Sep 12, 2024
A dog’s kidneys play a huge role in keeping its body regulated and functional. The kidneys work like a natural filtration system that helps our dogs keep their bodies clean. These organs filter out waste and help in regulating the bodily fluids in dogs.
What is Kidney Failure?
Kidney failure usually happens when a dog’s kidney can no longer filter out the waste and toxins from their blood. When this happens, the excess waste and toxins can buildup in the body, leading to some serious health problems for your dogs.
Types of Kidney Failure
Acute Kidney Failure
Acute kidney failure is a condition that usually shows its effects after a few hours or days. Some of the common causes include:
Toxins
Infections
Severe dehydration
Trauma or injury
Urinary blockages
Toxic foods
Chronic Kidney Failure
Chronic kidney failure is usually for older dogs, as time has already progressed for the disease to create long-term effects on your dogs. Some of the common causes include:
Dental infection
Chronic exposure to toxins
Poor diet
Diabetes
High blood pressure
Genetic factors
Cancer
Autoimmune diseases
Symptoms of Kidney Failure in Dogs
When your dog’s kidneys start to malfunction, many important functions are affected. The bloodstream will have waste and toxic buildup, and several health problems will arise from this. Looking out for the early signs of kidney failure can help improve your dog’s chances of recovering from the disease. Here are some of the things to watch out for:
Increased thirst and urination
One of the early signs of kidney failure is when your dog begins to drink more water and urinate more often. This occurs because the kidneys struggle with filtering, leading your dog to lose more urine and drink more water to compensate.
Lethargy and weakness
Dogs experiencing kidney failure may seem a bit weak and low on energy. This happens when their body isn't able to eliminate toxins as it normally would, and those toxins can really make them feel uncomfortable.
Loss of appetite
When your dog is experiencing some kidney trouble, it often makes them feel sick, leading to a loss of appetite. Your dog might not appear too excited for its favorite foods and snacks.
Vomiting or nausea
Kidney failure can cause your dog’s body to build up toxins, which often leads to an upset stomach. This can result in nausea and vomiting, making your dog feel even worse. You might notice your dog vomiting after meals, or they might gag and retch without actually bringing anything up.
Weight loss
When your dog isn’t eating well, or when their body is struggling with kidney failure, weight loss often follows. Over time, the combination of poor appetite and the body’s inability to properly process nutrients can cause significant weight loss.
Bad breath
Dogs with kidney failure often have foul breaths due to the toxins and chemicals that remain in their bodies. Without a reliable set of kidneys to help, the buildup of waste can lead to bad breath for your dogs.
Pale gums or mouth ulcers
Kidney failure can also lead to pale gums through anemia. If your dog’s lip is paler than its normal color, this could indicate kidney failure. In more serious cases, your dog might even catch mouth ulcers, which are caused by the buildup of toxins that weren’t filtered out.
Diarrhea or bloody stool
While less common, some dogs with kidney failure may experience digestive issues, including diarrhea or even bloody stools. This happens because the buildup of toxins affects the gastrointestinal tract.
How to Diagnose Kidney Failure in Dogs?
Diagnosing kidney failure in dogs involves a lot of tests and imaging techniques. Here are some of the common diagnostic techniques our vets use:
Examinations
We can diagnose your dog’s kidney issues through physical examinations and laboratory tests. These are the ones we’ll use to check your dog’s kidneys.
Complete Blood Count
A CBC is a test for the red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. These will be examined and counted. Through the number of these cells, our vets can determine the issue your dog’s kidneys are facing. Each irregular value will lead to specific issues that will explain your dog’s condition.
Urinalysis
A urinalysis checks the concentration and content of your dog’s urine. If this is diluted, then kidney failure is confirmed, which means that the kidneys are not able to properly concentrate the urine. In addition to this, protein in your dog’s urine can indicate kidney damage as well. With these simple observations, our vets can diagnose your dog’s kidney condition.
SDMA Test
The symmetric dimethylarginine test is a relatively new diagnostic tool that is helpful in detecting kidney disease in dogs earlier than traditional blood tests. This test is used in conjunction with other tests. It measures kidney function even before significant damage has occurred, which is particularly helpful for detecting chronic kidney failure in its early stages.
Blood Pressure Test
High blood pressure can also be the sole cause of kidney failure in dogs, which is why a blood pressure test is also conducted to check if your dog’s blood pressure is responsible for its kidney problems.
Imaging
Sometimes, diagnostic imaging techniques will be used to get a deeper look at your dog’s kidney structure. Ultrasounds and X-rays can help detect any abnormalities in the size and shape of your kidneys. Through this method, we can detect the presence of tumors, cysts, and blockages responsible for kidney failure in dogs.
How to Treat Kidney Failure in Dogs?
Treating kidney failure in dogs requires several steps and a lot of determination. Here are the common techniques we use:
Medications
For dogs with kidney failure, medication is often a key part of treatment. We may prescribe drugs to help manage symptoms and support kidney function. Common medications include:
Phosphate binders
Blood pressure medications
Nausea and appetite medications
Potassium supplements
Hydration Therapy
Along with medications, hydration therapy is a great way to help cleanse your dog’s kidneys and treat dehydration, which could be the cause of your dog’s kidney failure. Intravenous (IV) fluids are great ways to help hydrate your dogs and flush out the toxins in the process.
Diet Plan
Diet plays a big role in managing kidney failure. Dogs with kidney disease often need a special prescription diet low in protein, phosphorus, and sodium while high in essential vitamins and minerals. These diets are designed to take the pressure off the kidneys and help them function as well as possible.
Dialysis
In severe cases, especially with acute kidney failure, dialysis may be an option. This treatment option filters out the toxins from the blood, helping the kidneys do their job while they recover. It’s not the most common treatment option, but it can be great for dire situations.
Can a Dog Recover from Kidney Failure?
While it depends on a variety of factors, a dog can recover from kidney failure. Acute kidney failure, which happens suddenly, should be given immediate veterinary attention to help your dog recover quicky. On the other hand, chronic kidney failure is usually a progressive condition that’s harder to reverse, but can be managed with expert vet care.
The overall health of your dog, their age, and any underlying health conditions also play a big role in theeir ability to recover.
How to Prevent Kidney Failure in Dogs
While not all kidney issues can be stopped, there are several ways to reduce the risk of your dog getting kidney failure. When you create small changes and safety precautions in your dog’s daily routine, you can help keep their health strong and protected and prevent kidney issues.
Provide Fresh Water
Providing lots of fresh water is a great way to keep your dog hydrated. By doing so, you’ll help keep its body clean and its kidneys flushing out waste. Always make sure your dog has access to clean water near its bed so they can take a sip on hot days.
Feed a Balanced Diet
A well-balanced diet that provides all the important nutrients is great for improving your dog’s kidney health. Dogs need the right balance of nutrients, such as protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals, in their meals.
Hide Chemicals
Household cleaning products and chemicals pose a huge threat to your adventurous dog. This is why storing these harmful chemicals properly can help your dog avoid these toxic substances.
Visit the Vets
Regular checkups help keep your dog’s health in check, especially its kidneys. Routine tests can help reveal kidney issues before the symptoms start to show. This is important for maintaining the health of older dogs, as they are more prone to chronic kidney failure.
We can also give specific advice on preventing kidney failure based on your dog’s age, breed, and health.
Conclusion
Kidney failure is a serious issue for dogs, but this can easily be solved with the right care and parental knowledge. With our help, you can help your dog enjoy a longer and healthier life. With regular visits to our clinic, a great diet plan, and the correct medicines, your dog will thank you for keeping its kidneys healthy!