Symptoms of Canine Kidney Disease

The symptoms of canine kidney disease may develop slowly or show up suddenly, depending on the cause. Causes can include poisoning, blood clots, severe dehydration, heat stroke, heart failure, kidney stones, genetic defects, cancer, parasites or a weakened immune system. While symptoms of canine kidney disease can indicate other health issues, if symptoms of kidney disease surface and persist in your dog for more than 48 hours, take your dog to a veterinarian for diagnosis.

  1. Water

    • The most common symptom of canine kidney disease is excessive drinking and increased frequency in urination. This occurs because the dog's body compensates for the lost efficiency in the kidneys by increasing blood flow to the kidneys in an attempt to improve the filtering process. This causes the dog to urinate more frequently, which causes the dog to become dehydrated due to fluid floss. In turn, the dog drinks more water. The urine may be diluted with little or no color or odor.

    Dehydration

    • Dogs with kidney disease may also become dehydrated. Signs of dehydration include lack of skin elasticity, sticky gums, sunken eyes, lethargy and a delay in capillary refill time. The capillary refill time is determined by pressing your finger against your dog's gum and seeing how long it takes for the gum to return to its normal color. If it takes more than a few seconds, there is a problem. To determine the elasticity of your dog's skin, gently pull up on the skin at the top of your dog's neck. If the skin doesn't go back into normal position within a couple seconds, the dog is dehydrated.

    Digestion Problems

    • Dogs with kidney disease will often exhibit digestive issues. These can include diarrhea and vomiting. Many dogs with canine kidney disease also exhibit symptoms of nausea. The primary sign of nausea in dogs is the dog repeatedly licking its nose.

    Fatigue and Pain

    • Dogs who are experiencing kidney disease will often have general fatigue and a marked decrease in energy levels. Dogs may also appear depressed, have muscle weakness and have no tolerance for exercise. Dogs may have a stiff gait and arching back. These are signs that the kidneys are hurting. Some dogs develop sudden blindness as blood pressure increases.

    Weight Loss

    • Dogs that are suffering from kidney disease will experience unexplained weight loss. The weight loss may be sudden and dramatic in some cases. Many dogs lose their appetite and eat significantly less, which along with digestive issues, contributes to weight loss.

    Oral Signs

    • Oral symptoms of canine kidney disease can include a discoloration of the dog's teeth. There may also be a chemical odor to the dog's breath. The dog may develop ulcers in the mouth and an examination of the dog's mucous membranes, such as the gums, will reveal paleness as a sign of anemia. Another symptom of anemia will be shivering.