha you can recognize them. If you catch kidney disease in dogs early on, treatment can slow down the progression and allow your dog to live longer.
What Is Kidney Disease in Dogs?
Kidney disease in dogs is sometimes called renal or kidney insufficiency because it occurs when a dogs kidneys stop doing their job as efficiently as they should. The main job of the kidneys is to help clear and excrete waste products from the blood and convert them to urine, says Dr. Jerry Klein, Chief Veterinary Officer for the AKC. If the kidneys are not working properly, these waste products can build up in the blood, causing detrimental effects.
Dogs can get either acute kidney disease, which develops suddenly, or chronic kidney disease (CKD), which develops slowly and worsens over an extended period. Both involve loss of kidney function, but they result from different circumstances. Acute kidney disease is a sudden attack or injury to the kidney, whereas chronic kidney disease is a slow, degenerative loss of kidney function, Dr. Klein explains.
What Causes Kidney Disease in Dogs?
Dr. Klein warns that kidney disease could be caused by a lot of things, including infection (such as with the bacteria that causes leptospirosis), trauma, genetics, drugs, toxins, cancer, mechanical obstructions (like kidney stones), and degenerative diseases (where the job and form of the affected body part get worse over time). Anything that decreases blood flow to the kidneys, such as dehydration or heatstroke, can cause the kidneys to fail.
Acute kidney disease in dogs can be caused by exposure to hazardous materials, including toxic plants such as lilies, certain drugs, harmful foods such as grapes or raisins, or antifreeze. Puppy-proofing your home and yard can keep your dog away from potentially harmful items or foods that could be toxic.
Chronic kidney disease in dogs is also associated with growing older. Because kidney tissue cant regenerate once its damaged, the kidneys can wear out over time. As small-breed dogs often live longer than large-breed dogs, they tend to show early signs of kidney disease at an older age10 years old or more, compared to as young as 7 for the large breeds.
What Are the Symptoms of Kidney Disease in Dogs?
The earliest signs of kidney disease in dogs are increased urination and therefore increased thirst. Other symptoms dont usually become apparent until about two-thirds of the kidney tissue is destroyed. So, in the case of CKD, the damage may have begun months or even years before the owner notices. Because of this, its common for the signs of kidney disease in dogs to seem like they came out of the blue when in fact, the kidneys have been struggling for a long time.
Other signs of chronic kidney disease in dogs to watch for include:
Dr. Klein says there are some rarer symptoms of kidney disease in dogs to be aware of, as well. On occasion, there can be abdominal painurinary obstructions or stonesand in certain instances, one can see ulcers in the oral or gastric cavity. In extreme cases, little or no urine is produced at all.
What Are the Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease in Dogs?
Kidney disease in dogs is measured in stages. Many veterinarians use the IRIS scale, which has four stages. Blood work measurements like creatinine and SDMA (biomarkers for kidney function) allow your vet to assign your dog to a particular stage which will determine the exact treatment.
Dr. Klein explains, The stages determine how well the kidneys can filter waste and extra fluid from the blood. As the stages go up, the kidney function worsens. In the early stages of CKD, the kidneys are still able to filter out waste from the blood. In the latter stages, the kidneys must work harder to filter the blood and in late stages may stop working altogether.
How Is Kidney Disease in Dogs Treated?
Dialysis (a medical procedure that removes waste products and extra fluid from the blood) is far more common in humans than in dogs, although peritoneal (kidney) dialysis can be performed in some cases. On rare occasions, surgical kidney transplant is possible in dogs.
But Dr. Klein specifies that depending on the type and stage of kidney disease, the main treatments for CKD are diet changes and administration of fluids, either directly into the veins (intravenous) or under the skin (subcutaneous). The balancing and correction of electrolytes are extremely important in the management of kidney patients, he explains.
Proper nutrition is needed, and there are many available diets formulated for cats and dogs with kidney issues, some by prescription only. Your veterinarian can help guide you to the most appropriate diet for your pet.
Because kidney disease, particularly in the late stages, can cause a dog to lose their appetite, it can be difficult to encourage your dog to eat enough. Dr. Klein advises, There are medications used as appetite stimulators available, such as the prescription drug mirtazapine. Capromorelin has recently been FDA-approved for dogs to address appetite in chronic kidney disease.
When Do You Need to Call Your Vet?
The prognosis and expected life span for a dog with kidney disease depend on the type of disease, the speed of progression, and underlying conditions present in the dog. However, the more serious the disease, the poorer the outcome. Thats why its so crucial to catch the illness early on.
According to Dr. Klein, In chronic kidney disease, there are methods, such as diets and medications, that can be used to lessen the burden of work the kidneys need to do and may help slow down the progression from one stage to the next. In acute kidney disease, there is less time and fewer choices available to prevent further damage to the kidneys and to try to jump-start the kidneys to get them to function normally.
Regular veterinary exams, including bloodwork, are an excellent way to spot kidney problems before the outward symptoms become apparent. And if you notice any of the above signs, dont hesitate to get your dog to the vet for further testing. It can make a huge difference in preserving kidney function and your dogs well-being for as long as possible.
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Inherited Kidney Diseases
There are over 60 known inherited kidney diseases, which range from common conditions to very rare diseases. Some inherited kidney conditions include:
Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD)
An autosomal dominant inherited kidney disease characterized by the growth of numerous cysts in the kidneys. Symptoms can vary in severity. Most people start developing symptoms between the ages of 30 and 40. ADPKDis a progressive disease, which means the symptoms tend to get worse over time.
ADPKD is the most common type of inherited kidney disease. In the United States, about 1 in every 800 people have ADPKD and it is the fourth leading cause of kidney failure. It is found equally in men and women and causes about 5% of all kidney failure.
The most common symptoms of ADPKD are:
- kidney cysts
- pain in the back and the sides
- headaches.
Other symptoms include:
- liver and pancreatic cysts
- urinary tract infections
- abnormal heart valves
- high blood pressure
- kidney stones
- brain aneurysms
Treatment for ADPKD involves managing the symptoms and slowing disease progression. The most serious complication of ADPKD is kidney disease and kidney failure.[1][2]
Alport syndrome
An inherited genetic disease that damages kidneys. Alport syndrome is caused by changes (mutations) in collagen protein genes. Collagen is an important protein that is needed to maintain normal function in the kidneys.
People with Alport syndrome have tiny blood vessels in the glomeruli of the kidneys that are damaged, which means they cannot filter the wastes and extra fluid produced by the body. Many people with Alport syndrome also have hearing problems and abnormalities with their eyes due to the changes in their collagen genes.
Cystinosis
An autosomal recessive inherited disorder, which occurs when a person receives an abnormal copy of the cystinosin gene from each parent. In people with cystinosis, a buildup of cystine can lead to the formation of crystals. Cystinosis can impact many parts of the body, including the eyes, muscles, brain, heart, white blood cells, thyroid, and pancreas as well as causing serious kidneys problems.
Fabry disease
An inherited disorder that happens when the gene that controls the body's ability to make the enzyme, alpha GAL, is abnormal. As a result, the body makes little or no alpha GAL, or the enzyme does not function properly. Fabry disease can affect the heart, nervous system and kidneys. Because of the way the Fabry disease is inherited, men tend to develop more severe symptoms and are at higher risk for kidney disease. Women may have no symptoms or mild symptoms. However, women can still develop symptoms of Fabry disease, such as neuropathic pain and digestive problems. Heart disease is also more common among women with Fabry disease.
Gitelman syndrome
An autosomal recessive inherited disorder which occurs when a person receives an abnormal copy of the SLC12A3 or CLCNKB genes from each parent. Gitelman syndrome is a kidney function disorder that causes an imbalance of charged atoms (ions) in the body, including ions of potassium, magnesium, and calcium.[1] It is usually diagnosed during late childhood or adulthood.[2] The most common symptoms of Gitelman syndrome include[3]:
- fatigue
- salt craving
- thirst
- frequent urination
- muscle cramping
- muscle weakness
- dizziness
- tingling or numbness
- low blood pressure
- heart palpitations
Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC)
An autosomal dominant inherited genetic disorder, which occurs when a person receives an abnormal copy of the TSC gene from one parent. Symptoms of tuberous sclerosis complex begin before birth and might be noted on ultrasound, such as tumors in the brain and heart. Seizures, intellectual disability, and developmental delay usually appear in childhood. Other symptoms that might develop in childhood include skin changes and kidney symptoms caused by tumors. Brain tumors usually grow during childhood and in teen years, which may lead to other concerns, such as hydrocephalus. In adulthood, kidney and pulmonary symptoms become more common.[1][2]
Nephronophthisis (NPHP)
Nephronophthisis (NPHP) is an autosomal recessive inherited disorder characterized by inflammation and scarring that impairs kidney function.
These abnormalities can lead to:
- increased urine production
- excessive thirst
- general weakness
- extreme tiredness
In addition, people with NPHP develop fluid-filled cysts in the kidneys, usually in an area known as the corticomedullary region. Another feature of NPHP is a shortage of red blood cells, a condition known as anemia.
NPHP often leads to kidney failure, a life-threatening condition that occurs when the kidneys are no longer able to filter fluids and waste products from the body effectively. NPHP can be classified by the approximate age at which kidney failure begins -- around age 1 (infantile), around age 13 (juvenile), and around age 19 (adolescent).
It is the most frequent genetic cause of kidney failure in children. NPHP may be combined with other health problems other than kidney disease, such as liver fibrosis or cardiac malformations. When NPHP is combined with retinitis pigmentosa, the disorder is known as Senior-Loken syndrome (NPHP1); when it is combined with cerebellar vermis hypoplasia, the disorder is known as Joubert syndrome; and when it is combined with multiple developmental and neurologic abnormalities, the disorder is often known as Meckel-Gruber syndrome. Because most NPHP genetic abnormalities occur in the cilium, NPHP and the related syndromes are known as ciliopathies.
There are at least 20 genetic variants (types) of NPHP that have been identified, with more pending confirmation. These variants are caused by genetic mutations (changes) that occur within different genes. For example, NPHP1 is caused by mutation in the nephrocystin 1 gene.
