Could my 2y/o yellow lab have kidney disease?

[kelsgross]

I have a 2-year old yellow lab. I took her to the vet for her annual check-up and her creatine level was elevated (1.7) and BUN was normal. We did a recheck and her one week after the initial checkup, and her creatinine was at 2.1, BUN at 26. Her urine specific gravity was 1.026. She shows no other symptoms of kidney disease. She's not drinking or peeing more than normal, she's as rambunctious as ever, and she has no trouble finishing her dinner. Could this really be kidney disease?

I should also mention, she's been on incurin since she was spayed at 6months old to help with incontinence that (our vet said) was a result of the spay procedure. I'm going to see a specialist on Monday (four days from now) to get more info and hopefully do a ultrasound, but I've been crying all day because I'm scared of losing my dog.  Is there any way that the test was a fluke?

[tonyb286]

Hi. The specific gravity suggests partial impairment of renal function. Increased creatinine from one test to another suggests something is going on, very likely with the kidneys. BUN is only just at the upper limits. Your dog is very young to have developed kidney issues, therefore this may be connected with something she has eaten or with being dehydrated (possible) or with a genetic problem that has triggered. Time will tell. Either way, this is very early onset and could be acute rather than chronic in nature.

I don't think this is likely anything to do with the Incurin, which is a fairly new drug for dogs (FDA approved in 2011) and has a good safety record to date. There is just the slight possibility of urinary bladder inflammation with it, which could then lead to other renal issues, but unlikely.

I would wait for the scan results and also take some time to record and assess what she may have eaten, including regular foods and treats, as it is possible toxic materials have triggered the blood abnormalities. It is also worth thinking about when she last had any vaccinations, flea and heartworm treatments or any other medications.

You might also want to join our specialist group here on MedHelp ... the CHRONIC KIDNEY FAILURE IN DOGS User Group. Search or look up Groups at Medhelp's home page. I administrate the group.

Get back and let me know how you get on with the scan.

Tony