Comparative pathology of canine hereditary nephropathies: an interpretive review.

Hereditary nephropathies in dogs represent multiple complex clinicopathological entities which cause renal failure in juvenile, adolescent, and young adult dogs. To date, nephropathies believed to have a genetic basis have been described in 11 breeds. These disorders represent a variety of developmental, degenerative, and metabolic defects. Many canine hereditary nephropathies are analogous to childhood nephropathies in man. Review of the veterinary literature, comparative pathology, and avenues of future research are discussed.