As a dog ages, its body begins to shut down, much like a human's body. Organs may not work as well as they used to, and the dog begins to show signs of diseases and illnesses that will eventually take its life. Chronic kidney failure is one such disease that many dogs suffer from as they get older.
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Identification
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A dog's kidneys will not be able function properly and remove waste products from the blood when chronic kidney failure sets in. The body then automatically sends more blood to the kidneys to try to increase filtration, and this process creates more urine. A dog with kidney failure will therefore drink more water to keep from becoming dehydrated. The two main identifications of chronic kidney failure are an increase in thirst and urination.
Significance
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Older dogs are more prone to chronic kidney failure because it is considered a result of aging. The size of the dog may be a factor as to when it shows signs of kidney failure. Most smaller dogs won't experience kidney failure until 10 to 14 years of age while larger dogs naturally have shorter life spans, and will therefore show earlier signs of chronic kidney failure.
Signs
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In addition to increased water consumption and urination, there are other signs that indicate a dog is suffering from chronic kidney failure. These include a decrease in appetite, depression, vomiting, diarrhea and bad breath. Ulcers may also appear around the mouth, although this is not a common symptom. The condition is called uremia once these symptoms appear.
Diagnosis
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Chronic kidney failure is diagnosed by measuring blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and blood creatinine, two waste products of which functioning kidneys dispose. A urinalysis is also required for a diagnosis. An indication that the dog may have chronic kidney failure is if the levels of BUN and blood creatinine are too high.
Treatment
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There are two phases of treatment for chronic kidney failure. The first involves trying to restart the kidneys by flushing them with liquids, a process called diuresis. A proper diet and drug regimen will also likely be a part of this phase to control a dog's nausea and diarrhea. The second phase of treatment, which depends on the success of the first phase, involves keeping the dog on a healthy diet, removing extra phosphate in the blood that resulted from the filtration process, continuing to administer fluids at home, as well as administering drugs to regulate calcium levels and increase red blood cells.
Prognosis
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A dog's quality and length of life depend greatly on the success of the initial treatment phase as well as the follow up treatment. According to Pawprints & Purrs, Inc., treatment allows a dog with chronic kidney failure to live up to four more years comfortably.
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