Dogs and Kidney Disease
On April 29, 2010 in Recreation
Kidney Failure In Dogs is a common and serious condition that can affect many dogs. It is probably one of the leading causes of death in older dogs. There are two forms in which the disease can manifest itself, acute or chronic. The acute form can happen so quickly and suddenly, while the chronic form begins slowly and progresses over time. Sadly for the owner, news of either form of disease is upsetting.
Kidneys are an important organ for the body - human or canine. They are responsible for ridding the body of toxins by filtration. Kidney disease causes the kidneys to function at only about thirty percent of their capacity. If the kidneys stop working, the toxins accumulate in the blood and get deposited in other organs. Subsequently, the dog dies.
Kidney failure in dogs stops the ability of the body to function properly. Toxins begin to build up in their bodies and once this starts, a number of symptoms and warning signs will more than likely become apparent. These two chronic diseases show different symptoms, the acute form can appear more suddenly. Often, dogs suffering from this type of kidney disease will possibly have become dehydrated. For the owner to test for hydration, gently pull on the skin of your dog’s stomach. This should spring back. If it doesn’t, there may be a possibility that your dog is dehydrated.
Your dog may have noticeable trouble passing urine or produce no urine as all. Your pet may be a victim of acute kidney disease if they have this warning sign. You may see your animal moving with an arched back or stiff legs and your dog can have extreme pain in the kidneys. Any dog owner should be sure to watch for these signs of kidney disease.
In the case of chronic dog kidney disease, the symptoms are different and they occur over a period of time. The first indicator is an increase in thirst and consequently water consumption. This is a constant indicator of the disease. The dog might lose his or her desire to eat resulting in excessive weight loss over time. Contrary to the acute dog kidney disease, in the chronic version, the canine loses control over its bladder function. As a result, it urinates very frequently. As time passes, the process of urinating will cause extreme discomfort and become very painful. It is possible that there might even be blood in the urine or it may become impossible for the dog to urinate completely.
The treatment that a vet will start, for this very serious ailment, is typically four staged. The first step is to carry out a physical check up to eliminate other reasons for the symptoms. Next is the verification from the owner regarding the history and symptoms of this disorder. Then there will be tests - a blood test and finally a urine test to confirm the prognosis.