Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Kidney disease screening results in 244 healthy Ragdoll cats
By Paepe, D et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2012·Department of Small Animal Medicine and Clinical Biology·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Screening of ragdoll cats for kidney disease: a retrospective evaluation.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 244 healthy Ragdoll cats underwent screening for kidney disease, and some showed concerning signs. Seven cats were found to have polycystic kidney disease, while 21 were suspected of having chronic kidney disease, which is more common in older cats. The tests included ultrasounds and blood tests measuring kidney function, and while most genetically tested cats were negative for polycystic kidney disease, the findings suggest that a small percentage of Ragdolls may have kidney issues. This highlights the importance of regular check-ups for Ragdoll owners to monitor kidney health.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of renal abnormalities in ragdoll cats. Ragdoll breeders often warn clients to watch for future renal problems, mainly due to chronic interstitial nephritis and polycystic kidney disease. Therefore, ragdoll screening by abdominal ultrasonography, measurement of serum creatinine and urea concentrations and genetic testing is often performed without documented scientific evidence of increased risk of renal disease. METHODS: Retrospective evaluation of ragdoll screening for renal disease at one institution over an eight-year period. RESULTS: Renal ultrasonography was performed in 244 healthy ragdoll cats. Seven cats were positive for polycystic kidney disease, 21 were suspected to have chronic kidney disease, 8 had abnormalities of unknown significance and 2 cats had only one visible kidney. Cats suspected to have chronic kidney disease were significantly older and had significantly higher serum urea and creatinine concentrations than cats with normal renal ultrasonography. All 125 genetically tested cats were negative for polycystic kidney disease. However, only one of the seven ultrasonographically positive cats underwent genetic testing for polycystic kidney disease. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Ultrasonographic findings compatible with chronic kidney disease were observed in almost 10% of cats, and polycystic kidney disease occurred at a low prevalence (<3%) in this ragdoll population. Further studies are required to elucidate if ragdoll cats are predisposed to chronic kidney disease.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22860918/