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.