Introduction
Kidney disease unfortunately is fairly common in dogs, particularly as they advance in age. While a number of things can cause or contribute to kidney disease, the clinical signs are often nonspecific. Early diagnosis and intervention may help curb further damage to the organs in acute cases. However, particularly in chronic cases, the kidneys are severely and irreversibly damaged by the time clinical signs appear.
Symptoms of Kidney Disease
The kidneys are responsible for filtering nitrogenous waste products from circulation and excreting them in urine, regulating the concentrations of hydrogen, sodium, potassium, phosphate and other components of bodily fluids and producing essential hormones. Once a significant portion of functional kidney tissue has been damaged, the dog becomes increasingly unable to filter and excrete waste products in urine, and they build up to toxic levels in the blood.
The most consistent and common signs of kidney disease are polyuria (markedly increased urination) and polydipsia (markedly increased water consumption). These signs are a result of the body’s attempt to flush toxic wastes out of circulation. As the kidneys progressively deteriorate, the urine becomes less concentrated and lighter in color. Other common signs of renal disease include depression, appetite loss, weight loss, lethargy, weakness, possible tooth discoloration, vomiting, diarrhea, oral ulcers, bad breath (halitosis), reluctance to exercise, pale gums, shivering, muscle wasting and abdominal discomfort.
Kidney disease cannot be cured, but it can be controlled with medication, diet and other supportive therapies that will help rid the body of waste build-up.