Familial nephropathy (FN)
- FN is the continual high levels of protein in the urine of a young dog. It’s caused by a genetic defect in the glomerulus (the structure that filters blood going through the kidney). There is a lack of a specific collagen, which is a protein required in connective tissues to hold the structure of the filter together. With the defect, the protein in the blood leaks into the urine. The Glomerular abnormality also leads to irreversible kidney damage. FN is a progressive disease that is ultimately fatal, although the rate of progression for affected dogs varies. FN presents with chronic renal failure between 6 months and 2 years of age, with both kidneys being affected. Symptoms include excessive water drinking, excessive urine volume, reduced growth rate or weight loss, poor coat quality and reduced appetite and vomiting.
- Affected Breeds: American Cocker Spaniel, Australian Cobberdog, Australian Labradoodle, Cockapoo, English Cocker Spaniel, English Springer Spaniel, Tibetan Spaniel, Welsh Springer Spaniel
Copper toxicosis (COMMD1)
- CT leads to the build-up of dietary copper in the liver, causing illness and death. The disease doesn’t show any symptoms in the early stages. Clinical signs are usually related to the liver, such as weight loss, anorexia, depression, vomiting, weakness, lethargy and dehydration. As the disorder progresses, symptoms can include bruising and blood in the stool. Without treatment, the dog will develop liver disease and die, usually between 3-7 years of age. The COMMD1 gene causes CT whilst the mutation is a definite cause of the disease, there’s a belief theres are other genetic causes that aren’t yet identified.
- Affected Breeds: Bedlington Terrier, Labrador Retriever
Hyperuricosuria (HUU)
- HUU affects the uric acid; in affected dogs, the acid does not dissolve easily in the dog’s urine. An excessive amount of the uric acid forms into crystals, which leads to urinary stones, which could mean surgery. This disorder is generally present from birth, but it usually takes some time for the crystals to form into stones. So, problems usually present from 3 to 6 years old. Signs of this vary depending on where the stones end up in the urinary tract. They most commonly end up in the bladder, resulting in blood in the urine and or difficulty and pain when urinating, they may also only urinate a small amount but frequently. If an obstruction occurs, this is a serious condition, as when a stone blocks the outflow of urine at the urethra (more common in males who have a smaller urethra), signs include straining to urinate, vomiting and loss of appetite, weakness and lethargy caused by a build-up of toxins in the body.
- Breeds Affected: American Bulldog, American Bully, American Staffordshire Terrier, Australian Bulldog, Australian Cobberdog, Australian Labradoodle, Australian Kelpie, Australian Shepherd, Barbet, Bedlington Terrier, Biewer Terrier, Boerboel, Borzoi, Bulldog, Bull Arab, Catahoula Leopard Dog, Coton de Tulear, Dalmatian, Danish-Swedish Farmdog, Drentsche Partridge Dog, Dutch Schapendoes, English Shepherd, Finnish Lapphund, French Bulldog, German Hunting Terrier, German Shepherd Dog, German Shorthaired Pointer, Giant Schnauzer, Great Swiss Mountain Dog, Hungarian Shorthaired Pointer, Hungarian Wirehaired Pointer, Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla, Jack Russell Terrier, Kromfohrländer, Labrador Retriever, Lagotto Romagnolo, Large Munsterlander, Mastiff, Miniature American Shepherd, Miniature Australian Shepherd, Miniature Pinscher, Miniature Schnauzer, Parson Russell Terrier, Pitbull, Pomeranian, Pont-Audemer Spaniel, Rough Collie, Russell Terrier, Russian Black Terrier, Small Munsterlander, Smooth Collie, Spanish Waterdog, Swedish Vallhund, Toy Australian Shepherd, Weimaraner, White Swiss Shepherd Dog, Yorkshire Terrier
