The kidneys in most mammals, including canines, are the organs that filter the blood of waste products and extra water. They regulate the volume of water, the minerals and the acidity of the body. The unwanted water and other materials are excreted as urine. The kidneys reabsorb water and other nutrients as needed. The filtering process is done by a micro unit in the kidneys called nephrons. The kidneys in a dog are located below the rib cage near the back end of the dog.
-
What Kidney Infections Do
-
An infection may cause kidney failure in a canine. A dog may have either acute or chronic kidney failure. Acute kidney failure can be treated and reversed; there is no cure for chronic kidney failure. A canine has many more nephrons than are needed to have the kidneys continue to function. This means there are often no early symptoms of kidney disease. Kidney infections attack the nephrons, and only after many have been destroyed do overt symptoms appear. By this time it is difficult to treat the problem. If it is left untreated, the dog will die.
Symptoms
-
Symptom 1: Trouble Urinating: There are many signs to alert you to kidney infection and disease. The first is if your dog is having trouble urinating. If on the dog̵7;s walk it squats or lifts a leg but cannot pass urine, this is an early sign of kidney problems.
Symptom II: Loss of Appetite: Loss of interest in food can indicate a kidney infection. Of course, like everyone, else there are times your dog does not have an appetite. So if you notice a prolonged loss of appetite, watch for other symptoms.
Symptom III: Disorientation: If your dog seems disoriented, this may be an early sign of kidney infection or disease. If an incorrect balance occurs in the brain, your dog may become disoriented. It is the kidneys that maintain this balance. Of course, unlike a human, you cannot question your dog about its odd behavior, but most pet owners are attuned to their dog̵7;s normal actions.
Symptom IV: Weight Loss: Weight loss can indicate problems with the kidneys. Once again, weight loss can be caused by many things, so you should be looking for other signs.
Symptom V: Blood in the Urine: Blood in the urine is a more serious symptom. This can be a warning of kidney infection or disease, or of a urinary tract infection.
Symptom VI: Pain in the Kidney Area: If when you pet your dog hard on his back near his tail area, he yelps or shows signs of pain, this may be due to an inflamed kidney. You can repeat this exercise again and try to ascertain that there is indeed pain in this area.
Symptom VII: Diarrhea: Diarrhea can be an indicator of kidneys failing. Extra toxins in the system can cause this problem.
Symptom VIII: Excessive Water Intake: Drinking a lot of water can be the animal's way of trying to compensate for problems urinating or simply trying to flush out his system. This can indicate that the filters (kidneys) are malfunctioning.
What do I do If these Symptoms Appear?
-
Since the kidneys continue to function quite well at the beginning of an infection or kidney disease, when symptoms do appear and are persistent you should take the dog to the veterinary for further tests. Even at this stage, treatment may not be able to reverse damage but only be able to control the problem.
-