Description
Canine renal disease is often seen in small animal practice, though it is not as frequent as in cats. The most common presentation is chronic renal failure but other renal diseases such as acute renal failure, protein losing nephropathies and renal tumours are also occasionally encountered. This webinar will take a case of each of these canine renal diseases and illustrate the diagnostic approach, prognosis and management options using an interactive format.
The cause of chronic renal disease is rarely identified but a large number of inflammatory, infectious, immune-mediated, iatrogenic (drug-induced), congenital, neoplastic and metabolic aetiolgies have been suggested. Chronic renal disease will progress even if the inciting cause is removed and the aim of treatment is to slow the rate of progression to allow the kidney’s own adaptions and repair processes time to act.
In contrast, in acute renal failure an underlying aetiology is often apparent. Common causes of acute renal failure include renal ischaemia or exposure to nephrotoxins (eg, NSAIDS, aminoglycosides, ethylene glycol).If these can be removed and effective therapy (rapidly) provided then the condition may be reversible.
Protein losing nephropathies are caused by specific conditions affecting the glomerulus and result in a distinct spectrum of clinical signs. Despite many cases being due to a suspected immune mediated glomerulonephritis, steroids are rarely effective and may actually worsen the situation.
Primary renal tumours are rare and tend to be associated with haematuria without azotaemia or significant hypoalbuminaemia. Surgery is the only effective treatment.
Ian Ramsey graduated from LiverpoolUniversity, obtained a PhD on feline leukaemia virus at GlasgowUniversity and then completed his residency at CambridgeUniversity where he was awarded the RCVS Diploma in Small Animal Medicine and the Diploma of the EuropeanCollege of Veterinary Internal Medicine. In 1998 Ian returned to GlasgowUniversity where he is now the Professor of Small Animal Medicine. Ian is the editor of the latest (7th) edition of the BSAVA Small Animal Formulary.