Abstract: Background - Renal biopsies are recommended to further investigate primary glomerular disease and/or acute kidney injury. Biopsy-related complications are often a concern. Objectives - To describe the incidence and severity of complications after percutaneous ultrasound-guided renal biopsy (PURB) in dogs and to identify risk factors associated with these complications. Animals - Fifty-one client-owned dogs that underwent PURB. Methods - Complications of PURB were retrospectively reviewed, and their association with biopsy technique (needle gauge, number of biopsies, sedation or anesthesia) and patient variables (weight, blood pressure, platelet count, PT/PTT, albumin level, and anticoagulant use) were compared. Creatinine, BUN and PCV were assessed pre- and post-biopsy, and absolute change of PCV (ΔPCV) was calculated as PCVpre-PCVpost. Results - Renal biopsies were collected using a 16- or 18-gauge needle. Immediate bleeding following biopsy was visualized on ultrasound in 16/51 (31%) dogs. Forty-one (80%) dogs had a decrease in PCV with a median ΔPCV of -7% (range, –2 to –17%). Only 1 dog required clinical intervention and received a blood transfusion. There was no association with risk of major bleeding (PCV decrease >6%) and biopsy technique or patient variables. There was no significant change in BUN (P=.241) or creatinine (P=.953) following biopsy. Conclusion and Clinical Importance - Bleeding was the most common complication but was self-limiting and did not require intervention in the majority of dogs that underwent PURB. Renal biopsies are an important diagnostic tool that can be safely collected percutaneously under ultrasound-guidance using a 16 or 18-gauge needle.
