what is advanced kidney disease in dogs

Kidney Disease in Dogs: What Dog Owners Should Know

Kidney disease is very common in dogs, and protecting your pooch from kidney disease means you should be prepared to look for problems early. Studies show that 1 in 10 dogs suffer from kidney disease, reports Dr. Celeste Clements. Dogs can get kidney disease for any number of underlying reasons, and even worse, its often difficult to spot. Some of the earliest signs of kidney disease in dogs may include subtle weight loss, urinating/peeing more often and drinking a lot more water. Therefore, if you notice your dog is peeing on the floor or asking to go out more, or if your dog is always thirsty, its time to visit your veterinarian. Unfortunately, sometimes once these signs are present, theres typically already been a great deal of kidney damage. Fortunately, new advances in the veterinary world are making it easier to find kidney disease in dogs earlier (even without signs being present).What is kidney disease in dogs?Kidney disease in dogs is notoriously hard to catch early and can have devastating effects on our canine friends. In general, kidney disease (sometimes called kidney insufficiency or failure) happens when your dogs kidneys stop doing their job as well as they should. The kidneys help clean waste products from the blood, if they are not working properly these waste products can build up in the blood.(Learn more about what kidneys do for your dog.) This damage, once done, can be permanent and can be caused by a variety of issues. (Learn more about 10 common causes of kidney disease in dogs.)Kidney disease in dogs is classified in two primary ways, as:

Learn more about kidney disease in dogs:Since kidney disease impacts so many dogs and early detection is so critical, its a great idea for any dog parent to learn and know everything you can about the disease. Weve included some in-depth articles about kidney disease in dogs and additional tools below, as well as tips for helping keep your dogs kidneys as healthy as possible for the long-haul:

Kidney disease quick tips:

• Kidney disease is a leading cause of suffering and death in pets,³ and has been so difficult to combat because it was often not detected until most of the damage was done and permanent.
• Certain factors like kidney stones, urinary tract infections, or other infections, including Lyme disease, or hereditary conditions could make kidney disease more likely.
• Treatment options for advanced kidney disease are usually limited to supporting the kidneys and treating the signs of kidney disease as dialysis and kidney transplants are not readily available for dogs.
• Encouraging your dog to drink more water can help with kidney health
• As dogs age, the likelihood of developing kidney disease increases.

The IDEXX SDMA test is amaker of kidney function and can help identify decline in kidney function and disease months to years earlier than previously possible.³[Editors Note: IDEXX Laboratories is the parent company of Pet Health Network.]This can allow your veterinarian to take early action to treat some causes of kidney damage, and better support kidney disease.Theres much more to learn about chronic kidney disease if you want to protect your dog, and having this knowledge is step one in the fight against a disease that has claimed far too many lives. Check out the resources below, and ask your veterinarian what you can be doing to keep your dog healthier, happier and in your life longer.

A new test is available to help detect kidney disease earlier, ask your veterinarian about the new IDEXX SDMA test.

Learn about IDEXX SDMA testing

More Kidney Disease Resources

If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian -- they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets.

When to Euthanize a Dog with Kidney Failure & Disease?

Important Note: This article has been checked and verified by a professional veterinarian for accuracy. However, you should always seek advice from your own vet before making any decisions on euthanasia as thereare never black and white answers for this decision.

The question of when to euthanize your dog with kidney failure or disease is a difficult and yet necessary conversation to have. I am not advocating you follow my views in this blog, as it should always be your own decision, based on the support of a professional such as your vet.

However, my family have had to put down a dog before, so I do feel like I am in a position to be able to at least give my view on when the right time to euthanize a dog with kidney failure is. Heres my short answer first:

When to euthanize a dog with kidney failure? The right time to put a dog down with kidney disease is when you have exhausted all medical options. If your dog is no longer able to have a quality of life and enjoy the things he loves, it could be time to euthanize if nearing the prognosis of kidney failure.

When to put down a dog with kidney disease?

Acute and chronic kidney disease in dogs both involve the ultimate failure in the functioning of your dogs kidneys. Whilst acute kidney failure comes on suddenly, chronic kidney failure is a more gradual disease.

Nobody wants to think about putting their dog to sleep, but with kidney disease (especially in its advanced stages of kidney failure) being known to cause significant harm and pain for your dog, you need to consider whether the best course of action is to let them pass away painlessly.

Whilst it is natural to feel emotional about this issue, it is vital that you dont let your emotions cloud your judgement in making this decision.

I know first-hand that this is easier said than done, but it is easy to rationalise a decision when youre feeling emotional even when you know deep down its the wrong thing to do.

First and foremost, you need to consider how kidney failure is impacting your dogs quality of life.

Whilst every dogs experience with kidney disease is different, if they are no longer responding to treatments and is only deteriorating further, then euthanasia should be considered.

Although it is natural to want to keep your companion with you as long as possible, is it really worthwhile if theyre visibly suffering?

In this article, I will explore the issue of canine kidney failure in more depth, as well as considering how and when euthanasia is the best course of action.

How long does a dog have to life with kidney disease?

The good news is that depending on how advanced the disease is upon diagnosis; some dogs are able to live months or even years with kidney disease.

However, it is equally as important to remember that whilst canine kidney disease prognosis is in some cases variable, it is still ultimately classed as a terminal as it leads to kidney failure. This means that you need to prepare for the possible outcome of needing to euthanise your dog.

The good news is that you wont need to go through this alone. You will be able to trust your vet to give you consistent advice and guidance about the right course of action as and when the disease progresses.

As mentioned, a lot of vets point to euthanasia once they have exhausted all possible treatment options with your dog. Other signs that your dog might be ready to be put to sleep include the following:

• Theyre getting worse rather than getting better or staying the same.
• They are no longer eating or drinking.
• They are no longer able to go to the toilet by themselves (they are incontinent).
• Your touch no longer soothes them/causes them pain.
• They spend a lot of their time asleep.

Please bear in mind that this list is by no means exhaustive. Its usually a combination of things that will lead you/your vet to make a subjective assessment about whether your dogs quality of life is now too poor.

Ultimately, as an owner who has naturally become well-attuned to your dogs temperament and personality, only you can know if they are acting significantly different or behaving unusually.

The litmus test I have always told friends to do when considering the right time to put down their dog is to see how it reacts to something it loves. For example, if your dog loves to play with a ball, give him a ball.

If you get zero reactions, this could be another step in the direction of choosing euthanasia. After all, if your dog cannot enjoy life with kidney failure, why let him suffer any longer? But of course, this test should becoupled with a poor prognosis, because a dog who doesnt want to play ball, but has a good chance of recovery at some point in the near future, should not be considered for euthanasia.

The bottom line is, dont be afraid to use your instincts to judge how your dog is feeling, and make sure to bring up any changes in behaviour or concerns you have with your vet.

If you and your vet have discussed your options and come to the conclusion that there is nothing more that can be done for your dog, then you can consider the next step.

Although it is usual for euthanasia to be performed in a veterinary hospital, some vets offer to perform the procedure at your own home.

If your dog is anxious in nature, home might be the best place to put them to sleep. The familiar surroundings will help to keep them calm, and it might be something youd personally prefer as well.

Once your dog has passed away, dont be afraid to seek help for your grief, whether it be through counselling or support groups attended by people who have also lost their pets.

Feeling upset that your dog has passed away is completely natural and nothing to be ashamed of.

Handy Hint: Theres a common misconception that all dogs die with their eyes open. This isnt actually true and will depend on how they are put to sleep.

Some dogs can live with kidney disease with up to 4 years

With the right treatment and early diagnosis, your dog can live up to four years with kidney disease.

To put it simply, there are four stages to canine kidney disease. Factors such as your dogs systolic blood pressure, urine-to-protein ratio and creatinine are all taken into account by your vet when assessing what stage of kidney failure to diagnose your dog with.

How long can a dog live with stage 4 kidney disease?

If your dog is diagnosed with stage 1 or 2 kidney disease, life expectancy is years.

Unfortunately, on the other hand, if your dog is diagnosed with stage 3 to 4 kidney disease leading to kidney failure, you could be looking at weeks and months.

What are the symptoms of a dog dying from kidney failure?

Whilst there are a range of kidney failure symptoms to look out for in your dog, the symptoms of advanced kidney failure are, alongside with the signs mentioned above, the best indication of whether it is time to let your dog slip away.

Here are some of the most common symptoms of advanced (stage 4) kidney failure in dogs:

• Depression (he is no longer excited by things he previously enjoyed).
• Anemia.
• Difficulty breathing
• Loss of appetite and weight loss.
• Increased urination.
• Increased thirst and dehydration.
• Emancipated appearance due to gradual loss of fat and muscle mass.
• Vomiting / nausea.

If your dog shows any of the above symptoms, it is important to consult a vet as soon as possible. In my view, these symptoms would be the right time to euthanize a dog with kidney failure.

It might turn out that there is no way that your vet is able to alleviate your dog from any of these symptoms. That may well be indicative that you and the vet have done all you can for your dog. They can then put them down to stop the pain. However there are many ways of medically managing kidney disease, so ensure you involve your veterinarian in the discussion about your dogs future to determine what his prognosis is.

Conclusion

When you hold your dogs life in your hands, it can be unnerving and incredibly distressing. It is, however, vital that you dont shy away from this responsibility.

In the same way that your dog trusted you to take care of their welfare throughout their life, you are entrusted at the end of their life with making a decision based on whats ultimately best for their wellbeing.

Whilst losing your dog to an illness like kidney disease is heart-breaking, you can always take comfort in the fact that you gave them the best, happiest and most fulfilling life possible.