The Ultimate Guide You Need to Know about Kidney Failure in Dogs 

Kidney failure, popularly regarded as renal failure, is one of the most common health conditions that will affect the overall well-being of your dog. Some specific diseases will affect the overall health as well as the functionality of your dog’s kidneys.

Keep in mind that the primary objective of healthy kidneys is to eliminate toxins from the body, maintain a proper balance of electrolytes, regulate the hydration level, and release the specific hormones that are extremely important at producing red blood cells.

Most kidney failure in dogs happens when the kidneys fail to perform the effectiveness properly. In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about kidney failure in dogs.

What Are the Different Types of Kidney Failures in Dogs?

This is one of the most important pieces of information you need to know about kidney failure in dogs. Keep in mind that there are two types of kidney failure in dogs. If you don’t determine which one is which, you won’t be able to implement preventative measurements.

Acute Renal Failure 

This is one of the most common types of kidney failure in dogs. When the overall functionality of the kidneys is decreased abruptly within a few hours or days, it will be considered an acute renal failure. Mostly, problems related to infections as well as toxins are the primary causes of this specific type of kidney failure.

Chronic Renal Failure

This is another type of kidney failure that you might witness in your dog. If the functionality of the kidney loses gradually over days, weeks, or months, the condition will be known as chronic renal failure. This specific kidney failure condition is more severe than the other one. When your dog starts aging, their body will also start degenerating. As a result, they will suffer from chronic renal failure. As the kidneys come with a limited lifespan, some of them might showcase signs of deterioration faster than others.

The most significant difference between chronic renal failure and acute renal failure is that the symptoms of acute renal failure can be reversed with the help of proper treatment. However, chronic renal failure will only be managed through medications.

Causes of Kidney Failure in Dogs

This is probably one of the most important pieces of information you need to know as a dog parent. Even though countless reasons can contribute to kidney failures for your dog, make sure you pay close attention to some specific ones. This is because some specific causes are more severe than others and they might cause other serious health issues than kidney failures. Kidney failure can be caused by a variety of factors. The most common causes of kidney failure in dogs include:

Dehydration

Dehydration can cause kidney failure in dogs. It can be caused by a lack of water intake, vomiting, diarrhea, or excessive urination. Dehydrated dogs may show signs of lethargy, dry mouth, and sunken eyes, and dehydration can lead to kidney failure if left untreated. As per Pet MD, sunken eyes is a symptom of severe dehydration.

Dental Disease 

The most common cause of kidney failure in dogs is dental disease. When bacteria start developing in teeth, it will affect the overall oral hygiene of your dog. They will cause advanced as well as complicated oral health problems. The bacteria will also take control of the bloodstream and attack important internal organs such as the kidney. They will also cause massive damage to the kidneys.

Infection

Infections like leptospirosis, pyelonephritis, and bladder infections can damage the kidneys and lead to kidney failure in dogs. Some infections can be prevented by vaccination and regular check-ups.

Toxicosis

When the kidneys of your dog have been poisoned, it will undoubtedly damage the internal cells of the kidney beyond imagination. This will happen when your dog eats some substances such as chocolate that are toxic to them.

Signs of Kidney Failure in Dogs 

This is perhaps the most important thing you need to know if you suspect that your dog is suffering from kidney failure. Make sure you pay close attention to the signs and symptoms of kidney failure in your dogs. This way you will be able to contact the vet and start medications as soon as possible before the situation goes out of your hand. Here are the most common signs of kidney failure in dogs:

• Weight loss
• Blood in urine
• Loss of appetite
• Decrease or increase in urine volume
• Pale gums
• Decrease or increase in water consumption
• Bad breath
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Loss of body balance
• Seizures
• Mouth ulcers
• Lethargy

If your dog is showcasing these specific symptoms, make sure you contact a vet as soon as possible. If you want to achieve good treatment as well as proper medications for your dog, you need to make sure you’re starting the treatment without causing any further delay.

What Are the Treatment Options for Kidney Failure in Dogs?

Just like other health conditions, the treatment of kidney failure for your dog will depend on their overall health condition, age, and the root causes of the kidney problems.

When your pet has developed symptoms of acute kidney failure, intensive as well as urgent treatment will be required at any animal hospital. However, you need to make sure you’re choosing a reputed hospital for your dog. If you spot the signs early, you will be able to treat the milder symptoms of acute kidney failure with the help of antibiotics, fluids, and medications.

When you need to treat chronic kidney failure for your dog, the vet will ask you to focus primarily on the slower growth of the disease as well as enhancing the overall lifestyle of your dog. Some specific symptoms of chronic kidney failure in your dog such as fluctuations in blood pressure, imbalances of the internal fluids, and nausea can be treated effectively with proper medications. You can also address these signs and symptoms by changing the overall diet structure of your dog.

When kidney failure is severe, you might need to consider dialysis. Keep in mind that blockage or stone in the kidney can also cause kidney failures. In such cases, you need to consider surgery for your dog.

Conclusion 

This is the ultimate guide you need to know about kidney failure in dogs. What are your thoughts? Make sure you let us know in the comment section below.