Renal Dysplasia in Dogs

This condition can affect the canine unilaterally or bilaterally, for animals affected bilaterally the prognosis is often grave, with death occurring soon after birth. For dog’s who have been affected unilaterally the prognosis is also poor, with treatment aimed at managing the subsequent renal failure and providing the best quality of life as possible.

Renal dysplasia is a defect that has been reported in many breeds including the Chow Chow and Malamute. This condition develops in the womb during renal development. In the normal development of the kidneys, ureter muscles grow from the kidneys and branch out to form a network of urine collecting tubules. In a fetus affected with this condition the tubules fail to branch out, instead causing urine build up and cysts to form. These cysts eventually replace the kidney.

Signs of this disease may include failure to thrive from birth, polyuria and polydipsia and other symptoms seen in chronic kidney disease including:

• Constipation
• Vomiting and nausea
• Lethargy
• Anorexia
• Bad breath

If your dog is presenting with uremic crisis (the dangerous buildup of toxins in the blood stream due to inadequate toxin removal from the bloodstream by the kidney) symptoms may include: 

• Weakness and collapse
• Muscle tremors
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting of dried blood
• Neurological signs

Renal dysplasia in dogs is considered a familial disease in certain breeds. This condition is caused by a defect in utero during the development of the kidneys, leading to immature glomeruli, primitive tubules and lesions caused by cysts. 

The onset of this disease can be in the neonate or young puppy from between 6 months and 2 years of age. 

There appears to be a strong breed predisposition in the following breeds:

• Alaskan Malamute
• Beagle
• Boxer
• Chow Chow
• Great Dane
• Bulldog
• Irish Wolfhound
• Samoyed

Your veterinarian will perform a full clinical examination of your pet. Signs such as a small body size for age, rubber jaw, failure to thrive, or a history of kidney failure in your dog’s family may suggest this condition. 

If your veterinarian suspects this condition she may perform radiographs of the abdomen. In cases of renal dysplasia, small or irregular kidney shapes may be seen as well as a poorly mineralized skeleton, pathological fractures due to renal osteodystrophy, and the appearance of floating teeth in the skull.

Your veterinarian may take a blood sample to perform a biochemistry panel which will show increased urea and creatinine due to the body’s reduced ability to remove these toxins from the blood stream. They will also check the kidney's urine concentrating ability by analysing the specific gravity (concentration) of the urine.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for this disease, however the treatment is very similar to that of chronic kidney failure and aimed at managing the disease and providing the best life quality for your pet. 

If your dog is experiencing uremic shock, intravenous fluid therapy may be given to treat the shock and correct dehydration.

Other treatments that may be given are: 

• Anti-emetics if your pet is vomiting
• Subcutaneous fluid therapy for chronic maintenance 
• Potassium supplementation 
• Oral bicarbonate may be considered to address metabolic acidosis 
• Treatment to manage hypertension
• Phosphate binders
• Appetite stimulants

Unfortunately, the prognosis for this condition is not good, with deterioration expected within months of diagnosis. A phosphate restricted diet may be recommended for your pet. Specific kidney diets have shown to maintain or improve nutrition, delay the onset of uremia, slow progression or development of other complications, and extend expected life time. 

These renal diets should contain:

• Carefully balanced levels of phosphate, as this mineral is metabolized by the kidneys
• Reduced levels of salt as studies have shown the reduction of salt intake to slow the rate of progression of the disease 
• Low quantities of high quality protein. Protein breakdown leads to toxic waste products in the blood stream that require processing by the kidneys for excretion through the urine

Providing a diet that contains low levels of high quality protein means a reduced amount of waste for the kidneys to process while the pet’s energy requirements are met. Your pet will require regular examinations to monitor for signs of uremia such as ulcers. 

As this disease is degenerative, life quality assessment is a major aspect of care, and it may be recommended as the disease progresses to euthanize your pet to relieve suffering. In cases where the birth parents and littermates are known, it is recommended that screening tests are carried out and that breeding from affected canines ceases, as this is a known genetic disease.