When Kidneys Whisper Instead of Warning

Why understanding the type of kidney disease matters—and how a simple urine test could change everything

Your dog’s kidneys are quiet overachievers.

Every day, they filter waste from the blood, balance fluids, and help regulate vital body functions without fanfare or obvious signs. But when that system begins to falter, as it does in chronic kidney disease (CKD), the damage often progresses silently.

By the time dogs reach their senior years, nearly one in three will be affected. And while a diagnosis of chronic kidney disease is serious, it’s also incomplete. Chronic kidney disease isn’t a single illness, it’s a group of diseases that all affect how the kidneys work. And knowing exactly what’s happening inside the kidneys matters deeply for treatment, outcomes, and quality of life.

Not All Kidney Disease Is the Same

The Biopsy Barrier

Currently, the only way to definitively determine the cause of glomerular kidney disease is through a kidney biopsy, which is an invasive procedure requiring anesthesia.

For many dogs, especially those who are older or medically fragile, a biopsy simply isn’t an option.

“There are a lot of dogs with kidney disease that can’t safely undergo biopsy,” Dr. Nabity explains. “That’s why the need for a non-invasive test that can categorize the disease and guide treatment is so high.”

So what can be done for those dogs?

A Urine Sample…and a Breakthrough Idea

Dr. Nabity and her team at the International Veterinary Renal Pathology Service are working to close this gap.

In earlier studies, they identified a microRNA biomarker in canine urine that appears to be associated specifically with one important subtype of glomerular disease: immune-complex kidney disease.

Now, with support from the AKC Canine Health Foundation, the team is investigating whether this biomarker could form the basis of a simple, non-invasive diagnostic test.

If successful, veterinarians could one day determine whether immune complexes are damaging a dog’s kidneys using only a urine sample, possibly eliminating the need for biopsy in many cases.

How the Test Works (In Plain English)

The science is sophisticated, but the process is surprisingly straightforward:

1. A small urine sample is collected.
2. The sample is centrifuged to separate microscopic components.
3. RNA is isolated from the urine.
4. Researchers measure the activity of a specific microRNA biomarker.
5. That activity is compared across dogs with different types of kidney disease.

Early results are encouraging. Dogs with immune-complex kidney disease show higher expression of the biomarker, suggesting it may reliably distinguish this condition from other causes of chronic kidney disease.

Additional studies are underway to confirm accuracy and clinical usefulness.

Why This Matters for Dogs and the People Who Love Them

“Really, the main goal is to contribute to non-invasive diagnostic tests,” Dr. Nabity says.

For dogs, that could mean:

• Earlier, safer diagnosis
• More precise treatment decisions
• Frequent, low-risk monitoring
• Fewer risky procedures

For families, it means answers without added harm.

The AKC Canine Health Foundation is proud to support research like this, advancing science that doesn’t just extend life, but improves the experience of care for dogs everywhere.

You too, can help dogs everywhere with a gift that advances science like this today: akcchf.org/donate