Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with kidney acid problem linked to leptospirosis infection
By Martinez, Stephen A & Hostutler, Roger A·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2014·Department of Internal Medicine·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Distal renal tubular acidosis associated with concurrent leptospirosis in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 9-year-old spayed female Boxer was brought to the vet because she was vomiting, lethargic, not eating, and losing weight. Tests showed she had a condition called distal renal tubular acidosis (RTA), which affects how her kidneys handle acids, along with signs of leptospirosis, a bacterial infection. The vet treated her with sodium bicarbonate and potassium gluconate to help with the kidney issue, and added doxycycline for the leptospirosis. After treatment, her symptoms improved, and six months later, she was doing well, although she continued on her medications.
People also search for: dog vomiting lethargy treatment · Boxer kidney disease · leptospirosis in dogs treatment
Abstract
A 9 yr old spayed female boxer was presented for evaluation of vomiting, lethargy, anorexia, and weight loss. Initial laboratory evaluation revealed a hyperchloremic normal anion gap metabolic acidosis with alkaline urine that was consistent with a diagnosis of distal renal tubular acidosis (RTA). Targeted therapy was initiated with Na bicarbonate (HCO3) and potassium (K) gluconate. Leptospirosis was subsequently diagnosed with paired microagglutination testing (MAT), and doxycycline was added to the other treatments. Clinical signs resolved, and 6 mo after diagnosis, although the dog remained on alkali therapy (i.e., NaHCO3 and K gluconate) and a mild metabolic acidosis persisted, the dog remained otherwise healthy with a good quality of life. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report to describe the concomitant association of those two disorders. Leptospirosis should be considered for any case of RTA in dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24659721/