Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment
A 4-year-old Basenji with polyuria, polydipsia, and metabolic acidosis most likely has which condition?
Diabetes mellitus
Fanconi syndrome
Pyelonephritis
Hypoadrenocorticism
The correct answer is: Fanconi syndrome
The condition described in this scenario is most closely associated with Fanconi syndrome, particularly in a Basenji dog, which is a breed known for a predisposition to this renal tubular disorder. Fanconi syndrome is characterized by a defect in the renal tubules that leads to the impaired reabsorption of glucose, amino acids, phosphorus, bicarbonate, and other substances. This condition results in the loss of glucose and bicarbonate in the urine, which causes metabolic acidosis due to the inability to reabsorb bicarbonate properly. The polyuria (increased urination) and polydipsia (increased thirst) are also manifestations of renal tubular dysfunction, where the kidneys cannot concentrate urine effectively due to the loss of electrolytes and solutes. Metabolic acidosis, frequent in this syndrome, is a direct consequence of bicarbonate wasting, which further explains the clinical signs observed in the patient. The combination of polyuria, polydipsia, and metabolic acidosis, particularly in a Basenji, strongly points towards Fanconi syndrome as the most likely diagnosis.