Kidney Disease In Dogs

Kidney disease in dogs can be either acute or chronic.  With acute kidney disease the cause is usually an external toxin or poison, such as rat poison or anti-freeze.  Very often your dog will present other acute symptoms.  Getting your dog to the vet quickly can help save his life.

When chronic kidney disease occurs it is usually seen in older dogs.  Unfortunately, even with the most conscientious owners, as much as 75 percent of kidney function may have shut down before the symptoms are recognized.  Symptoms include: 

• increase in thirst
• increase in urination
• pale urine with little odor
• leaking urine
• vomiting
• weight loss
• anorexia
• lethargy
• muscle weakness
• elevated BUN (blood urea nitrogen) and creatinine
• elevated protein in the urine

Since chronic kidney disease is often found in older dogs, these symptoms are sometimes simply attributed to old age.  Owners may not be quick to seek out a veterinary opinion when their older dog begins to lose weight or becomes more lethargic.

Chronic kidney failure is a slow, progressive disease and often goes unnoticed.  The role of the kidneys in the body is to filter out and excrete toxins through the urine.  A healthy kidney takes the toxins and concentrates them into a small amount of liquid to be excreted.  When the kidneys are diseased they are not able to concentrate the urine.  The kidneys require more and more liquid to do their job.  This makes the dog drink more and more water, and urinate more and more often to get rid of the toxins in the body.  The kidneys are becoming less and less efficient.  The dog begins to lose weight, he may vomit, become constipated, suffer from low energy and fatigue and have a poor appetite.  He gets weaker and weaker.

If you suspect that your dog has chronic kidney disease your vet will need to perform a blood test and urinalysis.  Your vet may recommend IV fluids to correct any imbalances due to toxins in your dog’s body.  Kidney dialysis for dogs is available at several veterinary medical schools.  The University of California, Davis is performing kidney transplants but the transplants are usually rejected at this point in time.

Most vets will suggest a low-protein, low-phosphorus and low-sodium diet for your dog.  This kind of diet will help reduce the toxins that your dog’s kidneys have to eliminate.  It’s also very important to keep your dog well-hydrated.  Fresh water must be available at all times and you should encourage your dog to drink.

It’s also very important to reduce stress for any dog who has chronic kidney disease.

Although chronic kidney disease is a serious illness, when it is treated aggressively you and your vet can help your dog to live months or years after the diagnosis, depending on the stage at which the diagnosis was made.  Research continues and new medications are being tried on a continuing basis.