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Familial renal disease is an uncommon cause of renal failure (kidney failure) in dogs and cats. Most causes are breed-related (familial) and some are inherited. Some are congenital (present at birth). Renal dysplasia is a type of familial renal disease characterized by abnormal cellular differentiation of renal tissue. Dogs and cats with renal disease caused by these diseases have the typical symptoms of renal failure, including weight loss, loss of appetite, depression, and increased water consumption and urination. A list of familial renal diseases by dog and cat breeds is found below.
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Basenji
Basenjis can be affected by a type of renal tubular dysfunction similar to that of Fanconi syndrome in humans.
Beagle
Beagles can be affected by glomerular amyloidosis, which is deposition of amyloid in the kidney. Findings include protein in the urine. It does progress.
Bull Terrier
Bull Terriers can be affected by an inherited type of renal disease caused by basement membrane disease. Protein in the urine is a consistent finding. Bull Terriers are affected between the ages of one and eight years.
Cairn Terrier
Cairn Terriers can be affected by polycystic kidney disease. Multiple small cysts are found in the kidneys. Cysts are present by the age of six weeks. It is inherited through an autosomal recessive mechanism.
Chow Chow
Chow Chows can be affected by renal dysplasia that progresses to renal failure and secondary fibrous renal osteodystrophy, causing fractures and "rubber jaw".
Cocker Spaniel
Cocker Spaniels can be affected by glomerular disease before the age of four years. It does progress to renal failure. It is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait.
Doberman Pinscher
Doberman Pinschers can be affected by basement membrane disease of the kidneys that can progress to renal failure.
German Shepherd
German Shepherd dogs can be affected by multiple cystadenocarcinomas of the kidney. It is inherited and appears between the ages of five and 11 years. Blood in the urine is often seen. It is sometimes accompanied by nodules in the skin or multiple uterine leiomyomas.
Lhasa Apso and Shih Tzu
Lhasa Apsos and Shih Tzus can both be affected by renal dysplasia before the age of five years. It does progress to renal failure. It can be accompanied by fibrous osteodystrophy, caused by calcium absorption from the bone. Signs include bone fractures and "rubber jaw".
Miniature Schnauzer
Miniature Schnauzers can be affected by renal dysplasia before the age of five years. It does progress to renal failure.
Norwegian Elkhound
Norwegian Elkhounds can be affected by renal tubule disease (Fanconi syndrome) that does not progress to renal failure. A consistent finding is glucose in the urine.
Rottweiler
Rottweilers can be affected by glomerular disease before the age of one year that does progress to renal failure. Findings include protein in the urine and high cholesterol levels in the blood.
Samoyed
Samoyeds can be affected by basement membrane disease of the kidneys. It is inherited through the X chromosome and therefore more severe in affected male dogs. Findings in male dogs include the presence of protein and glucose in the urine and the inability to concentrate urine, and progression to renal failure by the age of 9 months and death by 16 months. Affected female dogs have protein in the urine and a failure to gain a normal amount of weight, but are usually otherwise normal.
Shar Pei
Shar Peis can be affected by glomerular amyloidosis caused by deposition of amyloid in the kidney and occurs secondary to Shar Pei fever. It progresses to renal failure by the age of six years.
Shih Tzu
Shih Tzus have a type of renal dysplasia characterized by persistence of the fetal glomeruli. The predominating signs are of chronic renal failure. Severely affected dogs only live for a few months. The mechanism of inheritance appears to be through an autosomal dominant gene with incomplete penetrance.
Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier
Soft-Coated Wheaten Terriers can be affected by renal dysplasia that progresses to renal failure. It is usually seen by the age of three years.
Standard Poodle
Standard Poodles can be affected by renal dysplasia by the age of two years that progresses to renal failure. Secondary fibrous osteodystrophy can be seen.
Welsh Corgi
Welsh Corgis can be affected by renal telangiectasia between the ages of five and thirteen years. It is characterized by red-black nodules in the kidneys. It can cause hydronephrosis and abdominal pain. It usually does not progress to renal failure.
Abyssinian
Abyssinians can be affected by glomerular amyloidosis between the ages of one and five years. It progresses to renal failure. Findings include protein in the urine. It is inherited.
Persian
Persians can be affected by polycystic kidney disease, characterized by small cysts in the kidneys. It is inherited through an autosomal dominant mechanism and can progress to kidney disease later in life.