Dogs that are diagnosed with kidney disease can generally be lumped into one of two categories: acute or chronic. Acute kidney disease refers to the sudden onset of the disease such as what occurs when a dog ingests antifreeze. Chronic kidney disease refers to the process where the kidneys wear down over time. In both cases, the presence of higher than normal levels of BUN or blood urea nitrogen and creatinine in the blood are the main indicators of the disease.
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Physical Symptoms
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Symptoms of kidney disease in dogs includes increased thirst, decreased appetite, increased urination, weight loss, vomiting and lethargy. The hallmark symptoms or kidney disease in dogs is increased water consumption and urine production. It is usually these indicators that drive dog owners to the veterinarian for testing. Upon presentation, the veterinarian will utilize several tests to make his diagnosis including blood tests and urine tests.
Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)
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Blood tests that indicate a higher than normal level of BUN, or blood urea nitrogen, are used to indicate the possible presence of kidney disease in dogs. BUN measures how well the kidneys are doing when it comes to filtering the toxins out of the bloodstream. The presence of high concentrations of BUN in the blood can indicate the possibility that the kidneys are not functioning properly. However, this test cannot be used as the sole indicator for kidney disease as elevated BUN in the absence of symptoms or other elevated kidney enzymes in the blood may only indicate that the dog is dehydrated due to other causes.
Creatinine
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Elevated creatinine levels can also indicate the presence of kidney failure in dogs. This test measures the level of the kidney's ability to filter and eliminate the creatinine, which is produced by regular muscle catabolism, and is considered the standard indicator in detecting the presence of kidney disease in dogs. However, the presence of elevated creatinine levels in the blood may also indicate that the dog has been exposed to severe and prolonged exercise or has the beginnings of a pituitary disease.
Calcium
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Elevated levels of calcium in the blood, or hypercalcemia, can also be an indicator that the kidneys may not be working properly. However, there are many reasons why a dog may be experiencing hypercalcemia including: parahyperthyroidism, cancer and vitamin D toxicosis. Elevated levels of calcium in the blood is not enough to diagnose kidney failure in dogs and should be used along with other primary indicators such as elevated BUN and creatinine levels in order to make a diagnosis.
Urine Concentration
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Dogs that exhibit the hallmark symptoms and test positive for the presence of increased levels of BUN, creatinine and calcium in the blood will then have a final test performed that measures the specific gravity, or concentration, of their urine. Dogs that are in good health are extremely effective in conserving water and filtering and eliminating toxins from their blood. This is measured by the concentration of their urine. The more dilute the urine is, the less effective their kidneys are functioning. The presence of elevated blood chemistry indicators along with dilute urine and symptoms will usually confirm the presence of kidney failure in dogs.
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