kidney disease in dogs eyes

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 Disease, Dialysis, and Your Eyes

Eye problems can happen without any warning signs, even if you have late stage kidney disease or kidney failure. High blood pressure and diabetes can also increase your risk for eye disease. Therefore, its very important to ask your nephrologist (kidney doctor) about your eyes and if you should see an eye doctor (either an ophthalmologist, a medical doctor who specializes in eye diseases and eye surgery, or, an optometrist, a doctor of optometry, who can do eye exams and vision tests, prescribe glasses, and, find and treat certain eye diseases). If you have diabetes, you should see an ophthalmologist regularly. Not taking care of your eyes can lead to a medical emergency or permanent blindness. The good newsis that if you take care of problems early, you can save your eyesight.

Common eye problems for people with kidney disease or who are on dialysis

Dry, red, and sore eyes that feel gritty. These symptoms may occur because of impaired blinking and tear formation, leading to dry eyes. Extra calcium and phosphate can also settle in the eyes and cause irritation. As shown in the picture below, the cornea, conjunctiva, and sclera can be affected. Controlling calcium and phosphate levels in the blood and keeping eyes moist with lubricant eye drops can help. Problems other than kidney disease can cause these symptoms, so you need to see an eye doctor to find the right cause.

Retinopathy happens when diabetes and/or high blood pressure damage the small blood vessels in the retina. Retinopathy progresses over time and there are no symptoms until the vision is affected. Sometimes damaged vessels form scar tissue that causes a detached retina. A detached retina can lead to vision loss or blindness, and must be treated immediately. If you have any sudden changes in your vision such as flashing lights or dark spots, get to the doctor or hospital right away.

Glaucoma happens when fluid inside the eye builds up because it cant drain well. This causes increased intraocular pressure (IOP) inside the eye. This extra pressure squeezes the blood vessels that bring oxygen and nutrients to the optic nerve at the back of the eye. The optic nerve sends signals to the brain, and the brain changes these signals into images that you see. When too much pressure builds up in the eye, the optic nerve can become damaged. This damage slows or stops the signals to the brain and can lead to partial or total vision loss. High blood pressure and diabetes may be risk factors for glaucoma. Dialysis may also cause pressure changes within the eye.

Finding eye problems

An eye exam will show how well you can see and if you have an eye disease. If theres a problem, your eye doctor may refer you to your primary doctor. If your eye doctor is an optometrist, you may be sent to an ophthalmologist. Tell your healthcare team right away if you have:

• Blurry, double, or cloudy vision
• Pain or pressure in one or both eyes
• Trouble seeing things out of the corner of your eyes
• Floating or flashing lights
• Dark spots

Keeping your eyes healthy

Controlling high blood pressure and diabetes is important for your kidneys and your eyes. Follow your doctors recommendations for diet, exercise, and medicine. Check your glucose levels and blood pressure as recommended by your doctor. Quit smoking smoking increases the risk for cataracts and glaucoma. Make sure that any drugs you take for your eyes or for any other reason are the proper dose. Kidney disease and kidney failure can affect how drugs work in your body, therefore, many drugs need to be a special dose for people with low kidney function or for those on dialysis.

The good news is that if you go to regular eye exams, you can slow or stop more damage from eye disease, and even prevent blindness.

What are the Signs a Dog is Dying from Kidney Failure

Knowing the signs a dog is dying from kidney failure could mean the difference between life and death for your pup.

When caught early (and with proper treatment), dogs can survive with kidney disease for years.

Unfortunately, dogs hide their discomfort so well that we might miss the health warning signs.

So, today were going to talk about kidney failure in dogs and its symptoms.

Related: How to make a dog with kidney failure comfortable

What are the signs a dog is dying from kidney failure?

Kidneys are essential for regulating the fluid balance in the body, eliminating waste, and secreting a hormone to produce red blood cells. They also keep the blood pressure in check.

When the kidneys are not functioning properly, all organs suffer.

But more importantly, since they are not working up to their full potential, they cant filter the waste as effectively as before.

As a result, toxins build-up in the body and the dog can get very ill very quickly.

As mentioned above, dogs can survivekidney failure and go on to live several more yearswhen caught early enough.

Thats why knowing these signs a dog is dying from kidney failure is so important.

Related: Best Diet For A Dog with a kidney failure

First signs of kidney failure

Kidney failure might be acute or chronic.

• Acute kidney failure develops in a matter of days, usually because the dog ingested a toxic substance such as antifreeze or human medication.
• Chronic kidney failure is the result of underlying medical conditions and affects older dogs.

Surprisingly, dental disease is one of the causes for renal failure in dogs because mouth bacteria enter the bloodstream and attack the organs.

At first, you wont notice any noticeable signs.

However, since the kidneys are struggling to filter the toxins, urine production increases in an attempt to remove as much waste as possible.As a result, Lucky starts to drink more often.

So, the initial symptoms of kidney failure in dogs are excessive drinking and increased urination.

Youll probably notice that your fur baby is making frequent trips to the water bowl or that you have to fill the bowl far more often than before.

Your pooch might also start to have accidents in the night or pee in the house during the day.

Unfortunately, pet owners overlook inappropriate urination. They think its a behavior problem when its a medical one.

Thats why its important to take the dog to the vet if you observe any change in his habits.

Moreover, the symptoms of renal failure do not appear until a large portion of the kidneys has been damaged.

So, when you notice these first signs, its likely that your dog has been ill for quite some time.

Symptoms in stages two and three

• When the dog goes in the second/third stage, you might notice that Lucky is getting lethargic and depressed.
• Vomiting and diarrhea also appear, as well as dehydration because your dog loses too much fluid through urination.
• As the toxins build-up, Lucky might start to have breathing problems.
• He also might become anemic because the kidneys cant secrete the hormone needed for the formation of the red blood cells.

Regrettably, once the kidneys have been damaged, its impossible to restore them to full functionally.

Instead, the vet is going to perform some tests to see how well the kidneys are working.

Usually, vets look at the level of creatinine and SDMA (a renal biomarker) in addition to the urine-to-protein ration.

They also measure the systolic blood pressure. Based on the results, they categorize the dog in one of the four stages of dog renal failure.

End-stage symptoms

Kidney failure is a progressive disease even with the best treatment plan possible.

As the kidneys deteriorate further and barely filter the waste, youll notice that your dogs breath has a distinctive ammonia smell.

Also, Luckys gums would be pale and dry and he might develop ulcers in his mouth. Trembling and twitching are also possible as well as confusing and disorientation.

Other symptoms at this stage include:

• Difficulty breathing
• Inconsistency
• Lack of interest
• Bloodshot eyes
• Weight loss
• Lack of appetite
• Seizures

End-stage kidney disease doesnt mean that your pet is going to die in the next few hours. So, do not panic. However, its a warning that you have to make some hard decisions.

On average, dogs might last between three months and one year after entering the last stage. However, its strictly individual and depends on your dogs overall constitution.

Nevertheless, dying from kidney failure is not peaceful or painless. Youd want to think about doing whats right for your dog when the suffering becomes too much.

How can you prevent kidney failure?

Unfortunately, you cant do much to prevent kidney failure in dogs when its due to old age. But you can:

• Feed your pet high-quality dog food that wont stress the kidneys.
• Brush your dogs teeth because dental disease is one of the causes of chronic kidney failure
• Provide plenty of water.
• Keep the dog away from human medication and antifreeze.
• Supervise your dog when he is outside so that he doesnt eat something poisonous.
• Do an annual urine test to check the kidneys functions.

As a conclusion, I would like to issue a warning that concerns not only dogs but cats and small children. Some snow globes contain antifreeze. Its added to the water to keep it from freezing.

Antifreeze is deadly to animals in very small amounts, and it leads to kidney failure in a matter of hours/days. Whats more, by the time the symptoms show its usually too late to save the animal.

So, if your pet/child breaks the globe and gets exposed to the water, he is in danger of antifreeze poisoning. Be safe and keep the globes where your pets/children cant reach them.

Have you ever had to deal with kidney failure in dogs? What were the signs of kidney failure in your dogs? Share your story in the comments.

• Ive grown up surrounded by animals dogs, cats, cows, goats, sheep, and horses and that has shaped me into what I am today a crazy cat lady who always has a place for one more cat (or a dog). Ive got two female cats Kitty and Roni, and two tomcats Blacky and Shaggy, but I also feed my neighbors cats when they come for a visit. I just cant say no to them.

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