dog kidney failure vomiting diarrhea

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.

Vomiting and Diarrhea in Dogs

Symptoms of Vomiting and Diarrhea in Dogs

• Nausea: drooling, lip licking, excessive swallowing
• Vomit: note the color, volume, frequency, and when the last meal was
• Diarrhea: note the color, consistency, and look for signs of blood

Causes of Vomiting and Diarrhea in Dogs

Vomiting and diarrhea occur when the stomach and/or intestines become irritated or inflamed.

There are many causes, including:

Preventing Vomiting and Diarrhea in Dogs

• Avoid feeding fatty, salty, or spicy foods
• Introduce diet changes slowly, over 5-7 days, to allow the intestinal bacteria to adjust.
• Speak to your vet about calming supplements or anxiety medication if your pet is easily stressed.
• During times of stress, it may be helpful to use a soothing pheromone spray or plug-in adapter (Adaptil).
• Consider feeding a probiotic supplement if your pet is prescribed antibiotics. Always ask the advice of a vet before giving your pet supplements or medication.
• If your dog eats a raw diet or has exposure to rodents or wildlife, your vet may recommend routinely submitting a fresh stool sample to rule out intestinal parasites.
• Roundwormsare extremely common in puppies. Your vet will recommend deworming your new puppy with an appropriate dewormer.
• Ask your vet or make an appointment with one of the FirstVet vets to discuss deworming your puppy or adult dog.
• Vaccinating your dog against parvovirus is extremely important. Puppies should be vaccinated starting at 6-8 weeks, then every 3 weeks until 16-18 weeks of age. Adult boosters will be needed to maintain immunity. Prevention of this disease is VERY important. Parvovirus is extremely contagious and can cause fatalities, especially in young puppies.

Treating Your Dog's Vomiting or Diarrhea at Home

If your dog is bright and happy, and there is no blood in the diarrhea or vomit, then you can often start by providing symptomatic treatment at home.

• If your dog is vomiting, withhold food for 12-24 hours.
• Very small dogs and puppies should NOT be fasted at all due to a high risk of developing severely low blood sugar levels.
• Offer a bland diet in small portions. Examples include boiled rice or potatoes with cooked chicken breast or very lean hamburger, or a prescription intestinal diet.
• Recommended feeding protocol:
  • Day 1: give 50% of the recommended daily amount divided into 6-8 portions
  • Day 2 and 3: give 75% divided into 4-6 portions
  • Day 4 and 5: give 100% divided into 3-4 portions
  • Once the dog has been normal for a couple of days you can gradually re-introduce its normal food.

• Your dog should always have access to fresh water.
• On average, a dog should drink about 1 ounce of water (1/8 cup) per pound of body weight each day. This requirement will be significantly increased if your dog is vomiting or has diarrhea.
• Ensure that your dog is allowed quiet time to rest and fully recover.
• In the case of contagious diseases, its important to avoid contact with other dogs until your dog has completely recovered.

When to Visit Your Veterinarian

• Blood in the vomit
• Blood in the stools or very dark/black stools
• If your dog is increasingly lethargic or weak
• Refusing food for more than 24-48 hours, or does not want to drink
• Vomiting continues despite withholding food for 12-24 hours
• If your dog cannot hold down water or is dehydrated (check for dry sticky gums)
• If a foreign body may have been swallowed that could obstruct the stomach or intestines
• Abdominal pain or a swollen abdomen
• No response to supportive treatment for 3-4 days at home (for young puppies and older dogs you should seek help earlier)
• If the dog has recurrent episodes of vomiting and or diarrhea.

Veterinary Treatment of Vomiting and Diarrhea

If your dog is very ill or dehydrated, he may need to be hospitalized.

• Your dog may be given intravenous fluids to correct dehydration and replace lost electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride).
• Blood tests may be performed to check red and white blood cell levels, as well as internal organ function.
• Other diagnostics may be performed to determine the cause of your dogs vomiting or diarrhea. These include x-rays or ultrasound of the abdomen, stool analysis, and tests for diseases like pancreatitis or parvovirus.

Symptomatic treatments will likely continue when your dog is ready to go home.

• A bland diet that requires minimal digestion will likely be prescribed.
• Your dog may go home with prescriptions for anti-nausea medication, antacids, pain relief, and probiotics to replace normal gut bacteria.

Read more:

Food Allergies in Dogs and Cats

7 Lesser-Known Foods That Are Toxic to Dogs

Can Dogs Drink Pedialyte?

Need to speak with a veterinarian regarding your dog's vomiting or diarrhea condition?

Click here to book a video consultation and get instantly connected with an expert vet. You can also download the FirstVet app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

Gastroenteritis in Dogs

What Is Gastroenteritis in Dogs?

Gastroenteritis in dogs is defined as an inflammation of a dogs stomach (gastro-) and small intestine (-enteritis). In simple terms, gastroenteritis is an upset stomach. Pet parents might use the term dog stomach bug to describe this kind of illness, but the possible causes go beyond a viral infection.

If your dog has bloody diarrhea or vomit, go to the emergency vet immediately, as these are signs of acute hemorrhagic diarrhea syndrome (AHDS).

Acute Hemorrhagic Diarrhea Syndrome (AHDS) / Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis (HGE)

Acute hemorrhagic diarrhea syndrome, also known as hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE), is a specific and critical form of enteritis. It is a medical emergency and one of the most serious causes of diarrhea in dogs.

AHDS can be fatalyour dog can become septic (caused by a dangerous infection in the bloodstream), lose too much protein, or experience complications.

Dogs affected with this disease have been shown to have inflammation of only the intestines, not the stomach. If you suspect your dog has AHDS, take them to the vet immediately.

Symptoms of Gastroenteritis in Dogs

Take your dog to the emergency vet if you see the signs of AHDS:

• Sudden onset of bloody diarrhea with no known cause, such as a change in diet

• Vomiting, with or without blood

• Lethargy (moving slowly, sluggish)

Call your vet if your dog is showing any signs of gastroenteritis:

• Sudden vomiting

• Sudden diarrhea

• Lethargy

Dogs suffering from gastroenteritis exhibit a sudden onset of vomiting and/or diarrhea and may lose a large volume of body fluids and electrolytes. This can cause dehydration. Monitor your dogs hydration and activity level.

If your dog is dehydrated and/or lethargic, go to the emergency vet. This indicates a more serious situation that needs immediate treatment.

You can check for dehydration by gently lifting the skin on the back of your dogs neck. If it stays raised and doesnt go back to place quickly, your dog is probably dehydrated.Another tip to test your dog for dehydration: press on your dogs gums, which should turn from white back to pink within 2 seconds. If the pink takes any longer to come back, your dog is probably dehydrated.

Other signs of dehydration include:

• Panting

• Dry nose and eyes

• Dry, pasty gums and thick saliva

• Loss of appetite

• Loss of skin elasticity (when you pull your dogs skin and it is slow to snap back)

Causes of Gastroenteritis and AHDS in Dogs

Gastroenteritis in dogs can be caused by many underlying issues. Your vet can run diagnostic tests to help you figure out why your dog is sick. Some possible causes include:

• Dietary indiscretion (meaning your dog ate something they shouldnt, such as fatty food, food thats gone bad, or inedible objects)

• Gastric ulcers

• Toxins

• Cancer

• Kidney failure

• Liver failure

• Bacterial infection, such as clostridium, campylobacter, salmonella, or E. coli

• Viral infection, such as parvovirus, coronavirus, or distemper

• Parasites

• Food allergies

The exact cause of AHDS remains unknown. Some vets theorize that the condition begins with a bacterial infection in the intestine caused by Clostridium perfringens type A.

This infection creates dangerous toxins that erode the protective lining of the intestine, allowing fluids and blood to leak out.

How Vets Diagnose Gastroenteritis in Dogs

This diagnosis is made when a dog has a sudden case of vomiting or diarrhea, has been sluggish and lethargic, and hasnt had an appetite. Describing your dogs symptoms can help your veterinarian make the diagnosis. Your vet will also check your dog for dehydration and signs of abdominal pain.

To rule out other possible causes of vomiting and diarrhea, such as parvovirus, parasites, a gastrointestinal obstruction, cancer, kidney disease, and other more serious conditions, your veterinarian may need a fecal analysis, bloodwork, X-ray, or ultrasound.

Diagnosis for AHDS in Dogs

Your vet will also consider AHDS as a possible cause if your dog has bloody, watery diarrhea; dehydration; and an elevated packed cell volume (the number of red blood cells currently circulating).

There is no specific test to diagnose AHDS in dogs. If no other cause is found for your dogs symptoms, a diagnosis of AHDS may be made as a "diagnosis of exclusion.

An Addisonian crisis, which is when a dog with Addisons disease has acute gastrointestinal symptoms that are often bloody, can look exactly like AHDS. This is fatal if untreated.

Since an Addisonian crisis and AHDS are both so serious, it is critical to take your dog to the vet immediately if they are dehydrated or have bloody diarrhea.

Treatment for Gastroenteritis in Dogs

The goal of treatment is to stop the vomiting/diarrhea and maintain hydration.

Depending on your dogs condition and the underlying cause, your veterinarian may administer anti-vomiting medication, antibiotics, and antacid medications specifically formulated for dogs.

If your dog is vomiting, the medications will be administered through injection. Your dog may also require hospitalization for IV (intravenous) fluids and electrolytes.

Treatment for AHDS in Dogs

AHDS is very serious and cannot be treated at home. If your dog has bloody diarrhea or vomit, go to the emergency vet immediately.

Dogs with AHDS are losing a life-threatening amount of fluid, protein, and electrolytes, and they must be hospitalized for aggressive IV therapy, electrolyte supplementation, and medication.

With AHDS, the survival rate is 9095% if appropriate, aggressive therapy is started quickly. Most dogs recover in two or three days.

Recovery and Management of Gastroenteritis in Dogs

After your dog comes home from the vet, you can continue care. If the vet finds that your dogs gastroenteritis is caused by something thats contagious, isolate your dog from your other pets. Do not allow your dog to eat or drink until there has been no vomiting for six to eight hours.

Then you may give your dog small amounts of clear liquids (water, Gatorade, Pedialyte, or other electrolyte solution) every two hours.

If your dog does not vomit the fluid after 12 hours, give frequent, small meals of boiled hamburger and rice or boiled chicken and rice, about cup or less per feeding. Your vet might also send you home with samples of a low-fat, easily digestible prescription diet such as these

Recovery From AHDS in Dogs

Part of your dogs recovery plan from AHDS should be a bland diet thats high in carbohydrates and low in protein and fat. Your vet may offer you special canned food, or you can cook for your dog.

Cooked rice or pasta; potatoes with some cottage cheese; lean, boiled ground beef; or skinless chicken are good choices for a couple of weeks as your dog's gut heals and their appetite returns. Ask your veterinarian about options for cooking for your dog to ensure that you provide the right nutrients in the right amounts.

Gastroenteritis in Dogs FAQs

How can I treat my dogs gastroenteritis at home?

If your dog is vomiting or has diarrhea, you should always call your veterinarian. They can ask you specific questions to help assess how serious the situation is.

If your dog is lethargic or showing blood in their vomit or diarrhea, take them to the vet immediately. Dogs with AHDS need to be hospitalized for care and cannot be managed safely at home.

After a vet evaluates your dogs symptoms, they might determine that your dog can be safely managed at home, and they will give you a treatment plan for home care. This may include giving your dog small amounts of clear liquids (water, Gatorade, Pedialyte, or other electrolyte solution) every 2 hours, but only after vomiting has stopped for 6 to 8 hours.

If your dog does not vomit the fluid after 12 hours, give frequent, small meals of boiled hamburger and rice or boiled chicken and rice, about cup or less per feeding. Do not give your dog over-the-counter or prescription medication unless you speak to your veterinarian.

Can gastroenteritis kill dogs?

Yes. Gastroenteritis can often become acute hemorrhagic diarrhea syndrome (AHDS) when left untreated. This is the most acute form of gastroenteritis in dogs and can lead to life-threatening dehydration if not treated quickly.

Is gastroenteritis contagious from dogs to humans?

Some of the causes of gastroenteritis are zoonotic, meaning they are contagious from dogs to humans. Bacterial infections like E. coli, salmonella, and listeria would fall into this category.

Some of the causes are specific to dogs and harmless to humans, such as canine parvovirus and distemper.

WRITTEN BY

Liz Bales, VMD

Veterinarian

Dr. Liz Bales is a graduate of Middlebury College and The University of Pennsylvania School Of Veterinary Medicine. She focuses on unique...