Dog Kidney Failure

Dog kidney failure, or Canine Kidney Failure (CIN), can be acute or chronic. Acute kidney failure is highly fatal and usually occurs as a result of some sort of poisoning, such as anti-freeze poisoning. Chronic kidney failure in dogs occurs and progresses over a period of time and is one of the more common problems seen in aging dogs.

The kidneys are responsible for various functions; the main ones being regulating fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balance, and filtering and excreting metabolic wastes as urine. In addition, kidneys regulate blood pressure and the production of calcium and phosphorus metabolism. As kidneys perform numerous tasks and are in themselves fragile organs, they are often the first body organ to break down in older dogs.

Dog kidney failure is a condition in which the dog's kidneys have become unable to remove wastes from the blood, leading to a buildup of toxins in the blood. A dog with kidney failure shows signs and symptoms of uremic poisoning.

Canine kidney failure can occur suddenly (acute kidney failure) or come on gradually over a period of time (chronic kidney failure).

Acute and Chronic Kidney Failure in Dogs

Acute kidney failure happens suddenly, and is usually the result of poisoning of some type, such as antifreeze poisoning, raisin or grape poisoning, or certain medications, such as some antibiotics and chemotherapy drugs. Bacterial infections and congestive heart failure may also bring about acute kidney failure.

Acute kidney failure is highly fatal. A dog suffering from acute kidney failure requires hospitalization with emergency treatment of intensive fluid therapy.

Chronic kidney failure is more common in dogs and is usually a slowly progressive disease that unfortunately often goes undetected for quite some time. When the kidneys have lost 70 to 75 percent of their cells, it is considered that kidney failure has begun. Up until this point, although kidney cells may be deteriorating or dying gradually, the proper functioning of the kidneys usually remain intact and the cell loss is therefore unnoticed.

Common causes of chronic dog kidney failure include:

Diet

A diet that contains excessive amount of phosphorus in the food AND insufficient quantity of usable calcium is problematic since the kidneys cannot eliminate the phophorus effectively. This will result in the formation of kidney stones or degeneration of kidney tissues, which can lead to kidney failure in the long run.

Other Diseases

Dogs can also develop kidney problem as a result of other diseases, such as diabetes, cancer, congenital and inherited disorders, and autoimmune diseases. As dogs with chronic kidney failure usually do not show symptoms until they have lost 75 percent of their kidney functions, it is often impossible to cure the disease at that stage. However, once diagnosed, at least we can slow down the progression of the disease with proper treatment and care.

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Symptoms of Dog Kidney Failure

Acute Kidney Failure:

dehydration*
walking with stiffed legs or reluctance to move
an arched back due to painful kidneys
little or no urine output

* To test for dehydration in dogs, gently pull the skin away from your dog's back. If the skin does not immediately spring back, the dog may be dehydrated.

Chronic Kidney Failure:

increased thirst
frequent urination with large quantities of pale urine
poor appetite
weight loss
nausea
constipation
lethargy
fatigue
bad breath
mouth ulcers (in later critical stage)

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Diagnosis of Chronic Dog Kidney Failure

Diagnosis of dog kidney failure involves a blood test and a urine test.

As the functions of the dog's kidneys deteriorate, excessive amounts of nitrogen, acids, ammonia, and other chemical wastes are retained in the dog's blood and tissues - a condition called uremia.

The degree of uremia is determined by a blood test that measures the blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, and electrolytes.

Dogs with chronic kidney failure have high BUN and creatinine levels. (Normal BUN and creatinine levels are about 10-25 mg/dl and 1-2 mg/dl, respectively.)

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Conventional Treatment of Chronic Dog Kidney Failure

One common treatment is subcutaneous fluid therapy. If your dog is suffering from chronic kidney disease, your veterinarian's office will most likely train you to do this at home.

Here is a video that shows you how to prepare a subcutaneous (SQ) fluids bag:

Dietary change is another crucial way to control kidney disease in dogs. Some studies suggest that a low-phosphorus diet supplemented by calcium can help slow the progression of kidney failure by reducing crystal and stone formation in the kidneys. Some veterinarians may suggest low-protein diets for dogs with chronic kidney failure as low protein diets generate fewer nitrogenous wastes. However, low-protein diets, if not carefully managed, can lead to malnutrition.

Instead of low-protein diets, many holistic vets suggest a diet with high-quality protein sources, such as eggs, cottage cheese, milk, and yogurt.

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Natural Remedies for Dog Kidney Failure

For more information on treating chronic dog kidney failure holistically with natural herbal and homeopathic remedies, please visit our page on Natural Remedies for Canine Kidney Failure.