Kidney Problems

Kidney failure and kidney problems are common in dogs. The causes can be very diverse.
We also occasionally see abnormalities of the kidneys with the Bracco Italiano.
We recommend that owners have blood tests on their Bracco Italiano on a regular basis.
In addition to a BUN (blood urea nitrogen) and creatinine test, it is important to have an SDMA blood test done by the vet at an IDEXX laboratory.When kidney problems caught earlier it could be manageable versus the later stage of the kidneydisease.

SDMA is a biomarker of renal function that is highly correlated with glomerular filtration rate (GFR).
*SDMA is a sensitive indicator of renal function, detecting renal function loss as low as 25%.
*SDMA is more reliable than creatinine as a biomarker of renal function, as SDMA is unaffected by extrarenal factors.
* SDMA is a prior indicator of progressive renal impairment and often rises before other parameters rise
* Elevated SDMA may also serve as an indicator of other conditions that may have a secondary impact on renal function.

What to do with an increased SDMA.
An elevated SDMA indicates that renal function (GFR) is impaired. It helps to detect acute kidney damage and chronic kidney disease (CNS), and it reflects secondary conditions that adversely affect kidney function.
The IDEXX SDMA Protocol helps to take the right steps towards diagnosing disease when SDMA is elevated.
https://www.idexx.nl/nl/veterinary/reference-laboratories/sdma/

Amyloidosis

Amyloidosis means that proteins are deposited in organs, including the kidneys. These proteins are formed in the liver as a result of an inflammatory response. The cause of this inflammation can be very different and can be, for example, a trauma, a tumor or another cause. These proteins end up in the kidneys. This is because the kidneys filter the blood (in the glomeruli, the so-called filters of the body). Because these proteins end up in the kidneys, an inflammatory reaction occurs in the kidneys, causing damage to the kidneys.
Amyloid can be formed in any animal.
However, in certain breeds these proteins are formed for no apparent reason. These animals have a genetic predisposition to amyloidosis. These breeds are: “The Sharpei. This is related to Sharpei fever. ” The Beagle

The damage caused by amyloidosis in the kidneys is irreparable. The animals often only come to the vet when there are complaints of chronic renal failure. The diagnosis is made by biopsies (tissue examination) of the kidneys. However, this tissue is not collected until death has already occurred. Only a Congo-red test gives a certain diagnosis of amyloidosis.

At the moment the University of Veterinary Medicine in Milan is investigating amyloidosis in Bracco Italiano.
As soon as there is news, we will let you know.