Vetdle

Think. Diagnose. Play.

Vetdle Archive

Archive Case #172: Canine Protein-Losing Nephropathy

Dog veterinary case - Hard - August 22, 2026

Clinical Clues

  1. A dog is investigated for progressive lethargy, weight loss, and swelling of the distal limbs.
  2. The owner says the appetite is variable and the abdomen seems more distended than usual.
  3. Examination confirms peripheral oedema and a small volume of abdominal effusion.
  4. Urinalysis reveals marked proteinuria without an active sediment.
  5. Biochemistry shows hypoalbuminaemia and hypercholesterolaemia.
  6. Glomerular disease causing excessive urinary protein loss can lead to a syndrome known as protein-losing nephropathy.

Diagnosis

Canine Protein-Losing Nephropathy

This case is most consistent with Canine Protein-Losing Nephropathy because the dog has edema, hypoalbuminaemia, and heavy proteinuria consistent with glomerular loss. The most important clues are the renal protein loss pattern and lack of a marked inflammatory sediment, which make protein-losing enteropathy less likely.

Learning review

Review the case evidence

Use the paired clues to explain how the evidence in this dog case supports the provided diagnosis, Canine Protein-Losing Nephropathy, then compare your reasoning with the case explanation.

Evidence checkpoints

Clues 1-2

  1. Clue 1: A dog is investigated for progressive lethargy, weight loss, and swelling of the distal limbs.
  2. Clue 2: The owner says the appetite is variable and the abdomen seems more distended than usual.

Clues 3-4

  1. Clue 3: Examination confirms peripheral oedema and a small volume of abdominal effusion.
  2. Clue 4: Urinalysis reveals marked proteinuria without an active sediment.

Clues 5-6

  1. Clue 5: Biochemistry shows hypoalbuminaemia and hypercholesterolaemia.
  2. Clue 6: Glomerular disease causing excessive urinary protein loss can lead to a syndrome known as protein-losing nephropathy.

Self-review prompts

  1. After clues 1-2, what evidence from this dog case shaped your initial interpretation?
  2. When you compare clues 3-4 with clues 1-2, what changed in your reasoning about Canine Protein-Losing Nephropathy?
  3. How do clues 5-6 align with the case explanation for Canine Protein-Losing Nephropathy?

Educational Use

Vetdle archive cases are educational veterinary games for diagnostic reasoning practice. They do not provide veterinary advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional medical guidance.