What do my dog’s kidneys do?
The kidneys have many functions. They principally act to remove waste products from the blood stream, regulate the levels of certain essential minerals such potassium and sodium, conserve water, and produce urine.
What is chronic renal failure? Is it the same as chronic kidney disease?
Many people think that ‘chronic kidney failure’ or ‘chronic renal failure’ means that the kidneys have stopped working and are not making urine. This is not the case. By definition, chronic renal failure (CRF), or chronic kidney disease (CKD) is the inability of the kidneys to efficiently filter the blood of waste products, not the inability to produce urine. Ironically, most dogs in kidney failure produce large quantities of urine, but the bodys toxic wastes are not being effectively eliminated.
Symptoms of Renal Disease & Renal Failure in Dogs
As noted above, chronic kidney disease is kidney disease that has been present for months or years. Signs of chronic disease in dogs can vary from subtle and slowly progressive to severe. They may sometimes appear suddenly and commonly include:
By the time a dog experiences renal failure, the disease has advanced and you may notice such signs as:
By the time a dog experiences renal failure, the disease has advanced and you may notice Your vet can examine your dog to determine whether kidney issues or other problems such as diabetes mellitus are causing the symptoms. Factors to be considered may include the type of renal failure your dog may be experiencing, the extend of loss of function in the kidneys, progression of the condition and its underlying causes.
How to Treat Nausea in Dogs With Kidney Failure
If you have a dog who has kidney disease, you have probably been told that your pet may still live a long and happy life.
It can be scary at first, knowing that you can no longer casually feed your dog table scraps (OK, not a good idea, even with a healthy dog), and that you need to really think about his diet in a way that perhaps you hadnt before. But if youre unnerved, it may be because you havent yet fallen into a routine. Feeding a dog with kidney disease isnt always hard, but you and your pet may need to make some lifestyle changes.