Renal Failure in Dogs - What Pet Parents Should Watch For

Renal failure in dogs is a serious condition requiring immediate veterinary care. In today's post, we explain the types of renal failure seen in dogs as well as the most common symptoms of renal disease and how it is treated.

Renal Disease in Dogs

Healthy kidneys work to eliminate toxins in your dog's body as well as regulate hydration, maintain a normal electrolyte balance and release hormones to produce red blood cells. If your pup is suffering from renal failure that means their kidneys have stopped functioning as they should, and your dog's overall health will begin to decline rapidly.

Types of Renal Failure Seen in Dogs

There are two broad categories of renal failure seen in dogs:

Chronic Renal Failure

A gradual loss of kidney function (over weeks, months, or years), is referred to as chronic renal failure. Chronic kidney failure in dogs is typically caused by degeneration associated with aging. While every dog's kidneys have a lifespan, some dogs experience deterioration faster than others. While it is unlikely that your pet will fully recover from chronic renal failure, this condition can often be managed successfully for several months or years.

Acute Renal Failure

If your dog's kidney function suddenly decreases (within hours or days), it is known as acute renal failure. Typically this form of kidney failure is caused by an infection or exposure to toxins. When diagnosed and treated early this form of kidney failure can often be cured.

Causes of Renal in Dogs

In dogs, renal failure can be caused by any number of conditions that impact the kidneys and related organs including:

• Congenital disease - This category includes underlying illnesses and hereditary conditions such as agenesis (being born without one or both kidneys) and cysts.
• Bacterial infections - If your dog swims or drinks in contaminated water, bacterial infections such as leptospirosis can attack their system, causing the kidneys to become inflamed and renal cells to die off.
• Toxicosis - The ingestion of poisons or toxins can lead to cell damage within the dog's kidneys.
• Dental disease - If bacteria builds up on the teeth and gums it may lead to advanced dental disease. At that point bacteria can make their way into the bloodstream and attack multiple organs, causing irreversible damage to the kidneys as well as the dog's heart and liver.
• Geriatric degeneration - As your dog ages, cells can break down and die. This happens all over the body, including the kidneys where it can lead to kidney disease and renal failure.

Symptoms of Renal Failure

When it comes to treating renal failure, a fast and accurate diagnosis is essential for achieving good health outcomes. If your dog is displaying any of the symptoms below make an appointment to see your vet straight away or visit your nearest emergency veterinary hospital for urgent care. Some of the most common signs of renal disease in dogs include the following:

When diagnosing whether your dog's symptoms are related to kidney failure or another disease such as diabetes mellitus, your veterinarian will consider the extent of your dog's loss of kidney function, the progression of the condition, and the severity of your dog's symptoms.

Treatment for Dogs with Renal Failure

The treatment used for your dog's renal disease will be determined by your pup's overall health and the underlying cause of their kidney failure.

Dogs suffering from acute renal failure will require urgent and intensive treatment, typically in intensive care at your animal hospital.

When diagnosed in the earliest stages, milder cases of acute renal failure may be treated with fluids, antibiotics, and medications on an outpatient basis. While dialysis can be costly it is often used as an effective treatment for acute renal failure in dogs.

Treatment for dogs diagnosed with chronic renal failure will focus primarily on slowing the progression of the disease and looking at ways to improve your pup's quality of life. Symptoms of chronic kidney disease including nausea, fluid imbalances, and blood pressure fluctuations may be treated with medications and/or changes to your dog's diet.

If your dog's chronic renal failure can be managed successfully you can expect your pooch to enjoy a good quality of life for several months or years (sometimes for as long as four years). The management of chronic renal failure in dogs may include providing specific nutrients, nutritional supplements, or a prescription diet.

Preventing Renal Failure in Dogs

Acute renal failure often develops when dogs consume toxic substances or foods they shouldn’t ingest, such as grapes or chocolate. To help prevent your pooch from developing acute renal failure, pay particular attention to the products in your home that are potentially poisonous to your dog. Keep toxic substances, such as antifreeze, medications, and potentially harmful foods well out of your pup's reach.

Chronic renal failure is often age-related and predetermined by genetics, making it more challenging to prevent. That said, regular wellness exams twice yearly at your primary care veterinarian's office will help to increase the chances of detecting symptoms early so that treatment can begin before the condition becomes more severe.

If your dog is showing signs of acute renal failure urgent emergency care is required! Contact a veterinarian near you immediately if you think your dog may be suffering from kidney issues.