dog being sick with kidney failure

Kidney Disease in Dogs: Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment

Your dogs kidneys are essential organs that filter waste products from the bloodstream. When the kidneys are weakened, either by acute or chronic kidney disease, your dogs health could suffer. Because kidney disease progresses over time, its important to learn the common symptoms so tha you can recognize them. If you catch kidney disease in dogs early on, treatment can slow down the progression and allow your dog to live longer.

What Is Kidney Disease in Dogs?

Kidney disease in dogs is sometimes called renal or kidney insufficiency because it occurs when a dogs kidneys stop doing their job as efficiently as they should. The main job of the kidneys is to help clear and excrete waste products from the blood and convert them to urine, says Dr. Jerry Klein, Chief Veterinary Officer for the AKC. If the kidneys are not working properly, these waste products can build up in the blood, causing detrimental effects.

Dogs can get either acute kidney disease, which develops suddenly, or chronic kidney disease (CKD), which develops slowly and worsens over an extended period. Both involve loss of kidney function, but they result from different circumstances. Acute kidney disease is a sudden attack or injury to the kidney, whereas chronic kidney disease is a slow, degenerative loss of kidney function, Dr. Klein explains.

What Causes Kidney Disease in Dogs?

Dr. Klein warns that kidney disease could be caused by a lot of things, including infection (such as with the bacteria that causes leptospirosis), trauma, genetics, drugs, toxins, cancer, mechanical obstructions (like kidney stones), and degenerative diseases (where the job and form of the affected body part get worse over time). Anything that decreases blood flow to the kidneys, such as dehydration or heatstroke, can cause the kidneys to fail.

Acute kidney disease in dogs can be caused by exposure to hazardous materials, including toxic plants such as lilies, certain drugs, harmful foods such as grapes or raisins, or antifreeze. Puppy-proofing your home and yard can keep your dog away from potentially harmful items or foods that could be toxic.

Chronic kidney disease in dogs is also associated with growing older. Because kidney tissue cant regenerate once its damaged, the kidneys can wear out over time. As small-breed dogs often live longer than large-breed dogs, they tend to show early signs of kidney disease at an older age10 years old or more, compared to as young as 7 for the large breeds.

What Are the Symptoms of Kidney Disease in Dogs?

The earliest signs of kidney disease in dogs are increased urination and therefore increased thirst. Other symptoms dont usually become apparent until about two-thirds of the kidney tissue is destroyed. So, in the case of CKD, the damage may have begun months or even years before the owner notices. Because of this, its common for the signs of kidney disease in dogs to seem like they came out of the blue when in fact, the kidneys have been struggling for a long time.

Other signs of chronic kidney disease in dogs to watch for include:

Dr. Klein says there are some rarer symptoms of kidney disease in dogs to be aware of, as well. On occasion, there can be abdominal painurinary obstructions or stonesand in certain instances, one can see ulcers in the oral or gastric cavity. In extreme cases, little or no urine is produced at all.

What Are the Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease in Dogs?

Kidney disease in dogs is measured in stages. Many veterinarians use the IRIS scale, which has four stages. Blood work measurements like creatinine and SDMA (biomarkers for kidney function) allow your vet to assign your dog to a particular stage which will determine the exact treatment.

Dr. Klein explains, The stages determine how well the kidneys can filter waste and extra fluid from the blood. As the stages go up, the kidney function worsens. In the early stages of CKD, the kidneys are still able to filter out waste from the blood. In the latter stages, the kidneys must work harder to filter the blood and in late stages may stop working altogether.

How Is Kidney Disease in Dogs Treated?

Dialysis (a medical procedure that removes waste products and extra fluid from the blood) is far more common in humans than in dogs, although peritoneal (kidney) dialysis can be performed in some cases. On rare occasions, surgical kidney transplant is possible in dogs.

But Dr. Klein specifies that depending on the type and stage of kidney disease, the main treatments for CKD are diet changes and administration of fluids, either directly into the veins (intravenous) or under the skin (subcutaneous). The balancing and correction of electrolytes are extremely important in the management of kidney patients, he explains.

Proper nutrition is needed, and there are many available diets formulated for cats and dogs with kidney issues, some by prescription only. Your veterinarian can help guide you to the most appropriate diet for your pet.

Because kidney disease, particularly in the late stages, can cause a dog to lose their appetite, it can be difficult to encourage your dog to eat enough. Dr. Klein advises, There are medications used as appetite stimulators available, such as the prescription drug mirtazapine. Capromorelin has recently been FDA-approved for dogs to address appetite in chronic kidney disease.

When Do You Need to Call Your Vet?

The prognosis and expected life span for a dog with kidney disease depend on the type of disease, the speed of progression, and underlying conditions present in the dog. However, the more serious the disease, the poorer the outcome. Thats why its so crucial to catch the illness early on.

According to Dr. Klein, In chronic kidney disease, there are methods, such as diets and medications, that can be used to lessen the burden of work the kidneys need to do and may help slow down the progression from one stage to the next. In acute kidney disease, there is less time and fewer choices available to prevent further damage to the kidneys and to try to jump-start the kidneys to get them to function normally.

Regular veterinary exams, including bloodwork, are an excellent way to spot kidney problems before the outward symptoms become apparent. And if you notice any of the above signs, dont hesitate to get your dog to the vet for further testing. It can make a huge difference in preserving kidney function and your dogs well-being for as long as possible.

My Dog Has Kidney Failure - Symptoms And Treatment

Kidney failure or renal insufficiency in dogs refers to a disease that affects one or both kidneys. This condition causes alterations to the function of these organs. Kidney failure can manifest acutely or chronically. This happens when the failure of a dogs kidneys progressively degenerates.

In this AnimalWised article we will be answering whether your dog has kidney failure, looking at its causes, symptoms, and appropriate treatment. It is important to mention that

Kidney disease in dogs

Kidneys are responsible for filtering the blood and, thus, eliminate waste substances through the urine. When there is a failure in this system, which can happen for multiple reasons, the body will try to compensate for this. Therefore symptoms sometimes cannot be observed until the damage is already very advanced. Kidney disease in dogs can manifest acutely or chronically. The most common symptoms are polydipsia (increase in water intake) and polyuria (increased urination). The difference between the two cases is that if a dog is suffering from acute kidney failure the symptoms will manifest suddenly, causing a serious clinical problem. In a chronic case, symptoms are maintained for months and the kidneys slowly deteriorate until they cannot function anymore. This dysfunction will affect an animalss entire organism and can end up being fatal.

Renal failure is more common in dogs older than 10 years old. A clear symptom of renal insufficiency in older dogs is that they begins to urinate everywhere. This incontinence highlights an increase in the elimination of urine as the kidney is not functioning properly. Kidney disease in older dogs is a consequence of age. Sometimes, heart problems can affect the kidneys. It is important that dogs, from about 7 years old, go to their veterinarian at least once a year for a complete check up as this disease can be detected early.

If kidney disease occurs in younger dogs it is normally as a result of another pathology. For example, kidney failure can occur in dogs suffering from leishmania. This happens because this occurs parasitic disease injures the kidneys. There are also other possible causes for renal insufficiency in younger dogs, these include; leptospirosis, poisoning, urinary obstruction or heat stroke. Other times, renal insufficiency can occur as a side effect of some drugs. In these cases, the primary cause of the damage must be looked at.

Symptoms of kidney failure in dogs

Renal failure in dogs usually manifests with the appearance of these following symptoms:

• Polyuria: As we have said, our dog urinating more is one of the most common symptoms of kidney disease, but it can also be the case that the dog stops urinating completely (anuria).
• Poldipsia: to compensate for the elimination of fluids, the dog drinks more water.
• Vomiting and diarrhea, sometimes even with hemorrhage.
• Blindness.
• Dehydration.
• Thinning and, in general, poor appearance, poor body condition and muscle weakness.
• Anorexia.
• Ulcers in the oral cavity and/or bad smell.
• There may also be ascites (fluid accumulation in the abdomen) and edema (fluid in the extremities).
• State of shock and, in the last stages, coma.

In short, all these of these symptoms are produced as effects of the malfunctioning of the renal system, and its consequence on the rest of the body. If you notice any of these signs we recommend going to a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Kidney disease in dogs can be diagnosed with urine and/or blood tests. In the former, the value of the density of the urine is important, because a sick animal will not concentrate it. In a blood test, there are parameters that allow for the knowledge of renal functioning, taking into account the creatinine and urea in the urine. This test also establishes whether a dog is suffering from anemia, covering important parameters such as elevated levels of phosphorus or albumin. This test also measure SDMA, which is used as a bio-marker to help a diagnosis. Early diagnosis is essential when establishing treatment. In addition, blood pressure tests and abdominal ultrasounds can also be done to help a diagnosis.

Treatment of kidney failure in dogs

In cases of acute renal failure in dogs , intensive veterinary treatment is essential. This will also include admission and fluid therapy, in addition to drugs that stabilize the animal and control the symptoms.

In chronic cases, the treatment of kidney disease in dogs commonly includes the following points:

• Diet: in the market we can find feed and cans specially formulated for the care of the renal system. It is important that a dogs food is nutritious and has a high quality of proteins. In addition, feeding your dog wet food can increase its water intake, necessary for these animals. If you prefer to feed your dog a natural diet, make sure that you consult a veterinarian to ensure that this diet is suitable to their condition.

• Hydration: make sure that your dog drinks properly. A veterinarian can assess the need to administer serum, either orally, subcutaneously or intravenously. In favor of a dogs comfortability, we suggest giving the dog more opportunities to urinate.

• Drugs to control symptoms: these can be used to treat the symptoms secondary to the disease, for example, drugs administered to control vomiting.

• Drugs for maintenance: are those that are prescribed to promote the quality of life of the animal. Some of these drugs show scientific evidence that proves that they are effective in prolonging the life of sick dogs, such as ACE Inhibitors.

• Veterinary follow-up: it is convenient to repeat these tests two or more times a year, depending on the evolution of the disease. In addition, intensive veterinary control allows you to treat the symptoms that arise as soon as they appear, which will result in a better quality of life for your animal.

Can a dog recover from kidney failure?

Kidney failure in dogs can cause damage to one or both kidneys. In acute cases the dog can be cured, although it is possible that non-recoverable injuries occur. Chronic cases are incurable and progressive, therefore, prescribed treatment will only be able to control symptoms and try maintain the quality of life of the dog for as long as possible. This depends on each dog and the individual case.

What is the life expectancy of a dog with kidney failure?

Veterinarians classify renal failure in dogs in several stages depending on their severity. The milder the phase the longer life expectancy will be. Early intervention favors an increase in life expectancy. This classification distinguishes four stages, I being the lightest and IV the most serious. In the last two phases, symptoms will appear that will complicate the case even more and, therefore, worsen the prognosis. In these cases life expectancy of a dog with renal failure will only be a few months. Thus, when deciding which treatment to use, one must take into account not only the quantity of life, but, and preferably, its quality.

This article is purely informative. AnimalWised does not have the authority to prescribe any veterinary treatment or create a diagnosis. We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian if they are suffering from any condition or pain.

If you want to read similar articles to My Dog Has Kidney Failure - Symptoms And Treatment, we recommend you visit our Degenerative diseases category.