Dog hereditary diseases

Description
Protein-losing nephropathy is a collective term for a group of glomerular disorders characterized by loss of protein in the urine. The disease is considered late, most often manifests itself in the middle of life or later. The disease can be mild for many years. In some cases, serious complications such as kidney failure or thrombosis occur.

Protein-losing nephropathy includes glomerulonephritis (inflammation of the glomeruli in the kidneys), hereditary glomerulopathy (a non-inflammatory disease of the glomeruli), and amyloidosis (accumulation of abnormal protein). The disease usually affects large breed dogs such as the Wheaten Terrier, Bernese Mountain Dog, Labrador Retriever and Golden Retriever, but the causal mutations vary. Wheaten terriers at risk of nephropathy begin to show signs of the disease between 2 and 6 years of age. Nephropathy in Wheaten Terriers is associated with mutations in the NPHS1 and KIRREL2 genes. The highest chance of manifestation of the disease (95%) was in homozygotes for mutations in both genes, however, the development of the disease was also detected in carriers. The genes are located close to each other, and, apparently, are passed to the offspring linked, since according to the literature data, no terriers with a mutation in only one gene have been found. About 10-15% of the wheat terrier population is susceptible to this disease. A genetic test can identify the risk of developing a disease. Heterozygotes have an average risk of developing the disease, homozygotes for a mutation have a high risk of developing it. It is important to note that there is also an acquired form of the disease that cannot be detected by a genetic test.

Symptoms
Frequent symptoms: weakness, decreased appetite, vomiting, weight loss, diarrhea, fluid accumulation in tissues, frequent urination.

Diagnostics
Characteristic changes in the behavior and physiology of the dog.