is kidney failure in dogs fatal
Kidney Failure in Dogs
What Is Kidney Failure in Dogs?
The primary job of the kidneys is to filter the blood by removing waste products and controlling the amount of fluid and nutrients kept in the body and how much is passed in urine.
With any type of kidney failure, this filtering isnt working well, so waste products are not properly removed from the bloodstream and too much fluid is passed in urine along with proteins and electrolytes. As waste products build up in the blood and tissues, dogs can get ulcerations (tears) in the lining of their digestive tract as well.
Kidney failure may also be referred to by terms listed below. The word renal refers to all things related to kidneys, and is often used interchangeably. Failure, insufficiency, and disease are commonly used to describe similar issues with the kidneys.
Kidney disease is often divided into categories based on how long it has been affecting the dog. Acute renal failure occurs in a very short time frame, and is often caused by eating or drinking a toxin or getting a severe infection that harms the kidneys. Chronic kidney disease refers to a process with a more gradual onset or one that has been happening for a longer period of time.
Changes that can occur with an aging pet are often caused by chronic kidney disease, but if a dogs kidneys were damaged by eating a toxic item several months ago and he now has renal failure because of this, it is also known as chronic kidney disease.
Symptoms of Kidney Failure in Dogs
Drinking more water (polydipsia)
More frequent urination (polyuria)
Urinary accidents in house-trained pets
Lack of energy
Refusing to eat
Vomiting
Drooling
Changes in defecation (either diarrhea or constipation)
Weight loss
Mouth sores
Bad breath
Weakness
Causes of Kidney Failure in Dogs
Kidney failure can occur because of an acute event, such as a toxin ingestion or infection that harms the kidneys; degenerative (worsening) changes over time; or an underlying medical condition that damages renal tissues, which can occur due to genetic predispositions in some dog breeds.
Specific causes include:
Ingested toxins
Metabolic diseases
Kidney infections
Autoimmune disease
Cancers
Breeds that are prone to inherited renal failure include:
How Veterinarians Diagnose Kidney Failure in Dogs
Your veterinarian will want to run several tests, in addition to a physical exam, to diagnose kidney failure, such as:
Complete blood count
Chemistry panel
Urinalysis with culture
Abdominal ultrasound
Treatment of Kidney Failure in Dogs
Treatment of kidney failure is based on the severity of the disease and whether it is acute or chronic.
Acute kidney disease is treated with hospitalization and IV fluid therapy to support the kidneys and help them remove wastes. Depending on the cause of the disease, decontamination medications, toxin-binding medications, antibiotics, or medications to support the gastrointestinal tract may be given. In extreme cases, renal dialysis can help the kidneys. This last procedure is rare, only available at some university or veterinary specialty hospitals.
Chronic kidney disease requires careful management of dogs at home. They need to have access to water at all times and be encouraged to drink water. Many dogs have improvements with a prescription kidney diet. Some dogs need to be on medications to control high blood pressure or to protect their stomach. Pets with chronic kidney disease need to see their veterinarian often so that their renal values can be checked. Some dogs with kidney disease need to receive injectable fluids at home or may even need to be hospitalized at times to help their fluid needs.
Recovery and Management of Kidney Failure in Dogs
With acute kidney failure, prognosis is variable depending upon the cause of the disease, how severe the disease is, how damaged the kidneys are, the speed and aggressiveness of treatment, and the dogs response.
For chronic renal failure, long-term prognosis is not good. Most dogs die or are euthanized within a year because of poor quality of life.
The families of dogs with kidney disease should expect to watch them closely and will need to see their veterinarian often, especially as their pets kidney function gets worse. These dogs will be easily dehydrated, as their kidneys are not able to keep water in their bodies. Any infection, vomiting, diarrhea, or changes in appetite or activity could severely dehydrate the pet and worsen the disease.
Kidney Failure in Dogs FAQs
How does kidney failure differ from kidney disease?
Kidney disease is a broader term that includes any problem with the kidneys. Kidney failure is a specific term that means the kidneys cant keep up with filtering waste products and managing fluid levels.
Is kidney failure fatal in dogs?
Depending on the severity and progression of the disease, kidney failure can be fatal.
WRITTEN BY
Laura Russell, DVM, MBA, DABVPVeterinarian
Dr. Russell is a 2003 graduate of the University of Missouri. She is board certified in Canine and Feline Practice, certified in canine...
End-stage renal disease
Overview
End-stage renal disease, also called end-stage kidney disease or kidney failure, occurs when chronic kidney disease the gradual loss of kidney function reaches an advanced state. In end-stage renal disease, your kidneys no longer work as they should to meet your body's needs.
Your kidneys filter wastes and excess fluids from your blood, which are then excreted in your urine. When your kidneys lose their filtering abilities, dangerous levels of fluid, electrolytes and wastes can build up in your body.
With end-stage renal disease, you need dialysis or a kidney transplant to stay alive. But you can also choose to opt for conservative care to manage your symptoms aiming for the best quality of life during your remaining time.
One of the important jobs of the kidneys is to clean the blood. As blood moves through the body, it picks up extra fluid, chemicals and waste. The kidneys separate this material from the blood. It's carried out of the body in urine. If the kidneys are unable to do this and the condition is untreated, serious health problems result, with eventual loss of life.
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Symptoms
Early in chronic kidney disease, you might have no signs or symptoms. As chronic kidney disease progresses to end-stage renal disease, signs and symptoms might include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue and weakness
- Changes in how much you urinate
- Chest pain, if fluid builds up around the lining of the heart
- Shortness of breath, if fluid builds up in the lungs
- Swelling of feet and ankles
- High blood pressure (hypertension) that's difficult to control
- Headaches
- Difficulty sleeping
- Decreased mental sharpness
- Muscle twitches and cramps
- Persistent itching
- Metallic taste
Signs and symptoms of kidney disease are often nonspecific, meaning they can also be caused by other illnesses. Because your kidneys can make up for lost function, signs and symptoms might not appear until irreversible damage has occurred.
When to seek care
Make an appointment with your health care provider if you have signs or symptoms of kidney disease.
If you have a medical condition that increases your risk of kidney disease, your care provider is likely to monitor your kidney function with urine and blood tests and your blood pressure during regular office visits. Ask your provider whether these tests are necessary for you.
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Causes
Healthy kidney vs. diseased kidney
Healthy kidney vs. diseased kidney
A typical kidney has about 1 million filtering units. Each unit, called a glomerulus, joins a tubule. The tubule collects urine. Conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes harm kidney function by damaging these filtering units and tubules. The damage causes scarring.
Polycystic kidney
Polycystic kidney
A healthy kidney (left) eliminates waste from the blood and maintains the body's chemical balance. With polycystic kidney disease (right), fluid-filled sacs called cysts develop in the kidneys. The kidneys grow larger and gradually lose the ability to function as they should.
Kidney disease occurs when a disease or condition impairs kidney function, causing kidney damage to worsen over several months or years. For some people, kidney damage can continue to progress even after the underlying condition is resolved.
Diseases and conditions that can lead to kidney disease include:
- Type 1 or type 2 diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Glomerulonephritis (gloe-mer-u-low-nuh-FRY-tis) an inflammation of the kidney's filtering units (glomeruli)
- Interstitial nephritis (in-tur-STISH-ul nuh-FRY-tis), an inflammation of the kidney's tubules and surrounding structures
- Polycystic kidney disease or other inherited kidney diseases
- Prolonged obstruction of the urinary tract, from conditions such as enlarged prostate, kidney stones and some cancers
- Vesicoureteral (ves-ih-koe-yoo-REE-tur-ul) reflux, a condition that causes urine to back up into your kidneys
- Recurrent kidney infection, also called pyelonephritis (pie-uh-low-nuh-FRY-tis)
Risk factors
Certain factors increase the risk that chronic kidney disease will progress more quickly to end-stage renal disease, including:
- Diabetes with poor blood sugar control
- Kidney disease that affects the glomeruli, the structures in the kidneys that filter wastes from the blood
- Polycystic kidney disease
- High blood pressure
- Tobacco use
- Black, Hispanic, Asian, Pacific Islander or American Indian heritage
- Family history of kidney failure
- Older age
- Frequent use of medications that could be damaging to the kidney
Complications
Kidney damage, once it occurs, can't be reversed. Potential complications can affect almost any part of your body and can include:
- Fluid retention, which could lead to swelling in your arms and legs, high blood pressure, or fluid in your lungs (pulmonary edema)
- A sudden rise in potassium levels in your blood (hyperkalemia), which could impair your heart's ability to function and may be life-threatening
- Heart disease
- Weak bones and an increased risk of bone fractures
- Anemia
- Decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction or reduced fertility
- Damage to your central nervous system, which can cause difficulty concentrating, personality changes or seizures
- Decreased immune response, which makes you more vulnerable to infection
- Pericarditis, an inflammation of the saclike membrane that envelops your heart (pericardium)
- Pregnancy complications that carry risks for the mother and the developing fetus
- Malnutrition
- Irreversible damage to your kidneys (end-stage kidney disease), eventually requiring either dialysis or a kidney transplant for survival
Prevention
If you have kidney disease, you may be able to slow its progress by making healthy lifestyle choices:
- Achieve and maintain a healthy weight
- Be active most days
- Limit protein and eat a balanced diet of nutritious, low-sodium foods
- Control your blood pressure
- Take your medications as prescribed
- Have your cholesterol levels checked every year
- Control your blood sugar level
- Don't smoke or use tobacco products
- Get regular checkups
Oct. 10, 2023
Kidney Failure in Dogs
Types of Kidney Failure in Dogs
There are two types of kidney failure in dogs - acute kidney failure and chronic kidney failure.
Acute kidney failure occurs when there is a sudden decline in kidney function (within hours or days) as a result of toxin exposure (such as antifreeze, raisins, grapes, and some human medications) and bacterial infection.
On the other hand, chronic kidney failure involves a gradual but progressive loss of kidney function. The problem can take weeks, months, or years to develop. Age-related issues are the topmost reasons for kidney failure in dogs. Deterioration of organ structure and function inevitably occur from years of wear and tear.
The size of the dog has been found to influence the age of onset of chronic kidney disease. Early signs of kidney disease in smaller dog breeds may be exhibited when theyre about 10-14 years of age. On the other hand, larger breeds, which are known to have shorter life spans than their smaller counterparts, may develop kidney failure as early as seven years old.
Acute Kidney Failure in Dogs
Signs of Acute Kidney Failure
Dogs with acute kidney failure typically show signs of severe lethargy, vomiting, and reduced appetite. They may be drinking and urinating a lot or not at all.
Causes of Acute Kidney Failure
- One of the most common causes of acute kidney failure in dogs is ingestion of toxins, such as antifreeze, rodenticides, or some human medications (such as ibuprofen). Dogs are such curious creatures and this trait can increase their risks for toxin exposures.
- Infection with a bacterial organism called Leptospirosis can lead to kidney failure in pets and people.
- Various drugs can also cause kidney failure in certain pets.
- Severe infections or illnesses like sepsis or pancreatitis can also lead to acute kidney failure.
- Obstruction of the urinary tract caused by kidney stones or bladder stones that restricts urine flow.
- Anything that decreases the flow of blood through the kidneys, including dehydration, heatstroke, bee stings, or snake bites.
Treatment of Acute Kidney Failure
Acute kidney failure is a serious condition. Aggressive and quick treatment to support the kidneys and manage the underlying cause can be lifesaving. Treatment typically consists of hospitalizing your dog and keeping them on IV fluids, administering anti-nausea medications, administering antibiotics if needed, and ensuring they receive proper nutrition. The treatment may take days to weeks. Rechecking blood work and urine tests will help your vet monitor your dogs response to treatment.
Acute kidney failure can be fatal in over half the cases, even with treatment. Approximately 20% will recover and have chronic kidney disease as a result of the damage and 20% will recover and regain normal kidney function.
Chronic Kidney Failure in Dogs
Older cats are more prone to developing chronic kidney failure compared to dogs, but dogs can also develop this condition. Since this is a slow, progressive process, your dog may not show symptoms immediately. You may notice weight loss or muscle mass loss even though your dog is eating well. You might also notice your dog drinking and urinating more than usual. Its important to note that diabetes can cause similar symptoms.
Diagnosing Chronic Kidney Failure
Early stages of chronic kidney disease can be diagnosed with routine yearly blood work and urine tests before clinical symptoms even develop. If your vet suspects kidney failure, they will recommend basic blood work, urinalysis (urine test), and blood pressure measurements to help diagnose kidney failure, stage the kidney failure, and discuss proper treatments and supportive care.
Kidney failure is staged in 4 levels, with Stage 1 being the mildest and Stage 4 being the most severe.
Treatment for Chronic Kidney Failure
Once your vet has diagnosed and staged your dogs kidney failure, treatment will be discussed. Options can range from medications that lower blood pressure, treatment to reduce protein loss in the urine, intravenous or subcutaneous fluids, potassium replacement, medications to help improve red blood cell levels, and dietary changes.
There are a variety of prescription kidney supportive diets available. These diets can help your dog feel better and live longer, often for years, depending on the stage of kidney failure your dog is experiencing. Since some dogs can be picky eaters, you may need to try a variety of diets to find one they enjoy, so dont be discouraged if they refuse a few types!
Encouraging your dog to drink more water will also help support the kidneys. Canned foods contain more fluids compared to dry kibble, so feeding your dog canned food and eliminating the kibble may be recommended. Adding water or low sodium chicken broth (avoid onions and garlic) to the food can also encourage more water intake. Having multiple water bowls around the house will make it easier for your senior dog to take a drink when they want to.
Home Care for Dogs with Kidney Failure
If your dog has been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, here are some ways to help your dog have a better and longer life:
- Prescribed medications should be administered exactly as instructed by your veterinarian.
- Keep a close eye on your dogs diet and food intake. If your pet is on a prescription diet, avoid feeding extra treats or snacks.
- Divide your dogs daily ration into several smaller meals given at regular intervals throughout the day.
- Fresh food should always be offered during each mealtime.
- Fresh clean water should be available to the dog at all times.
- If your dog has a poor appetite, try warming the food to just below body temperature. Warming can enhance the taste and flavor of the food and encourage your pet to eat.
- Regular monitoring is very important. Dont skip your pets appointments with your veterinarian for follow-up exams and lab work
Read more:
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) in Dogs
Canine Hormone-Responsive Urinary Incontinence
My dog has Cushings disease. What does this mean?
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