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Kidney Disease In Dogs

Submitted by Michael Adams on March 10, 2010

One of the leading causes of death in older dogs is kidney disease, a serious and common condition that often goes undetected by dog owners till the dog has lost approximately 75 percent functionality of the kidneys. Kidneys play a vital role in cleansing and detoxifying your system, normalizing blood pressure, sugar and volume, and controlling the pH levels. Kidney disease in canines causes a build up of toxic waste in the blood stream thereby posing many health risks and ultimately leading to death.

Kidney disease in dogs is of two types - chronic and acute. In the case of chronic kidney disease, it begins gradually and progresses over a period of time, while in acute it affects a dog suddenly. Both the types of kidney disease in canines have different symptoms.

If suffering from acute kidney disease, the dog will become dehydrated, pass little or no urine, and experience pain in the kidneys. The dog will have an arched back and stiff legs while moving. To determine whether the dog is dehydrated or not, the owner can gently tug at the dog’s skin on the stomach. If the skin does not pull back immediately, it means the dog is dehydrated. In the case of chronic kidney disease, the dog will show symptoms like a loss of appetite, weight loss, excessive thirst and water consumption, frequent and increased urination, and incontinence. Apart from these, the dog will experience pain while urinating and may also pass blood in the urine. Vomiting, lethargy, and depression are also some of the symptoms of dog kidney ailments.

There are many causes of kidney problems in dogs, such as, heredity, diabetes mellitus, urinary blockages caused by bladder stones, and certain drugs like antibiotics. A congenital condition, loss of blood, injury, internal and external toxins, hypertension, and viral, fungal and bacterial infections also harm tissues of many body organs, including the kidneys. It becomes difficult to cure acute kidney disease or if it reaches an advanced stage. Kidney transplant, hospitalization, and dialysis are some of the ways of ensuring the dog lives longer. The owner must let the dog drink as much water as it wants since it ensures flushing the toxins out. Kidney diseases can also be treated by restricting protein, salt, calcium, and phosphorous in the dog’s diet and including more Omega-3 and 6 fatty acids and potassium. Your veterinarian would be able to best guide you towards medical aid and home treatments that can help.

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Dog Diseases