Familial Renal Disease in Norwegian Elkhound Dogs

Abstract

SUMMARY Chronic renal disease was detected in 6 Norwegian Elkhound dogs of both sexes. Their ages varied from 8 months to 5 years. In 5 dogs, renal disease was well advanced before diagnosis, and signs characteristic of chronic renal insufficiency were observed. Renal disease was less advanced in 1 dog, and he sired pups from 4 related females. Three of 5 progeny resulting from the mating of this dog to his dam developed renal disease before they were 4 months old. Marked dwarfing occurred in 2 severely affected pups. Examination of pedigrees of 4 dogs revealed a common ancestry of 3 of the 6 dogs with spontaneously occurring renal disease. Pertinent laboratory findings included isosthenuria or hyposthenuria and anemia. Glucosuria, moderate proteinuria, and changes in serum concentration of calcium were observed in some dogs. Profuse amino-aciduria was detected in 1 dog. The kidneys were small, white, and very firm. Salient microscopic features were loss of glomerular and tubular elements, large amounts of collagen and connective tissue elements in the interstitium of both the medullary and cortical areas, and lack of leukocytic infiltration. Basement membranes were mineralized in a few kidneys. Definite areas of demarcation separated different stages of kidney degeneration.