Amyloidosis

Amyloidosis by George Jones

Amyloidosis is the presence of abnormal amyloid protein deposited throughout an animals body. When inflammation occurs, specific chemicals are produced and released into the dogs blood stream. These chemicals are called Acute Phase Reactant Proteins (APP). Once the inflammation has cleared, the APPs are broken down by the body and excreted. In a dog with amyloidosis the body can not break the APPs into an excretable form. The partial break down results in the conversion of APPs into Amyloid AA. Amyloid AA is not excretable by the body. Amyloid AA is deposited outside the cells but remains within the body.
With repeated bouts of inflammation the Amyloid AA is progressively built up until the deposits start compressing adjacent cell walls. These compressed cells can not properly function. The resulting damage or disease will be dependent upon the locations involved in Amyloid AA deposits.
The kidneys are most commonly affected by Amyloidosis. Unlike other cells within the body, when a kidney cell is damaged, it dies. However, kidney cells can not be replaced. The kidneys do not generate new cells. For this reason the amyloid protein most often causes kidney failure first.
Amyloidosis is fatal. Deaths have be reported ranging from eight months of age to 12 years. The most common ages being between 3 and 5 years old.
The most common signs of advanced Amyloidosis are:
a) Unexplained weight loss
b) Increased thirst and frequency of urination
c) Vomiting
d) "Bad Breath" due to uremia or toxin/wastes build up in the bloodstream.

Amyloidosis can be diagnosed based on tissue examination by a veterinarian. Dogs with Amyloidosis should not be used for breeding.

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