What Is Kidney Failure?
Kidney failure, also known as renal failure, happens when the kidneys are unable to work properly. It affects an estimated 25 percent of dogs and is not to be taken lightly.
What is the prognosis if my dog is diagnosed with kidney failure?
In acute cases, the prognosis often depends on the root cause of the kidney failure. Blood and urine tests are performed to evaluate kidney function. In acute cases, the prognosis is significantly better if azotemia, the buildup of toxins in the bloodstream, begins to resolve within the first forty-eight to seventy-two hours of therapy, although kidney regeneration and compensation may take several weeks or months. Dogs can live with chronic kidney failure for a long time, depending on how well therapy preserves their quality of life.
The kidneys have multiple tasks, including helping to regulate blood pressure, activating vitamin D, and producing erythropoiten, a hormone that stimulates red-blood cell production. The kidney's primary job is conserving water and filtering out waste and toxins.
Acute Kidney Failure
Acute kidney failure is a sudden loss of kidney function. Sometimes this is reversible — but not always. Acute renal failure can be the result of other diseases such as uncontrolled diabetes, leptospirosis, and cancer, as well as the result of these serious conditions:
Adverse effects to medications such as chemotherapeutics or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Antifreeze or rat poison ingestion
Circulatory disorders
Heart failure
Heavy metal poisoning
Kidney or bladder stones
Reaction to anesthetics
Reaction to blood transfusion
Reaction to vaccines
Shock
Chronic Renal Failure (CRF)
Chronic renal failure is an irreversible loss of function, and often veterinarians do not know what causes it. CRF can occur over months or years and comes on gradually. The most common form of kidney disease in dogs, it is the most common cause of death in dogs older than ten years of age. All dogs older than seven should have annual blood-work and urinalysis performed to watch for early indicators of renal insufficiency and other diseases. Early detection, the appropriate diet, supplements, and even fluid therapy can prevent or forestall the onset of kidney failure.
Unfortunately, if bloodwork isn't monitored, the signs may go unnoticed. By the time symptoms become apparent, kidney disease is far advanced. The signs of kidney insufficiency include:
Anemia
Appetite loss
Bad breath
Dehydration
Dull coat, hair loss, and heavy shedding
Excessive thirst and urination
High blood levels of metabolic waste
Lethargy and depression
Mouth and tongue ulcers
Vomiting and diarrhea
With chronic kidney disease, there's a shortage of healthy nephrons to adequately filter and reabsorb excess water back into the bloodstream. Dogs with this condition drink copious amounts of water just to maintain an adequate volume of fluids in the body, and produce large amounts of dilute urine.
