Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Kidney test differences by dog breed and age group
By Coyne, Michael et al.·Published in The Veterinary record·2020·IDEXX Laboratories, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Association between breed and renal biomarkers of glomerular filtration rate in dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Older dogs, especially breeds like Shetland sheepdogs, Yorkshire terriers, and Pomeranians, are at a higher risk for kidney disease, as indicated by elevated levels of certain kidney markers in their blood. This study found that many geriatric dogs had increased levels of symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) and creatinine (Cr), which suggest decreased kidney function. Boxers were also noted to have higher kidney markers even at younger ages. Regular check-ups and blood tests can help catch these issues early, allowing for better management of kidney health in dogs.
People also search for: dog kidney disease symptoms · elevated creatinine in dogs · Shetland sheepdog kidney health · Yorkshire terrier kidney disease signs
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Kidney disease, especially chronic kidney disease (CKD), is common in older dogs. The biomarkers symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) and creatinine (Cr) are indicators of glomerular filtration rate (GFR). This retrospective study used these biomarkers to identify groups at risk of decreased GFR at the breed level. METHODS: Data from dogs with a single serum chemistry result that included Cr and SDMA submitted between July 2015 through December 2017 were included. Dogs were identified by breed and age group. Decreased GFR was defined as Cr above 1.9 mg/dl or SDMA above 18 µg/dl. RESULTS: Fourteen breeds had a significantly higher percentage of dogs with increased SDMA or Cr for one or more age groups. Geriatric and senior Shetland sheepdogs, Yorkshire terriers and Pomeranians were significantly more likely to have increased renal biomarkers. Boxers were identified with significantly increased renal biomarkers in the age groups spanning two months to 10 years of age. CONCLUSION: Evidence of decreased GFR occurred commonly in older dogs of most breeds, especially geriatric dogs greater than 10 years of age, but there were some exceptions, with more significant changes affecting younger animals of several breeds. The combination of SDMA and Cr identified more cases of decreased GFR than either SDMA or Cr alone.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32611706/