The value of this testing was driven home emphatically in my practice last week. Last Friday, we admitted two 7 month old Shih Tzu puppies for neutering and boarding over the weekend. Fortunately, the owner of the dogs is very caring and concerned about her pups, and authorized pre-anesthetic blood testing for both. Increases in BUN are usually associated with dehydration or kidney disease. The cause of my patients' kidney failure is renal dysplasia, one of many congenital kidney disorders affecting both dogs and cats.
Renal dysplasia is an inherited defect in the maturation of the kidney tissue.
It is seen primarily in Shih Tzus, Lhasa Apsos, and Soft-Coated Wheaten Terriers. Researchers believe they have identified the two genes responsible for the condition. In addition, a test for the presence of one of these genes is now available commercially, and should help breeders of these dogs identify and remove carrier animals from their breeding stock. Dogs affected with renal dysplasia may have no clinical signs, severe clinical signs, or anything in between. Owners may note a failure of the pup to grow at a normal rate.