Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Management of Proteinuria in Dogs and Cats with Chronic Kidney Disease.
- Journal:
- The Veterinary clinics of North America. Small animal practice
- Year:
- 2016
- Authors:
- Vaden, Shelly L & Elliott, Jonathan
- Affiliation:
- Department of Clinical Sciences · United States
Plain-English summary
Proteinuria, which means having too much protein in the urine, is a sign that dogs and cats with chronic kidney disease (a long-term condition where the kidneys don't work well) may not do well. Normally, pets should have very little protein in their urine, and if their levels are higher than what’s considered normal, it’s important to take action. Treatments usually include medications to help control blood pressure, changes in diet, and sometimes more advanced options like kidney biopsies and immunosuppressive drugs if the initial treatments don’t work. Close monitoring of the pet's condition is crucial during this treatment process. The outcome of these treatments can vary, so it's important to discuss your pet's specific situation with your veterinarian.
Abstract
Proteinuria is a negative prognostic indicator for dogs and cats with chronic kidney disease. A normal dog or cat should excrete very little protein and have a urine protein:creatinine ratio that is less than 0.4 or less than 0.2, respectively; persistent proteinuria above this magnitude warrants attention. Administration of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and/or angiotensin receptor blockers, blood pressure control and nutritional modification are considered a standard of care for renal proteinuria. Renal biopsy and administration of immunosuppressive agents should be considered in animals with glomerular proteinuria that have not responded to standard therapy. Targeted patient monitoring is essential when instituting management of proteinuria.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27485278/