The main kidney disease affecting mini bull terriers is FAMILIAL NETHROPATHY which affects the dogs ability to remove waste products from their blood through urination.

Familial Nephropathy is screened for using the Urine Protein: Creatinine(UPC) test. The recommended or “standard” result, at which a dog is NOT considered at risk, is a ratio of 0.5. Research from Australia suggested a lower ratio of 0.3 for Miniature Bull Terriers but this has not been endorsed by the KC. 

Therefore any ratio above 0.5 should be investigated with further tests. It is recommended that the UPC Ratio test is carried out at the age of 12 months and then annually thereafter with all breeding dogs/bitches having a current, valid certificate prior to mating.

It is important to remember that the UPC test only tests the kidney function at that point in time and is not an indicator for future disease.

WHAT IS A URINE PROTEIN:CREATININE RATIO?
The urine protein: creatinine ratio is a simple test that measures how much protein is being lost through the kidneys and determines if the loss poses a health risk for the pet. The test involves measuring the amount of protein and creatinine in a urine sample, and mathematically dividing the protein value by the creatinine value.

WHAT IS CREATININE AND WHY IS IT USED IN THIS TEST?
Creatinine is a by-product of muscle metabolism. Creatinine is excreted in urine at an approximately constant rate, which means it can be used as a standard for comparison for other substances that are also excreted in the urine.

IS PROTEIN LOSS THROUGH THE KIDNEY ALWAYS SIGNIFICANT?
Losing a small amount of protein through the kidneys may not be important if the kidneys are otherwise working well, however, if kidney function is compromised then even small amounts of urinary protein loss should be investigated.
Substantial protein loss through the kidneys is a concern because it means the kidneys are not working properly.

CAN ANY URINE SAMPLE BE USED TO MEASURE PROTEIN:CREATININE RATIO?
No. The protein: creatinine ratio should be performed only on urine that is free of blood and inflammatory cells. The presence of blood and inflammation in urine may give a falsely high result for the protein: creatinine ratio, suggesting there is kidney disease when none is actually present.
Ideally, the urine for the test should be collected, mid-stream and first thing in the morning, prior to eating.

DOES ALL URINARY PROTEIN COME FROM THE KIDNEYS?

No. Protein can be present in urine if there is inflammation or bleeding anywhere in the urinary system. Protein that comes from inflammation or bleeding is not as worrisome, because the urinary protein loss will stop once the underlying problem is treated or corrected.

HOW IS THE PROTEIN: CREATININE RATIO INTERPRETED?
The protein: creatinine ratio must be interpreted in the context of the Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN), which is a substance found in blood that reflects the health of the kidney (see Biochemistry Profile).
An elevated BUN signals there is a problem with kidney function. In this situation a protein: creatinine ratio greater than 0.4 in a cat and 0.5 in a dog indicates there is medically significant protein loss through the kidneys.
If the BUN is within normal limits, indicating the kidneys are healthy, a protein : creatinine ratio up to 2.0 in both cats and dogs is acceptable. Values above 2.0, indicates there is medically significant protein loss through the kidneys, even if the BUN is within normal limits.

DOES AN ELEVATED PROTEIN: CREATININE RATIO EXPLAIN THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM?
No. The protein: creatinine ratio only helps to establish the fact that a problem exists. Further testing is usually required and may involve serial measurement of protein: creatinine ratio to prove the protein loss is persistent, and ultrasound of the kidney to non-invasively examine the kidney structure, or possibly a kidney biopsy to assess the kidney tissue directly.
Once a complete diagnosis is made, plans can be made to manage the disease as effectively as possible.