When your dog starts urinating and drinking excessively, you know there\u2019s a medical issue that needs to be addressed. The big question is \u201cWhich one?\u201d Increased urination and thirst (called PU\/PD [for polyuria and polydipsia] by veterinary team members) are common signs of several different canine health problems, including urinary tract infection, diabetes, Cushing\u2019s disease, kidney infection, liver disease and chronic kidney disease.<\/p>\n
When Kayla Tossone of Fairmont, West Virginia, noticed her dog Jericho was drinking and urinating a lot, followed by a small amount of blood on his blanket, she sought immediate veterinary attention for him. Jericho\u2019s veterinarian diagnosed a urinary tract infection (UTI), but after two rounds of antibiotics with no change in Jericho\u2019s urination or thirst, Kayla again sought veterinary evaluation for the neutered 5-year-old Doberman pinscher. A follow-up urinalysis found the protein in his urine \u201cwas a little high.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dogs can normally have trace amounts of protein in their urine, a condition known as proteinuria. These trace amounts represent tiny protein pieces that are able to pass through the pores of the kidneys\u2019\u00a0glomeruli<\/a>, which are microscopic filters. However, larger proteins and albumin don\u2019t normally pass through glomeruli into urine \u2014 unless there\u2019s an issue.<\/p>\n By itself, proteinuria doesn\u2019t cause symptoms. But when symptoms are present in conjunction with proteinuria, there\u2019s usually an underlying cause. The most common causes of protein in dog urine are:<\/p>\n At that point, Kayla sought a second opinion on Jericho\u2019s condition. A urine sample collected via cystocentesis (a medical term meaning a sterile urine sample was obtained by needle and syringe from Jericho\u2019s bladder) showed the UTI was no longer present \u2014 which was good news! But the results of an extensive bloodwork panel revealed Jericho\u2019s blood level of albumin, the key protein that holds water inside blood vessels and transports numerous substances around the body, was abnormally low. The preliminary diagnosis that dismal day in January 2018 was protein-losing nephropathy (PLN).<\/p>\n Protein-losing nephropathy refers to any kidney disease that results in excessive protein loss into urine. There are two main forms of PLN, one of which is considered an inherited disease and one that is caused by several underlying diseases. Unfortunately, when one of these disease processes damages the kidneys, the result is leakage of protein into the urine. If the protein loss can\u2019t be controlled, PLN leads to chronic kidney disease.<\/p>\n In addition to increased water consumption and urination, signs of protein-losing nephropathy include poor appetite, weight loss and poor hair coat. With substantial protein loss, fluid can leak out of the bloodstream into surrounding tissues, such as a dog\u2019s legs, and body cavities such as the chest and abdomen. The good news for Kayla and Jericho: an ultrasound revealed no swelling or fluid accumulation.<\/p>\n Treatment is designed to target the underlying cause of PLN, if the underlying cause is determined. Because it\u2019s important to reduce the amount of protein being lost in urine, decreasing the amount of protein consumed plays an important role in managing dogs with PLN. A specific class of medications is also typically given to reduce proteinuria.<\/p>\n \u201cJericho was started on benazepril twice a day and Welactin (an omega-3 fatty acid supplement) once a day,\u201d Kayla reports. He was also switched to another brand of a therapeutic kidney disease food. But Jericho continued to lose weight on the kidney diet and still acted hungry. He even snatched loaves of bread off the kitchen table!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA friend found a bag of Diamond CARE Rx Renal Formula, so I started Jericho on it,\u201d Kayla says. \u201cI thought it couldn\u2019t hurt, and it was definitely more affordable than the other brand he was eating. Jericho started regaining the weight he had lost, he was actually getting full on his food and he was acting more normally.<\/p>\n \u201cHe did very well on [Diamond CARE],\u201d she adds. \u201cBetter yet, follow-up bloodwork showed his blood albumin levels had stabilized in the three months he was eating Diamond CARE, and the total amount of blood protein increased a little so it was back within the normal range.<\/p>\n \u201cIt [PLN] is a tough disease, so cherish the time you have with your pet.\u201d<\/p>\n RELATED POST:\u00a0Get to Know Your Dog\u2019s Hard-Working Kidneys<\/a><\/p>\n\n
What\u2019s protein-losing nephropathy?<\/h3>\n
Standard treatment includes feeding a special kidney diet and giving medications<\/h3>\n
A change in food results in improvements<\/h3>\n