Amyloidosis is a progressive systemic disease in which there is an irregular build-up of amyloids (proteins) in your dog. The build-up of these proteins hinders normal organ functions.

Amyloidosis can occur in practically any of your dog’s organs. However, the kidneys and the liver are the two most frequently impacted organs. With kidney amyloidosis, also known as renal amyloidosis, there is an abnormal deposit of amyloids in your dog’s kidney eventually leading to irreversible kidney failure. With liver amyloidosis, also known as hepatic amyloidosis, there is a significant build-up of amyloids in your dog’s liver tissue eventually leading to irreversible liver failure. There is a higher incidence of liver amyloidosis in Shar-Peis, and it is believed that this higher incidence is due to a genetic predisposition to this disease in this breed.

Your dog’s symptoms will vary depending on which organ is impacted and the amount of protein build-up that has occurred.

Kidney Amyloidosis
Your dog’s symptoms are tied to the amount of kidney damage that has occurred. If very little kidney damage has occurred, your dog may show no symptoms. As the disease progresses, the first symptoms you may notice are weight loss and lack of energy. Next, as more of your dog’s kidney function is impacted, symptoms include vomiting, reduced appetite, dehydration, greater thirst, increased urination, diminished coat quality and mouth sores. Blood clots may also develop and, if so, additional symptoms will develop depending on where the clots are located. For example, a clot in your dog’s lung can cause breathing problems. A clot in your dog’s spinal cord tissue can cause paralysis. A clot in the your dog’s eyes vessels, in a ddition to the increased blood pressure that accompanies kidney amyloidosis, can cause your dog to go blind.

Hepatic (Liver) Amyloidosis
Symptoms include a fever that comes and goes, swelling of your dog’s joints, lameness, decreased appetite and increased thirst, increased urination and vomiting.

Amyloidosis of any part of your dog's body may be idiopathic, meaning its cause is unknown, or it may occur secondarily to another condition such as an infection, cancer, chronic inflammation or an immune disorder. Kidney amyloidosis, like many kidney conditions, can develop as a result of lyme disease. In Shar-peis, liver amyloidosis, however, appears to have a genetic link.