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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.

Kidney Failure In Dogs: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment Options

Kidney disease in dogs is a scary diagnosis for pet parents. After all, we want to spend as much time as possible with our furry family members, and the worries and concerns posed by the possibility of having to say an unexpected goodbye can take their toll. So, what is renal failure in dogs? Lets find out about the causes, the signs and symptoms, the treatment options, and how to know when its time for that final goodbye.

What Causes Kidney Failure In Dogs?

There are lots of causes of kidney failure in dogs. Toxicities from certain foods, anti-freeze, certain medications, and lilies can cause acute renal failure, even in young pets, while in some cases, the kidneys can lose their function slowly with age. Conditions like high blood pressure, cancer, bladder stones, and kidney infections can also contribute to kidney failure.

Which Foods Cause Kidney Failure In Dogs?

Grapes and raisins (and foods that contain them) can lead to kidney failure. This means that the festive period, where cookies, fruit cake, Christmas pudding, panettone, and other raisin-filled treats are everywhere, is a common time to see renal failure in dogs from toxicity.

Unfortunately, the underlying reason why grapes cause kidney damage is unknown, which means that theres no known toxic dose. Some dogs can eat grapes regularly and have no issues, while others can eat just one as a one-off with grave consequences. Therefore, its best to avoid giving your dog grapes altogether and keep them safely out of your dogs reach.

Signs Of Kidney Failure In Dogs

The signs of kidney failure in dogs are variable, depending on the stage of the disease and whether the kidney failure is acute or chronic.

Acute Kidney Failure

If your dog has acute renal failure from a toxin, obstruction, or severe infection, the symptoms are likely to come on very quickly and progress rapidly. You might notice symptoms within a couple of days of the toxicity or sooner in the case of anti-freeze. The first symptoms could be lethargy, pain, vomiting, or increased thirst. This could quickly progress to little or no urination, wobbliness, seizures, coma, or death.

Sadly, in many toxicity situations, once the kidney damage is severe enough to cause symptoms, there is far less chance of treatment being successful. Therefore, if you suspect your dog could have ingested any kind of toxin, call your veterinary clinic immediately so that appropriate measures can be taken to try to prevent any organ damage.

Chronic Kidney Failure

If your dog has chronic kidney disease, their symptoms are likely to be much more subtle and slower to develop. You might initially notice that your dog drinks more than normal or passes large volumes of urine more frequently. You might notice your pup has lost some weight, is vomiting, or hes not so interested in his food anymore. Canines with chronic kidney failure likely also seem to be subdued or lethargic.

As chronic kidney failure progresses, their thirst may become more and more excessive, but despite this, they might become dehydrated, leading to weakness and further lethargy. They may develop ulcers in their mouth, and you might notice an unpleasant smell from their mouth as the toxic waste products build up in their bloodstream. Eventually, theyll stop eating and drinking altogether, become very nauseous, and may seem painful in their abdomen.

What Causes The Symptoms Of Kidney Failure In Dogs?

The role of the kidneys within your dogs body is to control how much water leaves the body, regulate the loss of electrolytes, and remove waste products like urea from the bloodstream. In renal failure, the kidneys are no longer able to produce concentrated urine, so waste products build up in the blood. As more and more of the tiny kidney nephrons are affected, it puts more strain on the remaining parts that still work, which becomes a vicious circle.

The halitosis noted by pet owners who have dogs with chronic kidney failure is due to the build-up of these toxins and is known as a uremic smell. In some dogs, but primarily cats, small blood vessels are damaged by the urea compounds, leading to ulcers in areas like the edge of the tongue.

4 Stages Of Kidney Failure In Dogs

When it comes to the symptoms of kidney failure in dogs, stages matter. Kidney failure cases can be grouped into different stages, as formulated by the International Renal Interest Society (IRIS). The symptoms are combined with the urine concentration and blood measurements of urea, creatinine, and SDMA, which are waste products usually excreted by healthy kidneys.

In the early IRIS stages, symptoms are not apparent, whereas later, as the disease progresses, more and more symptoms appear. The IRIS stages of kidney failure in dogs illustrate the amount of kidney damage or the amount of kidney tissue that is still functional. They also aid veterinarians in determining the best treatment and management options.

Dog Kidney Failure Stages Chart

You can see the stages of chronic kidney disease in dogs in the following graphic:

How To Treat Kidney Failure In Dogs

Unfortunately, when a kidney tubule (or nephron) stops working, it cant be fixed. However, treatment and good management can help to slow down the progression of kidney disease and support the remaining functional nephrons. Dogs who are still eating well and arent vomiting may only require a prescription kidney diet.

If their phosphate levels are high, a phosphate binder medication will also help by preventing the absorption of phosphate from their food. If your dog is still in the early stages of chronic kidney disease but isnt eating well or is nauseous, an anti-emetic medication may also be used.

Finally, if your dog has late stage III or stage IV kidney disease, theyll probably need to stay in the hospital for a fluid drip to flush the waste products out of the body and lower the urea and creatinine levels. Unfortunately, this improvement will only be temporary, and over time, the levels will increase once again.

When To Euthanize?

Whenever youre dealing with a chronic health issue in your dog, its really difficult to know when to make the sad decision to euthanize them. After all, theyre likely to have good and bad days, and it might feel like they get a little bit better just when you are about to make the call. The most important thing is to consider your dogs quality of life whether theyre eating, mobile, or showing any signs of pain.

If theyre struggling in more than one of those areas, despite veterinary treatment, its likely to be time to say goodbye. Its also worth looking back over the last two weeks to see how many good and bad days theyve had. If the bad days outweigh the good, euthanasia is the kindest option for your canine companion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some common questions about dogs with kidney issues. Dont see yours here? Ask us in our comments.

Does pet insurance cover kidney disease in dogs?

Yes, pet insurance covers kidney disease in dogsas long as no signs or symptoms appear until after policy enrollment and waiting periods have passed.

What happens in the last days of a dog with kidney failure?

In the last days of a dog with kidney failure, theyre likely to stop eating or drinking altogether. They may be weak and wobbly from dehydration, and their other organs may start to fail. If you notice that your dog with kidney failure is deteriorating, you should contact your vet as soon as possible.

Is kidney failure in dogs painful?

Acute kidney failure, due to causes like toxins, infections, or bladder stones, can be very painful and requires emergency assessment by a veterinarian. Chronic renal failure is unlikely to be painful initially, but in the more severe stages of the disease, your dog may feel nauseous, disorientated, or painful.

What is the cost of treating kidney failure in dogs?

The cost of treating kidney failure will vary depending on your location and the type of treatment your dog needs. The most costly would be a fluid drip and hospitalization, but ongoing prescription diets and phosphate binders can also add up in the long term.

How long can a dog live with kidney failure?

The length of time that a dog can live with kidney failure will depend on the stage when the diagnosis was made. If caught early, chronic kidney failure can be managed for several years in some cases. However, if the disease is already advanced or management guidelines arent followed, a dogs quality of life may suffer within a few weeks or months.

What level of creatinine indicates kidney failure in dogs?

A dogs creatinine level should always be evaluated alongside a urine sample. If the urine sample shows poor concentration and the creatinine level is raised, this indicates that the kidneys are not functioning effectively.

Understanding Dogs Health

Kidney disease in dogs is a complex subject, and if the diagnosis is made early, even before your dog shows symptoms, the prognosis is much more favorable. Therefore, it may be a good idea to consider routine blood tests once your dog is older than seven or eight, and you should keep a close eye out for possible symptoms. You might consider an at-home urine test, that can help detect things like kidney stones and urinary tract infections in dogs.