Kidney Failure in Dogs
When a dog’s kidneys start to fail, it means they cannot remove any waste. This is known as kidney failure or renal failure. There are two different types of kidney failure in dogs: acute or chronic. Chronic renal disease occurs mostly in older dogs. Any time that the kidneys fail, it is a serious medical situation. The kidneys help to regulate blood pressure, blood volume, blood sugar, pH levels and much more. Kidney failure can occur slowly, which makes treating the disease difficult.
Causes
There are many different causes of kidney failure including lymphoma, genetics, diabetes, certain medications and urinary blockages. Other things such as parasites, infections, toxicity, autoimmune disease and trauma can cause it too. There are some dog breeds such as Bull Terriers and German Shepherds who do experience kidney failure more so than other breeds.
Types
Acute kidney failure means that this failure happened suddenly usually caused by urinary obstruction, ingesting poison or severe dehydration. Sometimes other health issues can cause kidney failure from flowing blood to the kidneys effectively. Chronic renal failure however is a slow process that occurs over months and years. This failure type is commonly found in older dogs. This isn’t reversible because of the aging process.
Signs & Symptoms
Some symptoms of acute renal failure can include: loss of appetite, lethargy, weakness, struggle urinating, decreased urine production and vomiting. These symptoms can come on quickly and without warning. Acute renal failure is a medical emergency and is life threatening for your dog.
Signs of chronic kidney failure include: blood in urine, high blood pressure, vomiting, decreased or increased urinating, excessive thirst, dehydration, mouth ulcers, bad breath and a hunch back posture, to name a few. Chronic renal failure occurs over time.
Treatment
Fluid therapy is important when it comes to treating kidney failure in dogs. Fresh water helps begin flow to the kidneys again. Keeping track of your pet’s food and water intake daily also is important as you can track if they’re outputting as much as they’re inputting. A healthy diet of course also is important too as it can help heal the organs.
Prevention
Preventing kidney failure entirely isn’t possible. However, that doesn’t mean that you as a pet owner can’t do certain things to help ensure your dog stays as healthy as possible. Keep toxic substances such as pesticides, plants, over the counter medications, anti-freeze and more as far away as possible from your animal.
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