Low specific gravity.

Dr. Marie replied:

This sounds like an unusual case. Any time a dog has an increase in thirst and urination combined with a low specific gravity I get fairly worried. A specific gravity of 1.011 is in the range where we worry about how well the kidneys are functioning. If there were no significant elevations in the kidney enzymes (BUN and CREA) then this is a good thing. However, you can still have kidney problems and not see the blood elevations until things get much worse.

One possible cause for calcium oxalate crystals is ingestion of something that is toxic to kidneys such as antifreeze or certain plants.

It's possible that the calcium oxalate crystals are there because there is something causing high calcium. High calcium is not common in dogs. I would be wondering about things like hyperparathyroidism, possibly hypoadrenocorticism, diabetes insipidus and even some types of cancers. It's also possible that he was exposed to something mildly toxic to the kidneys and that he will recover on his own shortly. The problem here is that getting a diagnosis may be difficult.

I'm not too worried about the slight increases in liver enzymes. I really wouldn't call these liver function tests (LFTs). Now, if there was a really elevated bile acid test then that would have me more concerned. You could ask your vet about running one if you want to be sure but it's not the route that I would take.

I think that if this were my case, my decision on what test to do next would be based on how he is feeling over the next couple of days. If his appetite gets worse then I'd be repeating his BUN and CREA to see if his kidneys are getting worse. If they are then I might consider doing tests for leptospirosis if this is something that is seen in your area.

I'd definitely want to be repeating the urinalysis to see what the specific gravity is doing. If the number is getting even lower, then diabetes insipidus sounds more likely. But, this doesn't usually cause an appetite loss.

I'd probably want to be testing the calcium to see if it is increasing as well. If so, then I'd be doing some specialized tests to look for hyperparathyroidism.

I would not recommend continuing with the supplements unless your vet specifically recommended them. I wouldn't want to be adding anything new to the mix until I felt more comfortable about what the problem was.

I wish I had more answers for you. What I can tell you is that this is a condition that is probably going to require a number of additional tests before any answers are received. I've also had some cases like this where no answer is found but then the dog gets better. I hope things improve soon!

Dr. Marie.


Do you have a pet website? Interested in learning more about SEO for Wix?

---

Check out our dog age calculator and cat age calculator.

Dr. Marie replied:

I think that we're a little bit premature for a CT at this point. The ADH test is a possibility but I'd be reluctant to do that while he is not feeling well. If his appetite returns and all that is going on is the increased thirst and urination and decreased specific gravity then this could be a logical next step.

The best advice that I can give you is to trust your veterinarian's advice when it comes to which tests will be the most helpful.

Dr. Marie.