Past Newsletters

The E.R.D.-Screen™ Urine Test

1. Amyloidosis in the Shar-Pei primarily affects the medulla (central part) or the urine concentrating region of the kidney and proteinuria (protein in the urine) is not a significant aspect of this syndrome. As amyloidosis can involve the glomeruli in the cortex (outer region of the kidney) and result in proteinuria the E.R.D.-Screen™ Urine Test may be useful here as an early detection test. The urine protein:creatinine ratio is still important in these cases as well.
2. The Health Through Education Committee and articles I’ve written over the last 10 years or so have consistently recommended routine urinalysis in Shar-Pei done on a regular basis as the best way to screen for early signs of kidney disease. Overnight water deprivation and obtaining the urine in the morning allow evaluation of the urine concentrating ability of the kidney. Use of this E.R.D.-Screen™ Urine Test methodology would have the same recommendation.
3. Further research is needed to evaluate what treatments would be beneficial in dogs prior to the onset of chronic kidney failure characterized by the loss of concen trating ability. Current nutritional recommendations suggest there is no benefit to kidney diets prior to the onset of blood changes associated with kidney failure (increased BUN and creatinine changes).
4. The E.R.D.-Screen test does pick up microalbuminuria of ~1.0 mg/dl whereas the routine urine dip stick test starts at 10-30 mg/dl (the urine dip stick measures total protein in the urine of which 40-60% is albumin). Future research will have to give us advice on what to do with these microalbuminuric patients. Certainly the presence of microalbuminuria should dictate further testing to determine an underlying cause for the abnormality and/or point to more vigilant monitoring of ongoing kidney function. As the Shar-Pei practitioner uses the test and correlates the results with the progression and outcome of cases its utility will become apparent.
5. One also has to bear in mind the presence of “functional proteinuria” which can occur due to exercise, fever, and changes in blood flow to the kidney. This is rapidly reversible and I have seen it in Familial Shar-Pei Fever during the fever episodes. I would be careful in interpreting proteinuria in urine obtained during or shortly after an FSF episode.

I believe the E.R.D. test may be a useful adjunct to the routine serial urinalyses after overnight water deprivation we do in Shar-Pei now. My recommendation would be do a urinalysis and an E.R.D. test on each Shar-Pei at least twice a year. I believe the E.R.D. test may be an earlier indicator than the urine specific gravity after overnight water deprivation of the earliest stage of kidney impairment. If the E.R.D. test is positive we will then monitor urine samples more often (perhaps 3-4 times a year). A urine protein/creatinine ratio may also be used to confirm the presence a significant amount of protein in the urine when a positive E.R.D. test is found. These recommendations are especially important in the FSF dogs.

In the next several years more and more information is going to be forthcoming about the diagnostic significance of microalbuminuria and the use of the E.R.D. test. I just attending the 22nd American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Forum held in Minneapolis, Minnesota and the major focus of the veterinary urologists and nephrologists was this very subject so I know we’ll be hearing more about it in the very near future.

Tick-borne Disease

1. Borreliosis (Lyme Disease) The infectious agent is a spirochete (motile bacteria), Borrelia burgdorferi, which is carried by the deer tick, Ixodes spp. The white-footed mouse is the main reservoir for the spirochete and the host for the nymphal and larval forms of the tick. White-tailed deer are the definitive host with dogs and people being exposed to the adult ticks in deer endemic areas. The lameness primarily presents due to joint pain and may be acute or chronic. It is often progressive. Signs of systemic disease include fever, loss of appetite, lethargy, and enlarged lymph nodes. The joints may be swollen. Radiographs show little evidence of degenerative joint disease. Blood work is often normal and Lyme blood titers are useful in unvaccinated dogs. Treatment consists of antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for joint pain. A more unusual presentation seen primarily in the retriever breeds is a glomerulonephritis caused by the bacteria which can be fatal.
2. Ehrlichiosis Ehrlichia spp. are rickettsial organisms which are intracellular parasites that replicate in host cells such as red blood cells, various types of white blood cells and platelets. Tick transmission by the brown dog tick, the lone star tick and the deer tick have been demonstrated. The parasitized cells are subject to early destruction in the spleen and liver as well as being disrupted by the life cycle of the parasite itself. Clinical signs are fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, weight loss, enlarged lymph nodes, and enlarged spleen. Often evidence of a bleeding disorder is seen with a bloody nose, bruising of the skin and small hemorrhages on the gums and other mucous membranes known as petechia. Inflammatory changes in the eyes can be seen as well. Arthritis in several joints, peripheral edema and muscle inflammation with pain are other recognized signs. Laboratory findings include low red cell counts, white blood cell counts, and low platelet counts depending on the species of Ehrlichia the dog is infected with. It is also common to see an increase in the serum proteins with protein loss in the urine. Abnormal blood clotting tests can be seen as well. The diagnosis is based on detecting the organisms within cells and serological testing for titers to the organism. Treatment usually consists of doxycyline as an antibiotic. If the disease is not detected early, recovery might take many months and the dog’s response may be poor or incomplete.
3. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever The cause of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is another rickettsial organism known as Rickettsia rickettsii and transmitted in the saliva of the American dog tick, the Lone Star tick, the Deer tick, the Rocky Mountain wood tick and the Pacific Coast tick. The disease name is a misnomer as the disease is found throughout the United States. Common signs include fever, lethargy, and loss of appetite. Skin signs are also common and include cutaneous edema, vesicles (blisters), bruising, and areas of skin sloughing. Other signs include joint pain and lameness, eye and nose discharge, coughing and breathing problems. Often there is anemia, low white blood cell counts and low platelet counts. Coagulation problems can develop. There can also be increases in liver tests and muscle enzyme levels. Serology is useful to diagnose the disease. Antibiotic treatment and supportive care are indicated.
4. Babesiosis This disease is caused by a protozoan parasite (one celled organism) called Babesia gibsoni or Babesia canis. Transmission occurs via the brown dog tick and the organism invades the red blood cells resulting in severe anemia and systemic signs. Signs include hemolytic anemia caused by red blood cell destruction, fever, loss of appetite, weakness, and possible icterus (yellow color to the whites of the eyes and skin). It seems to be especially prevalent in Greyhounds. The major laboratory findings are the anemia or low red blood cell count, as well as low platelet count. The organism can sometimes be seen in the red blood cells under the microscope. Diagnosis is based on finding the organism and serological testing to detect antibody titers. Treatment involves specific drug therapy and supportive care.
5. Tick Paralysis Ticks can inject a toxin when they feed. Most cases of tick paralysis involve the Rocky Mountain wood tick and the American dog tick. The toxin causes an ascending paralysis. Removal of the tick often reverses the signs. Death can result if the respiratory muscles are involved.
6. Bartonellosis This is the group of organisms which can cause cat-scratch fever in man. The disease in dogs is transmitted by ticks. Bartonella are presumed intracellular bacteria which probably infects endothelial cells (cells that line blood vessels) and macrophages (cells which digest foreign materials). Signs may be inapparent or severe due to bacterial endocarditis and bacterial blood infection. Diagnosis is based on serology. Antibiotic treatment is not proven effective in clearing the infection. Not much is known about the disease in dogs at this time.

We need to mention the importance of preventing tick exposure.

1. Limit exposure — Ticks tend to favor tall grass, low brush areas and woods. Avoiding these types of terrain is best but keeping the dog on leash would suffice as well. If your property abuts areas of forest preserves, etc. fencing off the yard would be useful to limit exposure. Keeping high brush areas mowed or otherwise kept low is another approach. House infestations can result from bringing firewood into the house.
2. Treat your yard — There are commercially available yard sprays containing permethrin which kill ticks on contact and degrade fairly quickly. Follow the manufacturer’s directions. Most are very safe once they dry. Local pesticide companies are another source of products and services.
3. Tick control on pets — Topical products such as K9 Advantix™, Frontline Top Spot® and various flea and tick collars are effective to control ticks on animals. My favorite is K9 Advantix™ for Shar-Pei as it controls fleas, ticks and is a mosquito repellant which makes it useful in preventing West Nile disease. K9 Advantix™ CANNOT BE USED IN CATS. Also be careful to read the label carefully when purchasing insecticides from pet stores. Many products for dogs and cats look alike. I’ve seen several cases of dog products being used on cats resulting in toxicity.
4. Vaccination — Dogs can be vaccinated to prevent Lyme’s disease. I currently only vaccinate those dogs at risk such as dogs with tick exposure and those that go on family vacations to Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Certainly field dogs, search & rescue and agility dogs may also fit in this category.

Due to the lack of specific symptoms with tick-borne diseases a high index of suspicion must be maintained. The turn around time on the serological tests is often 5-7 days or longer so I will often order those tests early in the workup for a sick dog. Antibiotic therapy is often started early as well because there is often a dramatic response to these drugs in dogs with tick- borne disease. Of course the best treatment is prevention.