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Chronic kidney disease or chronic renal failure is one of the
most severe diseases that affects our furry four-legged friends,
and the main problem is that symptoms are often hard to detect.
Renal failure is responsible for the deaths of numerous cats and
dogs across the globe, and it can often be hard for pet owners to
determine if their pet needs to undergo a kidney test. Renal
failure is particularly common in senior pets so you need to
extra vigilant if you have a senior cat or dog.
Your pet is drinking and urinating excessively
Excess water consumptions and urination is a surefire sign that
is something is wrong with your pet's kidneys. Don't ignore it if
you find yourself filling the water bowl on a more regular basis
as this period will eventually lead to a phase of weight loss and
food pickiness if kidney disease is the issue. If you notice your
pet drinking more water and urinating more for at least a week,
you should definitlely take it to the vet for a kidney
examination.
High blood pressure is a reality
Hyperthyroidism typically precedes the onset of kidney disease in
pets, and the diseases are often known to occur concurrently.
High blood pressure normally precedes the onset of both of these
diseases, and if your kitty or dog is suffering from high blood
pressure, you should definitely get a kidney test done. The issue
is that most pet owners are unable to detect high blood pressure
and the best way to keep an eye out for this is to visit the vet
regularly.
Your pet is eating less
Reduced food consumption and accompanying weight loss is a sign
that something is wrong even if that something is not kidney
failure. When your pet starts eating lesser, the pet's coat will
also reduce in shine and its luster will reduce. During this
phase, the pet is also likely to play less, sleep more, and
become far more lethargic. You should definitely rush your pet to
the vet in case any of these symptoms are displayed for more than
a week or two.
The pet has trouble urinating
If your pet is pooping a lot more, cries out while urinating, or
struggles to urinate at all, it is a definite sign that something
is up with the pet. More often than not, it is more likely to be
a sign of urinary tract disease but it could also be a possible
symptom on renal failure. If your cat or dog cries out while
pooping, you should rush your pet to the vet immediately as it
could be a symptom of a much larger problem.
This Is What Actually Happens To Your Dogโs Body When Diagnosed
With Kidney Failure
Kidney failure is a rather common disease among dogs, especially
among older dogs. In fact, nine in every thousand dogs examined
are diagnosed with it. If your beloved pooch is suffering from
this debilitating disease, or you suspect that he/she is
developing it, it helps to know what is really happening to them.
What causes kidney failure in
dogs?
Kidney failure in dogs can have various causes. These include
urinary blockage, where either the urinary tract or uterus is
obstructed; kidney disease; certain prescription medication they
have taken, or it may be hereditary. It could even be a side
effect of other diseases like lymphoma and diabetes mellitus.
How does my dog feel when
diagnosed with kidney failure?
Your dog will show certain symptoms if he/she is developing
kidney failure. Some of these symptoms may include increased
thirst and urination, or even lack of urination, mouth ulcers,
bad breath, blood in urine, poor coat condition, constipation,
vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy, weight loss, depression, lack of
appetite, and seizures and comas.The symptoms listed above will
not occur in every dog. They may vary depending on the breed of
your dog, which stage of the disease they are on and many other
factors.
Two types of kidney
failure
Kidney failure in dogs is of two different types โ chronic and
acute. It is important to be able to distinguish between the two
so your dog can receive appropriate treatments.
-
Chronic kidney
failure: Chronic kidney failure takes time to
develop. It builds up over the years, or maybe months, that by
the time symptoms show, the disease would have already
progressed.Some breeds have a predisposition to develop this
disease, like the German Shepherd, Bull Terrier, Samoyed, Cairn
Terrier and English Cocker Spaniel. This does not mean that all
dogs under these breeds will one day suffer from chronic kidney
failure. It just means they have higher chances than other
dogs.Even though chronic kidney failure cannot be cured, its
progression can be slowed down if effective treatment is taken
on time.
-
Acute kidney
failure: Contrary to chronic kidney failure, acute
kidney failure appears suddenly as a response to something that
happened to your dog, like what he/she ate, or did.Mostly, your
dog will recover depending on the extent of damage done, the
underlying cause, and the immediacy and effectiveness of
treatment received. Your dog will have to be hospitalized for
some days or weeks in intensive care.One way you can tell if
your dog is making any progress is by checking his/her urine
output. If urination falls under a healthy amount and
frequency, it means your dog is recovering well. If it has low
to no output at all, chances of recovery are low.