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Kidney or renal failure occurs when a dog's kidney suddenly becomes unable to eliminate harmful wastes from the bloodstream and regulate fluids. Kidney failure can be acute (rapid) or chronic (developing over a period of time).
Acute Kidney Failure
Acute Renal Failure (ACF) is a potentially fatal condition that results from a sudden inability of kidneys to regulate the urine production and elimination of toxic wastes from the bloodstream. It can lead to high blood pressure, heart failure and death. If a cat or dog stops urinating, this is an extreme emergency that usually results in imminent death. In some cases, ARF can progress to CRF.
Chronic Kidney Failure
Chronic kidney failure occures when both kidneys gradually cease to function. Within the kidneys are numerous tiny structures (glomeruli) that filter waste products from the blood and retain larger substances, such as proteins. Waste products and excess water then accumulate in the bladder until excreted as urine. In chronic kidney failure the kidneys suffer progressive damage over a number of months or years [1].
Signs of Chronic Kidney Failure
Chronic Renal Failure (CRF) is a slowly progressing disease. The first signs are increased urination and increased thirst. As your dog ages and his kidneys become less efficient, his body compenssates by increasing blood flow to the kidneys trying to improve the filtering process. As a side effect, the dog produces more urine. At the same time, he becomes more dehydrated due to increased fluid loss in the urine. Thirsty, your dog begins to drink more and more water [2].
Signs of Acute Kidney Failure
The dog produces little or no urine, he doesn't want to drink any water, and becomes very lethargic. He may also vomit and develop diarrhea. If you notice these signs, bring your dog to the veterinarian immediately [2].
Many factors can cause acute and chronic kidney failure:
- Toxins. Antifreeze, pesticides, herbicides. In case of antifreeze ingestion, treatment needs to be given early in the disease to be effective. Inducing vomiting and flushing the stomach out can be very helpful if performed within 1-2 hours of ingestion of antifreeze, otherwise, the disease progresses very rapidly and if left untreated, results in death.
- Drugs. Blood pressure medication, aspirin and antinflammatory medications, anesthetics, anti-parasite drugs, antibiotics, and NSAIDs. Nephrotoxic (causing damage to kidneys) antibiotics may be the most common cause of acute kidney failure [6].
- Kidney tumors. (Lymphosarcoma and Adenocarcinoma being the most common in cats) and other types of tumors (Lymphoma - lymph nodes cancer, Osteosarcoma -bone cancer)
- Heart diseases that result in poor blood supply to the kidneys and poor blood flow. The inadequate blood flow leads to the toxins buildup in the bloodstream
- Dehydration
- Kidney stones. These may obstruct the urinary tract, impair the flow of urine, and cause damage to the kideys if not corrected.
- Parasites. These are transmitted by frogs, fish and earthworms. Infected dogs and cats can have blood in the urine, difficult urinating, or urinating small amounts. Some of these parasites, such as Dioctophyma renale, can be ingested by humans by eating raw fish and frogs and result in slow deterioration of the kidneys.
- Viral infections
- Infectious agents. These include Leptospira spp. which cause leptospirosis disease. Leptospira organisms can cause acute kidney failure [6].
- Bacteria. Some bacteria can cause ARF or CRF. Symptoms include fever, depression, lack of appetite, pain, excessive thirst and urination, and weight loss. In the chronic version sometimes there are no symptoms at all. They are treated with antibiotics for a minimum of 4 weeks, along with supportive care.
Some toxic chemicals can come from inside the dog's own body. For example, there could be a buildup of calcium or other substances due to a disease in another part of the body. In these cases, the effects on kidney function can last from 1 to 8 weeks, depending on the chemical(s) that caused the injury [5].
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Treatment of Acute Kidney Failure
Veterianarians treat acute kidney failure with intravenous fluid therapy or peritoneal dialysis to decrease the blood concentration of uremic poisons, antibiotics if needed for infectious causes, antidotes for poisoning, and surgical removal of any blockages or obstructions that may be causing the kidney failure [3]. Dialysis provides extended time for kidney repair but is fraught with complications. In animals that survive or maintained by dialysis, partial kidney recovery is expected within 3-6 weeks or longer [4]. Many dogs die despite intensive therapy. Those dogs that do recover are considered cured and usually do not have residual kidney damage [3].
Treatment of Chronic Kidney Failure
Chronic kidney failure is one of the most common cause of illness and death in older dogs. Most dogs with chronic kidney failure are older than 10 years old. The chances of a dog getting it increase as the dog ages. In fact, most older dogs have some changes in kidney enzymes on blood tests. When caught early, the proper diet, supplements, and sometimes fluid therapy can delay and may even prevent kidney disease from becoming kidney failure. Some holistic doctors have noticed that since pet owners began feeding processed pet food, more dogs are getting kidney disease [3].
Topics to Explore
References:
1. The Johns Hopkins Complete Home Guide to Symptoms & Remedies. Simeon Margolis, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
2. Your Older Dog: A Complete Guide to Helping Your Dog Live a Longer and Healthier Life. Jean Callahan, Ann Marie Manning
3. 8 Weeks to a Healthy Dog. Shawn Messonnier
4. Veterinary emergency medicine secrets. Wayne E. Wingfield
5. The Merck/Merial manual for pet health. Cynthia M. Kahn, Scott Line
6. Clinical biochemistry of domestic animals. Jiro J. Kaneko, John W. Harvey, Michael Bruss
Go Pets America recommends seeking the advice of your local veterinarian for the most appropriate vaccination program and for the diagnosis and treatment of your pet's health problems. For vaccination requirements please contact your state and local licensing authorities.
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