kidney failure lyme dog

A rugged rascal since puppyhood, Cowboy had weathered many scuffs, but in spring 2012 his owner, Jay Phillips, noticed something very wrong. Though he had been fine the previous day, suddenly the Boston terrier was reluctant to move or eat and began crying late one night. He seemed limp and in the morning he was paralyzed from the neck down.

It was terrifying, said Phillips. I raced him to Cornell University Hospital for Animals and they took samples for a bunch of tests.

The doctors suspected Lyme disease, and proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia seen on blood work raised concern about the possibility of Lyme nephritis, a condition in which Lyme disease attacks the kidneys.

Test results told us that Cowboy's kidneys were being damaged at two different locations, both at the glomerulus (or filtering apparatus) and the renal tubules (concentrating apparatus), said Dr. Catherine Cortright, who oversaw the case. The glomerular damage was causing protein to leak into Cowboy's urine. The tubular damage resulted in glucose remaining in the urine rather than being pumped back into the body and saved. It caused cells to be sloughed into the renal tubules and appear in the urine.

Testing at the Animal Health Diagnostic Center revealed that Cowboy had chronic Lyme disease and was experiencing an acute flare up. Lyme disease can present two different clinical scenarios; an acute infection, or chronic disease. The acute form usually attacks the joints, causing an intermittent lameness that may move from one joint to another. The more chronic disease is the result of antibodies against the bacteria building up in the blood and blocking the filters of the kidney, causing extensive kidney damage that can be fatal.

Most dogs that are Lyme positive in this area have no clinical signs, and just being exposed and testing positive is not a reason to treat, said Cortright. But Cowboy had developed severe clinical signs. Its possible he had Lyme nephritis, a serious and life-threatening condition that is poorly researched in the dog. Many of the treatment options are in their infancy and there is not yet strong scientific support for any recommended treatments. Cowboy's kidneys had experienced extensive damage. Kidneys in general are not able to regenerate function. This means that every insult that they experience is irreversible, so waiting to treat aggressively could mean the loss of adequate kidney function in the future.

The prognosis was grave, but Cortright prescribed a combination of medications that helped ease Cowboy back to functional kidney levels. Recent tests have revealed a more complex picture, suggesting that autoimmune disease, which can be sparked by Lyme disease, might also have played a role in Cowboys symptoms. Nevertheless, Cowboys symptoms have been managed through medication since he came to CUHA, and frequent rechecks show he continues to maintain the good health he restored.

Initially they had estimated he had two months to live, but I took him home and had a serious talk with him, and years later hes still thriving thanks to the care he gets at CUHA, said Phillips. He looks like a million and still has his spunky personality. I took him on a three mile walk yesterday and he came home and found a rope to play with. I owe Dr. Cortright everything, she was a rock star. She called me from her honeymoon to check in on him. It has been a very long road, but Cowboy has gotten better and better."

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 From Lyme Disease In Dogs

How Are Kidney Problems Treated

Lyme Nephritis/Kidney Failure Secondary to Lyme Disease in a Dog

Initial treatment of kidney failure in dogs includes hospitalization and IV fluid therapy. Your veterinarian will determine what the underlying cause of the kidney disease is and treat it with appropriate medications and therapies. Dogs with kidney failure often must be hospitalized for several days to weeks to become stabilized prior to discharge.

If your veterinarian can stabilize your dog and wean them off of IV fluids without the kidney values rapidly increasing, they will send your dog home on a dog kidney failure diet which is specially formulated to be easy on the kidneys. They may also prescribe your dog oral medications to help reduce the risk of ulcers or to control electrolyte imbalances secondary to kidney failure. In addition, if your dog is moving more slowly and having a harder time moving around because of the kidney disease, consider getting a PawRamp.

The cost of treating kidney failure in dogs can vary depending on what the underlying cause of the kidney failure is and how severe the illness is. Mild forms of kidney disease which are caught early may only incur minor costs. Severe forms of kidney disease in dogs may cost hundreds to upwards of one to two thousand dollars to treat depending on the severity of your dogs disease.

What Is Chronic Renal Failure Is It The Same As Chronic Kidney Disease

Many people think that chronic kidney failure or chronic renal failure means that the kidneys have stopped working and are not making urine. This is not the case. By definition, chronic renal failure , or chronic kidney disease is the inability of the kidneys to efficiently filter the blood of waste products, not the inability to produce urine. Ironically, most dogs in kidney failure produce large quantities of urine, but the bodys toxic wastes are not being effectively eliminated.

Medications To Manage Proteinuria

Protein loss in the urine is a similar chicken and egg phenomenon to high blood pressure causing kidney disease and kidney disease causing high blood pressure. Consequently, vets also try to monitor and address urine protein levels in dogs with chronic kidney disease.

As the kidneys degenerate, the filter portion of the kidneys can become leaky. Proteins that the kidney should keep within the bloodstream are then able to leak out into the urine. So, protein in the urine is a sign of kidney disease, but that leakage of protein through the kidneys can also hasten kidney damage.

Your vet may prescribe oral medication to help decrease this protein loss.

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What Are The Symptoms Of Lyme Nephritis In Dogs

Most commonly, dogs may present with fever, shifting leg lameness, swollen joints, enlarged lymph nodes, lethargy, depression and anorexia. Less commonly, dogs will develop a protein losing nephropathy that can result in hypoalbuminemia, edema and eventually renal failure, which is known as Lyme nephritis.

Are There Tests For Lyme Disease

Several different blood tests are used when diagnosing Lyme disease. None of the tests are definitive, as they only measure whether or not a dog has been exposed to the bacteria they are unable to say for sure whether Lyme disease is the cause of any symptoms or whether it will cause symptoms in the future. In areas with high concentrations of ticks, 75% or more of dogs can test positive for the disease, though only 5% of those dogs may ever be symptomatic.

Blood tests may also show false positives in dogs that have received certain Lyme disease vaccines. Occasionally, testing may produce a false negative result, particularly if a Lyme-carrying tick bit the dog within the past four weeks. The bacteria require about four weeks of incubation before it accumulates in detectable levels.

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Canine Kidney Failure Prognosis

The prognosis for canine kidney failure can vary depending on how the dog responds to the beginning stages of the treatment as well as the owners follow up care under the guidance of their veterinarian. In most cases, dogs will respond well to the treatment and maintain a good quality of life. Due to this, treatment is typically encouraged by veterinarians. In general, treatment and follow-up care will be relatively easy and affordable.

How Do Dogs Act With Ticks

If you start seeing the following symptoms, your dog may have a tick somewhere on their body: Licking and chewing: Your dog may lick and chew at a particular area on its body where the tick is located. Red, inflamed skin: Sometimes, the skin around the embedded tick can become swollen, inflamed, and red.

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What Is The Prognosis Of Lyme Disease In Dogs

Like other dog health issues, there are a few factors that determine your pets prognosis. The prognosis depends on the time of detection of the disease, Dr. Muller says. In the case of early treatment without manifest symptoms, the prognosis is good. However, if clinical symptoms are already present that have caused damage to the kidneys, heart, and nervous system, then the prognosis is poor.

How To Make A Low Protein Dog Food For Kidney Disease

Kidney Disease in Dogs and Cats

If your dog is suffering from kidney disease, or chronic renal failure , your vet may recommend that you put your pet on a low protein diet. Protein comes from foods like meat and eggs. By feeding your dog homemade dog food, you can control how much protein hell consume.

If your dog is in the early stages of CRF, he needs a diet of protein whereas a dog with severe kidney disease should not exceed more than 1 gram of protein per pound, daily. At this point, your pup will require more carbohydrates than protein.

Its best to have your vet work out the proper nutritional needs so you can provide the correct combination of ingredients. Experts recommend that in order to provide the proper nutrition, your dogs food needs to have:

• Moderate to high amounts of fat
• Moderate amounts of high-quality protein
• Low amounts of phosphorus
• Moderate amounts of low-phosphorus carbohydrates
• Plenty of water, juice, broth, and other liquids to keep your dog hydrated

Your dog needs total calories in fat, total calories in protein, and total calories carbohydrates.

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Your Dogs Kidneys Are Integral For His Health

The kidneys of your dog are more important than you may realize. His kidneys help filter waste out of the blood. When the kidneys are not working correctly, toxins can begin to build up in the blood, and this condition is ultimately fatal.

Your dogs kidneys are also responsible for maintaining the water/salt ratio in the body. When sodium levels are off, Hypernatremia is the result . This is a potentially life-threatening condition that results in a volume reduction in the brain. Kidney disease can lead to hypernatremia, which is why it is so critical this condition is treated by the vet.

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What Can You Not Put In Homemade Dog Food

In making homemade dog foods, it is also important to know that there are certain foods that you should avoid.

For instance, ingredients like chocolate, xylitol, avocados, grapes, onion, and garlic should be avoided as they can be toxic for dogs.

Again, this is one of the beauties of making homemade foods. You have the authority on every ingredient that will be present.

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What Are Causes Of Kidney Failure In Dogs

What is renal failure in dogs? Acute Renal Failure. Most commonly associated with toxins or infections, acute renal failure causes kidney function to suddenly decline . Chronic Renal Failure. Geriatric Degeneration. Congenital Disease. Bacterial Infections. Toxicosis. End-Stage Renal Disease in Dogs.

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What Is The Renal System

The renal system is made up of several different parts of the body that are designed to regulate the urinary or excretory system. The parts of the body that make up the renal system are:

The system is responsible for filtering out toxins, expelling them from the body through the urinary tract. The kidneys are the main organ involved in the proper functioning of the renal system, and they do more than just excrete things the body doesnt need. They are also in charge of keeping a healthy amount of certain minerals available and in the bloodstream by playing a key role in nutrient absorption.

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Diagnosing Lyme Disease In Dogs

A tick must be attached to your dog for 36 to 48 hours before an infection is transmitted. To prevent Lyme disease, early removal of the tick is essential. Vets use a combination of clinical signs, medical history, and diagnostic tests to diagnose Lyme disease in dogs. There is no single test for Lyme disease, but there are tests to detect B. burgdorferi antigens in the blood. The presence of antigens indicates that the dog was exposed to the bacteria, but it does not mean the dog has Lyme disease. Your vet will likely perform diagnostic tests to rule out other health problems and determine whether or not the bacteria has affected the kidneys or other organs and systems. This may include blood and urine analyses, X-rays, and the collection and analysis of joint fluid.

Treatment Of Lyme Disease

There is only one way to treat Lyme disease. Your vet will give your dog antibiotics. Follow your vets instructions. Most antibiotic treatments take about 30 days. If your dog is still sick, you will either need a longer treatment or more tests to see if something else is making your dog sick.

Signs that the antibiotic treatment is working include a lower antibody count when testing. Antibody levels should go down 40%. This can take anywhere from 6-8 weeks if the case is caught early to 3 or more months if the case is chronic.

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Vaccinate Dogs At High Risk

For dogs at high risk, in addition to acaricides and environmental controls, vaccination can be considered. The vaccines work best when administered before dogs are exposed to B burgdorferiinfected ticks.2,4,6 Consult the individual vaccine manufacturers directions with regard to immunity duration.

Although Lyme vaccines are not considered core vaccines, the ACVIM Consensus group states that they can be helpful in Lyme diseaseendemic areas, especially for clients whose tick prevention compliance may be less than ideal. In the absence of studies, whether Lyme vaccination needs to be boosted every 6 or 12 months remains uncertain.4

The ACVIM Consensus group was split on the recommendation for routine use of these vaccines but did agree that the circulating immune complexes that increase transiently after vaccination have no known negative effect on the vaccinated dog.4 Group members felt that the most effective way to prevent infection with B burgdorferi is year-round tick control and that vaccination provides another layer of protection in Lyme diseaseendemic areas.4

Although preventing Lyme disease can seem overwhelming at first, if taken a step at a time, we can offer clients a good chance of protecting their dogs from infection with B burgdorferi and subsequent development of Lyme disease .

Tick Exposure And Kidney Disease Risk In Dogs

Symptoms of Kidney Disease in Dogs Stages 3-5. Canine Kidney Disease Signs & Symptoms

Does exposure to tickborne disease indicate an increased risk for chronic kidney disease in dogs?

With another higher-than-average tick season looming, veterinarians should be preparing for the inevitable onslaught of tick-related veterinary visits. Even with knowledge of the dangers of tickborne illnesses, pet owners continue to put off annual screenings. But a new study aims to help change that narrative.

A retrospective study, conducted by IDEXX researchers, set out to determine whether exposure to tickborne disease is associated with an increased risk for chronic kidney disease in dogs in endemic areas.

Research Method

A total of 846,626 canine chemistry and urinalysis samples were obtained from the IDEXX Reference Laboratories database between July 13, 2015 and January 17, 2017. Dogs ranged in age from 1 to 25 all breeds and genders were represented.

Of the samples evaluated, patients exposed to infected ticks were defined as having a minimum of 1 positive vector-borne disease test result in their available history. CKD was defined as concurrent increased SDMA and creatinine for a minimum of 25 days with inappropriate urine specific gravity during that time.

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Patient results were analyzed according to geographies known for transmission of both Borrelia burgdorferi and Ehrlichia canis , and then CKD risk was calculated.

Results and Implications

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Avoid These Things In Your Low Protein Dog Food For Kidney Disease

There are things you want to avoid in your homemade recipes. Polyunsaturated vegetable oils can be bad for your dogs. Instead, its recommended to use fish oil, which is beneficial for chronic renal failure. Examples of polyunsaturated vegetable oils include:

Phosphorus can be harmful to your pet while hes got CRF so its important to regulate the amount he consumes. Phosphorus is found in egg yolks, bones, bone-in fish, cheese, and organ-meat.

Question: Can Lyme Disease Cause Kidney Failure In Dogs

Kidney failure: A less common but more serious consequence of Lyme disease is sudden kidney failure, with protein loss in the urine. In some dogs, kidney involvement appears at the same time as lameness but in other dogs, it appears 3-6 weeks after an episode of lameness.

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What Are The Symptoms Of Each Type Of Lyme Disease

Acute Lyme disease is the least severe form of the disease. It often presents as lameness and inflammation in one or more legs a limb may be affected for a few days and then improve while another limb becomes swollen and weak. Other common symptoms include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, and swollen lymph nodes.

Subacute Lyme disease is more severe than acute Lyme. In subacute Lyme, lameness and inflammation are also present, but they persist longer and cause more pain than they do in acute Lyme. Arthritis may also occur.

In chronic Lyme, the lameness and inflammation that are characteristic of the disease may still be present, but severe neurological and cardiac symptoms are more concerning. Irregular heartbeat and behavioral changes are common in this form of Lyme disease, as is kidney failure.

Lyme nephritis is rare most dogs with Lyme disease do not progress to this stage, which is caused by kidney damage from other forms of the disease. However, some breeds are more prone to it than others, mainly Labs and Golden Retrievers. Vomiting, muscle deterioration, and edema are all commonly seen in dogs with Lyme nephritis, which is usually fatal.

Is There A Lyme Disease Vaccine For Dogs Can All Dogs Take The Vaccine

There are 4 Lyme vaccines available in the United States for dogs. Lyme vaccination is considered a lifestyle vaccine, i.e. not all dogs need it, and the decision to vaccinate is an individual one and is not for all dogs.

The Lyme vaccine works by sterilizing the bacteria in the gut of the tick, preventing transmission of bacteria to the dog if they are ever exposed. Lyme vaccines appear to prevent illness in 60%86% dogs that are vaccinated, but not consistently in all dogs, and not for a very long duration of immunity.To ensure the vaccine provides optimum protection Dr. Wooten notes, your dog will receive two initial injections of the vaccine, two-four weeks apart, and then either annual or biannual boosters to maintain immunity.

While most dogs are tolerant of the Lyme disease vaccine, all dogs are different and may need another form of prevention. According to an article in Todays Veterinary Practice, Golden Retrievers should not receive the Lyme vaccine because of a genetic predisposition to develop Lyme nephritis, an inflammatory kidney disease. Fortunately, if proper tick prevention is utilized, vaccination should not be necessary. However, your veterinarian will help you determine the best form of Lyme disease prevention based on your dogs age, breed, size, any potential pre-existing conditions, and their overall health.

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Is There A Vaccine That Will Protect My Dog From Lyme Disease

A safe and generally effective vaccine is available for protecting dogs against Lyme disease. This vaccine is initially given twice, at two- to four-week intervals.

Annual revaccination is necessary to maintain immunity.

Annual revaccination is necessary to maintain immunity. Vaccination against Lyme disease will be determined by your pets lifestyle and individual risk assessment. Be sure to discuss any questions you may have regarding the type and frequency of vaccination with your veterinarian.

Our Favorite Homemade Dog Food Recipes

To jump to a recipe youre interested in, click on the link below. We also have some yummy organic dog treat recipes and treats made with Thanksgiving leftovers. You may wish to have a collection of pet food recipes on-hand at all times, making a cookbook an excellent choice. Dinner PAWsible is one of our favorites.

Note: The recipes below do not include serving size because portion sizes will vary depending on breed, weight, activity level, age, and the health of your dog. A recommendation is to feed your dog a comparable amount of ounces/cups to what you would usually feed in kibble BUT check with your vet to be certain.

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