Familial renal disease is an uncommon cause of kidney failure in dogs and cats. Most causes are breed-related (familial) and some are inherited. Some are

congenital A birth defect, also known as a congenital disorder, is an abnormal condition that is present at birth regardless of its cause. Birth defects may result in disabilities that may be physical, intellectual, or developmental. The disabilities can ...

(present at birth). Renal dysplasia is a type of familial kidney disease characterized by abnormal

cellular differentiation Cellular differentiation is the process in which a stem cell alters from one type to a differentiated one. Usually, the cell changes to a more specialized type. Differentiation happens multiple times during the development of a multicellular ...

of kidney tissue. Dogs and cats with kidney disease caused by these diseases have the typical symptoms of kidney failure, including weight loss, loss of appetite, depression, and increased water consumption and urination. A list of familial kidney diseases by dog and cat breeds is found below.

Familial renal disease in dogs

Basenji

Basenjis can be affected by a type of kidney tubular dysfunction similar to that of Fanconi syndrome in humans.

Beagle

Beagles can be affected by

glomerular ''Glomerulus'' () is a common term used in anatomy to describe globular structures of entwined vessels, fibers, or neurons. ''Glomerulus'' is the diminutive of the Latin ''glomus'', meaning "ball of yarn". ''Glomerulus'' may refer to: * the filter ...

amyloidosis Amyloidosis is a group of diseases in which abnormal proteins, known as amyloid fibrils, build up in tissue. There are several non-specific and vague signs and symptoms associated with amyloidosis. These include fatigue, peripheral edema, weight ...

, 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 kidney disease caused by

basement membrane The basement membrane is a thin, pliable sheet-like type of extracellular matrix that provides cell and tissue support and acts as a platform for complex signalling. The basement membrane sits between Epithelium, epithelial tissues including mesot ...

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 In genetics, dominance is the phenomenon of one variant (allele) of a gene on a chromosome masking or overriding the effect of a different variant of the same gene on the other copy of the chromosome. The first variant is termed dominant and t ...

mechanism.

Chow Chow

Chow Chows can be affected by renal dysplasia that progresses to kidney 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 kidney 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 kidney failure.

German Shepherd

German Shepherd dog The German Shepherd or Alsatian is a German breed of working dog of medium to large size. The breed was developed by Max von Stephanitz using various traditional German herding dogs from 1899. It was originally bred as a herding dog, for he ...

s 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

leiomyoma A leiomyoma, also known as a fibroid, is a benign smooth muscle tumor that very rarely becomes cancer (0.1%). They can occur in any organ, but the most common forms occur in the uterus, small bowel, and the esophagus. Polycythemia may occur due to ...

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 kidney 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 kidney failure.

Norwegian Elkhound

Norwegian Elkhound The Norwegian Elkhound is one of the Northern Spitz-type breeds of dog and is the National Dog of Norway. The Elkhound has served as a hunter, guardian, herder, and defender. It is known for its courage in tracking and hunting elk and othe ...

s can be affected by kidney tubule disease (Fanconi syndrome) that does not progress to kidney 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 kidney 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 is 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 kidney 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 kidneys and occurs secondary to

Shar Pei fever The Shar Pei (Cantonese: ''shā pèih'' or Mandarin: 沙皮 ''shā pí'') is a dog breed from southern China. Traditionally kept as a property guardian, the Shar Pei was driven to the brink of extinction in the 20th century. The breed is known ...

. It progresses to kidney 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 kidney failure. Severely affected dogs only live for a few months. The mechanism of inheritance appears to be through an

autosomal dominant In genetics, dominance is the phenomenon of one variant (allele) of a gene on a chromosome masking or overriding the effect of a different variant of the same gene on the other copy of the chromosome. The first variant is termed dominant and t ...

gene with incomplete penetrance.

Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier

Soft-Coated Wheaten Terriers can be affected by renal dysplasia that progresses to kidney failure. It is usually seen by the age of three years.

Standard Poodle

Standard Poodle , nickname = , stock = , country = Germany or France (see history) , height = , maleheight = , femaleheight = , weight = , maleweight = , femaleweight = , coat ...

s can be affected by renal dysplasia by the age of two years that progresses to kidney failure. Secondary fibrous osteodystrophy can be seen.

Welsh Corgi

Welsh Corgis can be affected by kidney

telangiectasia Telangiectasias, also known as spider veins, are small dilated blood vessels that can occur near the surface of the skin or mucous membranes, measuring between 0.5 and 1 millimeter in diameter. These dilated blood vessels can develop anywhere on ...

s 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 kidney failure.

Familial renal disease in cats

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

mechanism and can progress to kidney disease later in life.

References

{{Reflist Dog diseases Cat diseases