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Peer-reviewed veterinary case report

Blood pressure and kidney protein in healthy retired racing Greyhounds

By Surman, S et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2012·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed

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Original publication title: Arterial blood pressure, proteinuria, and renal histopathology in clinically healthy retired racing greyhounds.

Species:
dog

Plain-English summary

A group of retired racing greyhounds was checked for high blood pressure and kidney health as part of a spay and neuter program. It turned out that 62% of these dogs had high blood pressure, which was linked to a higher occurrence of protein in their urine, a sign of potential kidney issues. However, most of the dogs had normal kidney function and only mild kidney damage was found. While hypertension seems common in this breed, the long-term effects on their kidneys are still uncertain and need further study.

People also search for: greyhound high blood pressure symptoms · retired racing greyhound kidney health · protein in dog urine treatment

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Physiologic peculiarities of Greyhounds as compared to other dogs make interpretation of laboratory results in this breed challenging for veterinarians. Hypertension in retired racing Greyhounds (RRG) can contribute to microalbuminuria (MA), overt proteinuria, and renal histologic lesions. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate clinicopathologic findings, hemodynamic status, and renal histology in a population of healthy RRG. ANIMALS: RRG presented to Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine for inclusion in a spay and neuter program. METHODS: Cross-sectional study. RRG were classified as normotensive (<160 mmHg) or hypertensive (>160 mmHg) based on blood pressure (BP) determinations using Doppler and oscillometric methods. Of the dogs evaluated, 62% (n = 29) were hypertensive and 38% (n = 18) were normotensive. Health status was evaluated using routine clinicopathologic tests (CBC, serum biochemistry, urinalysis) as well as evaluation of fractional excretion of electrolytes and MA determinations. Adequate renal biopsy specimens (n = 15) were evaluated using light, immunofluoresence, and electron microscopy. RESULTS: All serum biochemistry results were normal in 45/49 dogs, but MA was more common in hypertensive (84% positive for MA) as compared with normotensive (18% positive for MA) RRG. Observed renal lesions were mild and renal biopsy scores were low in this sample of RRG. CONCLUSIONS: Hypertension is common in RRG and might be breed-related. It is associated with MA, but observed renal lesions are mild. Whether or not hypertension and MA in RRG leads to progressive renal damage requires longitudinal study.

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Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23083217/