Tag archives: kidney stones

In this fourth and final blog in a series about preventable inherited diseases in the Labrador retriever (see previous blogs here; part one, part two, and part three), we will examine a potentially life-threating urinary disease and a cause of blindness in dozens of dog breeds including the Labrador.

Cystinuria

Urinary tract obstruction is one of the most urgent and potentially life-threatening conditions in dogs. One common cause of urinary obstructions in dogs is the presence of bladder stones which leave the bladder during urination and become lodged in the urethra. The inability to urinate results in a toxic buildup of certain electrolytes and waste products in the body including potassium, which tends to be the most concerning in regards to health effects. Excess potassium in the body prevents the heart from beating normally, ultimately resulting in death due to cardiac arrest. Though it is not the only cause of bladder stones in Labradors, a genetic mutation in the SLC3A1 gene is reported to cause an early-onset disease known as cystinuria, which can result in bladder stone formation.

While normal kidneys reabsorb a variety of nutrients and electrolytes from the urine, dogs affected with cystinuria lack the ability to produce ...

There are not many dog breed names that give a more apt description of the breed’s physical appearance than that of the coton de Tulear. Taken from the French word “coton”, meaning cotton, the coton de Tulear’s signature soft white hair (not fur) has long been compared to the fluffy fiber of the cotton plant. According to the Malagasy Coton de Tulear Club of America, the coton de Tulear was developed in Madagascar around the 17^th century and is still the official dog of this island nation. Predecessors to the modern coton de Tulear were likely brought to the island by sailors or pirates around this time period. Though they are generally a healthy breed, unfortunately, like other purebred dogs, the coton de Tulear is known to inherit some genetic diseases that can make life challenging for this small, friendly companion and those that love them. One such inherited disease of the coton de Tulear is a severe condition known as primary hyperoxaluria (PH) that occurs due to a mutation in the AGXT gene.

Dogs affected with PH lack the ability to produce an enzyme that plays an essential role in the breakdown of a compound known as glyoxylate ...