Performing a renal biopsy in dogs

Abstract

Performing a renal biopsy has its reasons in establishing a specific diagnosis, evaluating the severity of the renal lesions and establishing an etiological treatment. Kidney diseases have a high incidence rate in dogs and cats. In order to make a differential diagnosis of a chronic or acute renal insufficiency or of a glomerular lesion , the anamnesis, clinical examination and lab results are not always enough. Renal biopsy is always necessary to establish the degree of severity, a definitive diagnostic and a treatment plan. The succes of the treatment is related to knowing the type and extension of the lesion. The literature indicates that the risks and complications that follow a renal biopsy are extremely low. Still, how we choose the patient and the proper technique may considerably decrease the risk and increase the succes rate of the biopsy. In the final stages of kidney disease, assesed through clinical and laboratory exams, renal biopsy is useless. In the less advanced stages the diagnosis offered by a histopathological examination of the biopsy fragment may proove to be an important factor in achieving a succesfull treatment of the glomerular illness in both dogs and cats. The studies that have approached this subject show that kidney biopsy performed in patients that suffer from a chronic renal insufficiency are not recommended, due to the fact that the risks are higher.