Canine Kidney Failure"Canine kidney failure can develop immediately, over months or years. While some forms are reversible such as from poisoning, others are not. Treatment involves removing the underlying cause and a possible change in diet." Canine kidney disease is diagnosed when the kidneys are not removing toxins from the bloodstream as well as they should. If toxins build to dangerous levels it becomes a condition called azotemia. It is very difficult to treat existing kidney damage once it is discovered. There are four stages of canine kidney disease: Stage 1: Toxins in the blood have not reached dangerous levels. Stage 2: No symptoms, but there are toxins in the blood Stage 3: When your dog is showing symptoms of kidney disease Stage 4: Kidney damage is advancing and your dog is showing significant symptoms such as lethargic behavior. There are two types of kidney failure: the type that happens suddenly (sudden onset kidney failure) and the kind that happens gradually (called chronic kidney failure). Causes of Sudden Onset Dog Kidney FailureCanine kidney failure that happens suddenly is usually caused by one of the following:Dehydration Shock Congestive Heart failure Poisoning - licking small quantities of antifreeze from a puddle on the street. Infection Heat Stroke Blood clots in the kidney Causes of Chronic Dog Kidney FailureChronic Kidney failure can occur slowly over months or years without showing any symptoms. Underlying causes include:Canine Kidney Stones Kidney dysplasia (defect in the kidney that is not genetic) Inborn kidney defect Immune system disease Cancer Parasite Problem - giant kidney worm called Dioctophyme renale. Symptoms of Canine Kidney FailureThe canine kidney failrure symptoms associated with kidney disease are also common in other diseases. The most common symptoms of canine kidney disease include:Occurs with greater frequency: Other symptoms: Diagnosis of Canine Kidney FailureDog kidney disease is diagnosed through blood and urine tests with the goal to understand if your dog even has kidney disease and how far the disease progressed and how fast it is proressing (called a renal evaluation).Tests measure if the urine is of the proper consistency, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels and creatinine levels. Even kidneys that are functioning as low as 25% of normal might not be a problem. Treatment of Canine Kidney DiseaseTreatment options for kidney disease in dogs usually depends on the severity of the condition (stage that the disease is in) and the underlying cause.The first step is to eliminate anything that may be causing the kidney disease such as: Medications - that may be damaging the kidneys (eg; the antibiotic gentamicin). Stress - the introduction of new pets and changes in your dogs environment, also extreme weather such as heat or cold The kidney's could be helped by: * Drinking more water; make water available throughout the day * Antacids (tagamet or zantac for canine) * Natural Medicine: there are several herbal ingredients that can address some of the issues associated with kidney health. Herbs such as burdock (for digestion and blood sugar regulation), dandelion (helps with fluid balance and is a good vitamin source) and cleavers (lymphatic cleanser). Pet Alive Kidney Support is made specifically for this purpose and is worth further research and discussion with your veterinarian. If the kidney disease is reversible then your veterinarian may recommend an expensive treatment option such as dialysis. This is used in cases such as antrifreeze poisoning. It is possible for dog's to receive a kidney transplant. Medications such as antihypertensive agents with specific intrarenal effects such as ACE inhibitors have had a positive impact on renal diseases. Recent research studies show that dietary change to a commercial food made for kidney or renal problems can both improve your dog's quality of life and extend the number of years your dog can live with the disease (dietary omega-3 PUFA supplementation). See our
guide on diet for Canine Kidney Disease (CDK). SourcesBrevitz, Betsy DVMHound Health Handbook Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health Medical Management of Chronic Kidney Disease From Canine Kidney Failure to Dog Health Guide Home
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