Clinical approach for diagnosing chronic kidney disease based on a series of cases in dogs

ABSTRACT Chronic kidney disease (CDK) is the condition most frequently diagnosed in nephrology in dogs. CDK is progressive and irreversible, but the patient can be treated to decrease the rate of progression and improve the quality of life. All CKD cases originate from some type of kidney injury (underlying disease), which can be eventually diagnosed and subject to therapeutic intervention. The present prospective study aimed to evaluate dogs referred to check-up or for showing any signs suggestive of kidney disease. The study included 129 dogs, of which 34 had no kidney disease (control group) and 95 had CDK. Among the patients with CDK, 17 CDK 1, 36 CDK 2, 23 CDK 3, and 19 CDK 4 were found, according to staging criteria of the IRIS staging of CDK-2023. The test carried out made possible the clinical diagnosis of four categories of underlying kidney disease (congenital nephropathy, glomerular or tubule-interstitial disease, glomerulopathy and pyelonephritis). The present study may contribute as an illustration of the diversity of CDK manifestations in dogs, and their implications for the selection of priority laboratory tests for clinical practice.