Dog Kidney Disease
Kidney Disease in Dogs Guide: Here you'll find in-depth information on kidney disease in dogs including its causes, symptoms, and treatments.
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Renal disease is a general term for the dysfunction, impairment or failure of one or both kidneys. The kidneys are responsible for filtering nitrogenous and other waste products from circulation and excreting them in urine. The kidneys also produce a number of essential hormones and help regulate the concentrations of hydrogen, sodium, potassium, phosphate and other substances in bodily fluids. The kidneys are involved calcium metabolism, phosphorus production, blood pressure regulation and circulating red blood
Kidney disease or damage can be caused by a host of factors, including infection, drugs, or other chemical toxins, trauma, advanced age and even congenital kidney conditions. An annual blood screening test can help identify kidney problems as early as possible so that owners and veterinarians can do their best to manage progression of the disease.One of the most troubling aspects of chronic kidney disease is that affected animals usually do not show clinical signs
Kidney disease is fairly common in domestic dogs, particularly as they advance in age. While a number of things can contribute to kidney disease, the symptoms tend to be nonspecific. Early diagnosis and intervention may help curb progressive kidney damage in acute cases. However, especially in chronic cases, one or both kidneys usually are severely and irreparably damaged by the time observable signs appear.The symptoms of kidney disease result from the body’s attempt to compensate
Kidney disorders in dogs can occur for a variety of different reasons, and they can affect dogs in a number of different ways. Kidney diseases tend to be categorized into those that occur acutely and those that are more chronic in nature.Chronic renal disorders, often called chronic renal failure (CRF), results from long-term insult to the kidneys which, over time, damages their ability to adequately concentrate urine and remove nitrogenous wastes from circulation. Chronic kidney
Kidney disease in dogs can be reliably diagnosed through blood and urine tests. In some cases, ultrasonography is also used to assess the extent of the disease.Simple blood and urine tests are available to diagnose most cases of kidney dysfunction. The common blood tests are a complete blood count (CBC) and a serum biochemical profile. Dogs with kidney disease have elevated levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, phosphorus, potassium and other electrolytes, caused by
The damage caused by acute kidney disease can often be treated and even reversed. Unfortunately, chronic kidney disease is incurable. The goals of treating kidney disease focus on improving the dog’s quality of life, by relieving the symptoms of uremia and delaying the progression of renal failure.Dogs with acute renal disease normally require hospitalization and prompt administration of intravenous fluids at carefully managed, above-maintenance levels, to restore hydration and promote urination. An indwelling urinary catheter