It is now being seen in Golden Retrievers, a breed in which it had not before been recognized. Early symptoms of Juvenile Renal Disease include drinking copious amounts of water, something that might not be readily apparent in a house with more than one dog, frequent urination, and dilute urine which has little color or odor. Some affected puppies will leak urine, others won't. As the disease progresses, vomiting, weight loss, anorexia, lethargy, and muscle weakness are seen. There is often a chemical odor to the breath, and teeth are sometimes discolored.
Some puppies grow normally until they are diagnosed, and some appear as failures to thrive.
Epogen, an expensive drug which needs to be carefully monitored, can be also be given to treat the hypoproliferative anemia of chronic renal failure. Some Veterinary schools are experimenting with kidney transplants, but transplanted kidneys in dogs are commonly rejected. These treatments are palliative at best, and the prognosis for JRD is grim. Puppies usually die within several months of being diagnosed, almost always before age two. I do know of several dogs who have JRD with less severe kidney involvement, and who are being well maintained on low protein diets.