Here are a few links to useful sites I found along the way. I will continue to expand this page as I come upon things of interest.
The Dog Genome Project
The Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT is conducting the Dog Genome Project to gather more information about hereditary diseases in dogs and their possible implications for humans. Diseases studied include various cancers; neurologic, cardiovascular, and immunologic diseases; and others, including juvenile renal dysplasia. Only purebred dogs are being studied.
For JRD as well as renal dysplasia, breeds studied currently are the Boxer, Bernese Mountain Dog, Cocker Spaniel, Miniature Schnauzer, and Golden Retriever. If you have one of these breeds or another breed for which juvenile renal dysplasia or renal dysplasia is suspected, visit the JRD page of the Project for contact info. For more information about diseases and breeds studied and how to participate, visit the Institute’s dog diseases page.
Scholarly Abstracts
Abstracts with links to complete articles (scholarly) available at:
Many of them are breed-specific, so you can search for information regarding your particular breed. I include some references here especially for breeds showing JRD for the first time.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1748-5827.1989.tb01529.x/abstract Abstract: Juvenile renal disease in dogs has been encountered in over 20 breeds but in only nine of these (cocker spaniel, Norwegian elkhound, lhasa apso, shih tzu, samoyed, dobermann, standard poodle, soft-coated wheaten terrier and bull terrier) have familial nephropathies been reported, and in only two (samoyed and cocker spaniel) has the exact mode of inheritance been elucidated. Reasons for this unsatisfactory state of affairs are: 1 Renal failure in young dogs may not be due to a familial nephropathy, and while helpful diagnostic information may be gained from blood and urine analysis, accurate diagnosis of the specific type of renal disease requires examination of renal biopsy or post mortem material by an experienced pathologist. 2 Not all affected animals show clinical signs at the same age, making collection of data, often from widely dispersed animals, both difficult and slow. 3 The disease process in one breed may be very different from that in another, so that each breed has to be investigated separately. 4 There has to be a willing determination to face the problem by individual breed clubs, with the commitment of a large number of breeders, owners and veterinary surgeons.
Resistance or inertia at any level will prevent or delay successful investigation and possible prevention of the disease.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1751-0813.2000.tb10584.x/abstract Abstract: Juvenile nephropathy was diagnosed in a Boxer, a Rottweiler, a Collie and an Irish Wolfhound dog, each presenting with signs compatible with chronic renal failure. The diagnosis in each case was based on the presence of persistence of poorly differentiated tissue (immature glomeruli and/or tubules, persistent mesenchyme) on histopathologic examination. Although juvenile nephropathy has been reported in many breeds of dog, this is the first report of the condition in the Collie and the Irish Wolfhound and only the second description in the Boxer and the Rottweiler. The possibility of an inherited origin of the condition in these four breeds is at present unknown.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1748-5827.1997.tb03331.x/abstract Abstract: A case of juvenile nephropathy in a two-year-old Weimaraner bitch Is reported. Although juvenlle nephropathy has been described in several breeds of dogs, this is the first report in a Weimaraner. Clinical aspects, blood analysis, renal pathology and extrarenal changes are described. The renal changes consisted of tubular as well as glomerular lesions, similar to those described in the miniature schnauzer. The main extrarenal lesion was degeneration and necrosis of subendocardial myocytes in the left atrial wall associated with an inflammatory reaction and focal necrotising arteritis.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1748-5827.2007.00401.x/full Abstract: Objectives: The purpose of this study was to review and characterise the clinical presentation of young boxer dogs with chronic kidney disease referred to the authors’ institutions.
Methods: Records were collected retrospectively from 37 boxer dogs, less than five years of age, which had presented with azotaemia, inappropriately low urine concentrating ability, and ultrasound or radiographic evidence of abnormal kidneys.
Results: Clinicopathological findings included azotaemia, hyperphosphataemia, anaemia, isosthenuria and proteinuria. Ultrasonographic findings included hyperechoic renal cortices, loss of corticomedullary junction definition, dilated pelves and irregularly shaped small kidneys. Renal histopathological findings included pericapsular and interstitial fibrosis, inflammatory cell infiltration, dilated tubules, sclerotic glomeruli and dystrophic calcification. Survival time of the dogs varied from zero to over five years after diagnosis.
Clinical Significance: This paper documents features of the presentation and progression of juvenile nephropathy in boxer dogs. While juvenile nephropathy has been reported in individual cases of boxer dogs previously, this is the first reported case series.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1740-8261.2010.01674.x/full Abstract: Renal dysplasia is a hereditary disease characterized by abnormal differentiation of renal tissue. The ultrasonographic appearance of dysplastic canine kidneys has been reported in the late stage of the disease where inflammatory and degenerative changes are already present and the dogs are in chronic renal failure. In this study, we describe the ultrasonographic appearance of the kidneys of five related Cairn Terriers affected with renal dysplasia before the onset of clinical or laboratory evidence of renal failure. Common findings included poor corticomedullary definition and multifocal hyperechoic speckles in the renal medulla, or a diffusely hyperechoic medulla. Severity of ultrasonographic changes was related to the severity of histopathologic findings. The ability to detect dysplastic changes before clinical signs develop makes ultrasound a potentially useful screening method for canine renal dysplasia.
http://www.ivis.org/journals/vetfocus/17_2/en/doc6.pdf Abstract: This article summarizes current knowledge on the influence of genes on renal function and the principal genetic canine kidney diseases.
Other Sites
http://www.dogaware.com/health/kidney.html
The site has expanded since I first found it in my search for how to put together a viable diet for Percy. Much of the information there is for older– i.e., not young puppies– dogs diagnosed with kidney disease and thus could not be used for Percy. But for the breakdown of food nutrients alone:
http://www.dogaware.com/health/kidneytable.html
and some other general information about needs of kidney-compromised canines it was highly useful for me. For example, phosphate was a nutrient to limit for Percy; who would know that there is very little of it in egg whites, but much more in egg yolks?
One of the most comprehensive sites I have found to date for canine kidney disease was put together by a layman who lost her standard poodle to JRD at 21 months of age. There are descriptions of the genetics, treatment plans, dietary information, and links to past and current research articles:
http://www.vetprof.com/clientinfo/KidneyDiseaseInDogs/
From the Bernese Mountain site, good background information:
http://www.bmdca.org/health/Miscellaneous/Renal_Dysplasia.php
For Airedales, the Airedale Health Foundation is currently on the lookout for cases of JRD, which means it is suspected to be increasing:
http://airedalehealthfoundation.org/id34.html
If you are interested in Spinoni:
We really admire the way your blog is designed. Would you mind telling me what theme you’re using?
Hi Darius,
Thank you for your comment. The theme is Me’gusta.
Regards,
Percy’s Page
my welsh corgi is currently 2 yrs old. his renal dysfunction was diagnosed by ultrasound after markedly abnormal blood work on pre-op screening (for neutering).
his blood values peaked and then decreased markedly. he is given subcutaneously fluids 3x/week, receives azodyl, calcitriol, and a phosphate binder. in addition his diet is tightly controlled: homemade dogfood with organic ingredients following a recipe provided by a holistic vet. this is supplimented by nf canned dog food.
he also receives omega 3, one capsule per day.
so far he is doing well. really think that early diagnosis and a comprehensive approach to treatment are essential. i am lucky to have 2 excellent vets that are involved in his care.
Regina,
Thank you for writing, and it sounds like you are doing all the right things for your Corgi. It is so encouraging that he has responded to the treatment. Having excellent vets involved in his care makes all the difference.
Good luck with him. Please write and let us know how he is doing.
-Percy’s Page
There may be something wrong with your links. You should have a web designer check out the website.
Lauren, thank you for writing. We’ve checked the links and except for one, which we’ve corrected, can’t find any problems. If you have a moment to write specifically where you had trouble that would be helpful. You may need to use a different browser, e.g. Chrome rather than Firefox.