Retrospective study of chronic renal failure cases in dogs between 1999 a 2002

Abstract

During the period of three years, a retrospective study of 191 dogs with chronic renal failure was performed, in order to describe and focus information concerning history and clinical signs, as well as laboratorial and ultrasound findings, that could help for better understanding of the disease. Dogs included in this study had presented serum concentration levels of urea and creatinin above 40mg/dL and 2mg/dL, respectively. Most of the animals were older than 7 year-old, and Cocker Spaniel was the main breed observed among young and old affected dogs. Reduction of appetite, vomiting, lethargy, polidipsia and poliuria were the main clinical signs detected. Non-regenerative anemia and hyperphosphatemia, as well as urinalysis (low urinary specific gravity, absent or slight amount of proteinuria and casts in urinary sediment) and ultrasound exam findings (increase in ecogenicity, decrease in size, irregular shape to the renal contour and narrow toward the corticomedullary junction) could help to additional information for the diagnosis of chronic nephropathy in dogs.