Kidney disease and failure in dogs can be caused by a wide range of conditions, from poisoning to cancer and dental disease to medication side effects. When managing chronic kidney disease, the proper levels of protein in the diet are important. A dog with kidney failure may eat earthworms for protein and other nutrients, but paradoxically, eating earthworms can also cause kidney failure in dogs.
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Types
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Kidney disease is either sudden-onset, acute renal failure (ARF) or progressive and chronic (CRF). Symptoms of either are similar, although in sudden-onset kidney failure the dog's behavior will change rapidly. Symptoms will manifest more slowly with CRF, and early warning signs are easy to miss. In both cases a blood panel to measure kidney function is the initial diagnostic tool used. A urinalysis is also helpful. Depending on the initial findings, more specific laboratory tests and X-ray or ultrasound imaging can give the clinician a more accurate picture and provide a road map for treatment plans.
Symptoms
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Common symptoms are excessive thirst and drinking, either frequent urinating or the inability to urinate, loss of appetite, sharp ammonia-like breath odor and depression. Any of these symptoms can indicate kidney failure and should be treated as an emergency. Until you get the dog to a veterinarian, it's very important not to restrict water, even if this means the dog becomes incontinent.
Dietary Requirements
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For many years it was incorrectly assumed that dogs in CRF needed a low-protein bland diet, and that since most dogs with impaired kidney function were older, the ideal diet for any senior dog should be low in protein. More recent studies have disproved this theory and it is generally understood that older dogs and those in kidney failure actually benefit from higher amounts of protein. What is more important to kidney health than protein levels is keeping dietary phosphorus levels low.
Earthworms as a Protein Source
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It makes sense for a dog with impaired kidney functioning to seek out high-protein food. Earthworms are very nutritious, even though most dog owners are uncomfortable with their dog eating worms and insects. According to research carried out by the Royal Society of Biological Sciences in 2003, earthworms are very high in protein and amino acids. They contain vital nutrients like calcium, iron and chromium, in addition to essential fatty acids. In short, earthworms are nutritionally equivalent--even superior--to high-protein foods like whole eggs and meat.
Risks
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Raw earthworms can sometimes harbor bacteria or microscopically small parasitic worms that can cause damage to organ tissues, including the kidneys. While most bacterial and parasitic infections are easily cured with antibiotics and wormers, the dog can be left with lasting kidney damage. Unless you plan on cooking earthworms for your dog, it is probably safer to find better sources of protein and discourage him from eating earthworms.
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