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A DNA test for Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) in cats
Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD).
Cats with PKD have a large number of fluid-filled cysts in their kidneys. These
cysts start off very small early in life and then gradually increase in size until
eventually they compromise the surrounding normal kidney tissue. It is a disease that
shows up later in life (late onset) with enlarged kidneys and with kidney dysfunction
generally causing death between four and eight years of age. The clinical problems occur
when these cysts start to grow and progressively enlarge the kidney, reducing the kidney's
ability to function properly. The clinical signs are depression, reduced appetite,
excessive thirst and weight loss. There is a marked difference in when and how quickly
individual cats succumb, with the possibility of clinical signs developing late enough
in life that the cat can die of other causes before kidney failure. Except in the kidneys,
cysts are also seen in other organs such as the liver, pancreas and uterus but these
hardly ever cause clinical symptoms causing the death of the animal.
A DNA test for PKD1.
Breeds at risk.
Breeding policy.
Testing for PKD1
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