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FEBRUARY 18, 2019

What You Need to Know about Cystinuria in Dogs

If youโ€™ve ever had a kidney stone, youโ€™ve experienced one of the worst physical pains a human can ever feel. Many women whoโ€™ve had a stone and whoโ€™ve also given birth say that passing the kidney stone wasย much more painfulย than pushing out a baby! So imagine if your dog got stones in their kidney, ureter, or bladderโ€”ouch! They might if they have a condition known as Cystinuria Disease or cystinuria in dogs.

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What is Cystinuria in Dogs?

Cystinuria is an inherited genetic disorder that prevents the dogโ€™s ability to effectively filterย cystineย out of urine. When too much cystine builds up,ย stones can form; these tiny objects can get stuck anywhere in the urinary tract, including in the kidneys, bladder, and ureter. People can get cystinuria too, and the symptoms for dogs are the same as for humans. It can even affect cats too!

Which Dog Breeds are Affected by Cystinuria?

Cystinuria has been reported in over 70 dog breeds, but the most common ones are:

  • Newfoundland
  • Labrador Retriever
  • Dachshund
  • Basset Hound
  • Irish Terrier
  • English Bulldog

In most breeds, symptoms start developing around 4-5 years of age, but Newfies can start showing symptoms as early as six (6) months!

What are the Symptoms of Cystinuria?

Any variation of the following areย common signs that your dog may be suffering cystinuria:

  • Bloody urine
  • Frequent urination
  • Frequent urinary tract infections
  • Painful urination
  • Straining when voiding
  • Sudden onset of vomiting, anorexia, and lethargy
kidney-stones-cystinuria-in-dogs

Examples of cystine stones

Can Cystinuria be Prevented?

According toย CanineCystinuria.com, โ€œSome veterinarians, including many well-known kidney specialists, feel strongly that cystine stones can be prevented, or the incidence greatly reduced, by feeding ultra-low-protein diets (such as Hills u/d) and alkalinizing the urine with drugs or supplements. Other veterinarians believe that diet is of minimal or no use in controlling the formation of stones, and that only the drug Thiola is effective for this purpose.โ€

If aย cystinuria DNA screenย confirms your dog is at risk, your best course of action is to talk to your veterinarian, since theyโ€™ll be up to date on all the latest research.

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Is Your Dog at Risk? A Dog DNA Test for Cystinuria Can Tell You

There are 3 possible genotypes reported for cystinuria by ourย accredited DDC Veterinary laboratory:

CLEAR:ย those having 2 copies of the normal allele and appear to be normal

CARRIER:ย those having 1 copy of the normal allele and 1 copy of the cystinuria mutation but appear to be normal

AT RISK:ย those having 2 copies of the cystinuria mutation and will likely show clinical signs of cystinuria

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What is the Treatment for Cystinuria?

Unfortunately, cystinuria is a chronic disorder, and the treatment for obstructions caused by stones is almost always surgical. In some cases, antibiotics to treat infection are also used to treat the condition.

The Tip of the Tail

Itโ€™s extremely important to get immediate veterinary treatment if you suspect your dog is showing symptoms of cystinuria. If the obstruction is left untreated, the condition can rapidly become life-threatening. Although stone-development prevention is hit and miss, having a DNA screen performed can at least help you better understand your dogโ€™s risk for the condition. If you know they are affected, you can be on the lookout for symptoms.

CAUTIONย about a cystinuria DNA screen:ย A laboratory does not always have a validated test for all breeds, so be sure to ask questions before purchasing. ย For example, DDC Veterinary has validated cystinuria DNA screens only for Newfoundlands and Labrador Retrievers. If a laboratory doesnโ€™t have a validated test for your Dachshund, for example, keep looking!

About DNA Diagnostics Centerย (DDC)

DNA Diagnostic Center is the world leader in paternity and relationship testing. We serve healthcare professionals, government agencies, and individuals around the world to determine family relationships with trusted accuracy.

More Questions? Donโ€™t hesitate to call us: weโ€™re here to help!

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