Samoyed Hereditary Glomerulopathy in Dogs

Category: Urinary & Reproductive
Inheritance: X-linked
Breeds documented: 1
Published sources: 3

Overview

An inherited problem in the kidney filters allows protein to escape into urine in affected Samoyeds. The kidneys gradually lose their ability to filter the blood, and affected males can develop kidney failure while still young. Females carrying the inherited change often have a milder course, although their urine can also contain excess protein. Poor growth may appear before obvious illness.

Signs to watch for

Growing more slowly than littermates.
Becoming progressively thinner.
Vomiting and marked dullness in advanced disease.

In one affected family, poor growth appeared from about 3 months, with urine abnormalities detectable earlier.

When to get help Arrange a vet visit promptly if a puppy grows poorly or becomes unusually thin.

Diagnosis and tests

Repeated urine tests can find protein loss before a puppy appears ill. Blood tests help a vet track kidney function as the condition progresses. A kidney biopsy, examined with a powerful microscope, can show characteristic splitting in the filters' supporting layers. A DNA test exists for this variant.

Breeds with documented risk

1 breed

By breed size

1 Medium

SamoyedMedium · Working Group

Inheritance

X-linked
Samoyed
The variant sits on the X chromosome. Males have one X and females have two, so the condition shows up differently in males and females. It is often more common in males. The sources do not say whether one copy is enough in females.
As stated by OMIA

We've gathered what published sources say about this condition, so you can talk it through with your vet. It isn't veterinary advice: you and your vet know your dog best.