Advanced kidney disease, often called "chronic kidney failure," occurs in dogs when the kidneys no longer have the ability to cleanse the toxins from the blood and flush them out in urine. When the dog's kidneys have reached the advanced stage, large quantities of urine tend to be produced and passed as the body tries to cleans the toxins from the blood but is unable to filter them out.
-
Cause
-
Most cases of advanced kidney failure occur in older dogs. The canine's body begins to wear out because of age. Small dogs usually begin to exhibit symptoms of advanced kidney disease after age 10, but large breeds can begin to suffer from the ailment sooner because their life span tends to be shorter. The first symptoms will often begin to manifest in a large dog as early as 7 years of age.
Indications
-
The kidneys react to their inability to filter toxins adequately by demanding more liquid in order to better filter the blood. This demand on the dog's body causes the canine to drink large amounts of water. The dog appears to suffer from constant thirst. Despite the large quantity of water consumed and the added urine output, the kidneys are still unable to flush the toxins.
Clinical Signs
-
Each advancing stage is characterized by more symptoms. The dog will often begin to vomit, have bad breath and suffer from ongoing diarrhea as the body becomes more laden with toxins. A condition referred to as "uremia" develops when ulcers form in the dog's mouth.
Waste Products
-
As the kidney disease reaches advanced stages, the levels of blood creatinine and blood urea nitrogen rise dramatically. A veterinarian will evaluate the level by performing a blood test. The levels will be a strong indicator of how advanced the kidney disease is. With complete failure, the levels of these blood components will skyrocket.
Treatment
-
When kidney disease is advanced there is no cure, but several steps can be taken to buy the dog months or even years. Fluid therapy helps to clean the body of toxins with intravenous injections and helps balance out the electrolytes. The symptoms can be controlled using a variety of drugs that will help offer the dog comfort and restore its well-being. Fluids will continue to be given at home by the owner, and the dog will be placed on a special diet. Several prescription medications will be prescribed to regulate calcium and the parathyroid gland, and help stimulate the production of red blood cells in the bone marrow.
Long-Term Prognosis
-
Many dogs respond well to treatment. The dog's life is often extended up to four years. Treatment must remain ongoing because once it is stopped the body returns to its previous state and the kidneys again become overloaded because of their inability to filter out the blood toxins.
-