Serum Creatinine Concentrations in Retired Racing Greyhounds

Background: Greyhounds frequently have laboratory values that are outside reference intervals established for dogs. Our recognition of increased serum creatinine concentrations in several Greyhounds posed a problem when evaluating a Greyhound with suspected renal disease.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare serum creatinine concentrations between Greyhound and non-Greyhound dogs.

Methods: Thirty retired racing Greyhounds and 30 age- and gender-matched control non-Greyhound dogs were evaluated. Serum creatinine concentrations in both groups were measured using a standard biochemical method and compared statistically using a Kruskal-Wallis test.

Results: Creatinine concentration was significantly higher in the Greyhounds (P <.01) than in the control group.

Conclusion: Greyhounds have a higher serum creatinine concentration than do non-Greyhound dogs. This idiosyncrasy should be taken into account when evaluating healthy Greyhounds and those with suspected renal disease.