Familial renal disease is an inherited condition in which your dog’s kidney tissue develops abnormally. Familial renal disease usually leads to kidney failure, the inability of the kidney(s) to filter waste from your dog’s body, and in some cases, death. However your dog may have a very mild form of this disease, which will likely not cause kidney failure or death.

Familial renal disease is also called renal dysplasia.

Symptoms of familial renal disease will usually begin before your dog reaches his second year of age. Symptoms will include increased thirst, increased urination, weight loss, dehydration, lethargy, vomiting, bone pain and stunted growth. You may also notice that your dog’s urine is very pale.

This is an inherited condition.

Your vet will perform blood work to look for signs of kidney malfunction and analyze a urine sample from your dog to look for poor urine concentration. Your vet may also use diagnostic imaging techniques, such as X-rays and an ultrasound, to visualize your dog’s kidneys.

As this condition cannot be cured, treatment is aimed at easing your dog’s discomfort and trying to slow the onset of kidney failure.

Dogs with this condition should not be bred, and you should not acquire a dog who has a family history of this condition.

No, you cannot get familial renal disease from your dog.