Role of urinary biomarkers in investigating AKI in dogs

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a complex clinical syndrome that can be reversible or can lead to non-reversible kidney damage and sometimes death. Acute kidney injury has been reported in dogs and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The International Renal Interest Society (http://www.iris-kidney.com/), a veterinary society promoting standard definition and standard of care recommendations for renal diseases, defines AKI as a continuum of disease with progression over five grades based on the presence of azotaemia. Further investigation of new biomarkers for early recognition is thus very important to better detect AKI and prevent irreversible alteration in a dog’s renal function.