Treatment of renal failure in dogs. Kidney disease in dogs - symptoms and treatment of kidney failure

Kidney failure in dogs is enough serious illness. And if your dog suffers from a similar disease, then you need to be well aware of this ailment in order to help your pet heal and continue a full life.

Symptoms of Kidney Disease in Dogs

Enough serious illness is renal failure. The kidneys do not completely remove from the pet's body those substances that poison it. Phosphorus, calcium, vitamin D3 are poorly absorbed and the acid-base balance is disturbed throughout the body.

A number of infections and toxic substances cause kidney disease. The disease develops due to previous diseases, all kinds of injuries, and even because of low-quality products. This disease can be transmitted genetically. Age changes can also lead to kidney failure. The concept itself means a disease not only of the kidneys themselves, but also of the adrenal glands too.

Certain symptoms indicate that your pet is suffering from kidney failure. Attention should be paid if

The dog constantly drinks and suffers from endless thirst. During the day, the animal, having healthy kidneys, drinks up to fifty milliliters of fluid throughout the day. This is based on one kilogram of weight. In case of renal insufficiency, the dose of water consumed is increased to one hundred milliliters.
Urine excreted by a dog, with a disease of renal failure, increases significantly in quantity. A dog can go to the toilet six to eight times a day. Over time, the kidneys no longer produce the required amount of urine. As a result, she doesn't stand out at all.
Decreased appetite - may not be accidental. This is one of the most severe symptoms this disease. At the beginning, the animal begins to sort out food. Then he does not eat even what is offered to him. Loses weight rapidly. As a result, the dog generally refuses to eat.
Your friend has stopped frolicking. He doesn't care. He became lethargic, sleeps a lot or just lies. This condition of the animal may indicate that the dog is developing kidney failure.
Vomiting is also one of the symptoms of this disease. At the onset of the disease, vomiting is rare. But over time, they become more frequent. Such a phenomenon can occur after each meal or just drinking water. The pulse quickens.
Edema appears.
The mouth becomes inflamed and ulcers appear.
Vision drops sharply.
Alternating indigestion and constipation.

Acute renal failure in dogs

acute form this disease has distinguishing feature: it develops extremely fast. It is necessary to contact a specialist in time so that he makes the correct diagnosis. Under this condition, it is possible to cure this disease, as far as possible in each case, although this will require sufficient time. The difficulty lies in the fact that the acute form is quite rare. There are a number of factors that lead to the appearance of the disease.

So nephrosis or nephritis entails the complete destruction of kidney tissue.
Worms and the toxins they release lead to kidney disease. Diversity infectious diseases in dogs, it is quite common to cause acute renal failure.
There are a number congenital diseases under which the kidneys do not cope with their immediate duties.
It is possible that poisoning also causes this disease.
A cyst in a dog interferes with the work of the kidneys. But after its removal, the body is restored completely.
The tumor can provoke the appearance of the disease.
One factor may be sand or a kidney stone.

The kidneys begin to work poorly if

OPN is divided into the following groups:

Prerenal.

At the same time, the pressure drops sharply. This is possible if there is not enough fluid in the body or during heat stroke.

Renal.

In the kidneys, tissues and cells are damaged. It can be caused by pyelonephritis, drug poisoning.

Postrenal.

In this case, the ureter is compressed, and possibly clogged. This means the presence of stones in the kidneys and ureters. OPN, if it is already secondary, becomes incurable.

Chronic kidney failure in dogs

Distinguish between acute and chronic renal failure in dogs. The acute form of renal failure is very fast in its development. And if you seek help from a specialist in time, who will quickly and correctly establish the diagnosis, you can help your pet. Chronic renal failure often occurs in dogs,

who have lived for six years or more. But not only age can serve as the onset of the disease.
It could be genetic heritage.
And also OPN, formed much earlier.

The whole trouble is that the onset of kidney failure in a dog is not noticed by the owner of the dog for the simple reason that the disease does not have pronounced symptoms. And, therefore, no one is much alarmed. The first signs of CKD are:

Bad appetite
Weakness.
The results of analyzes and certain tests indicate the presence of the disease.
Increased thirst.

At the first stage of the disease, the dog remains active, frisky. The kidneys still cope with their functions and manage to purify the blood. This is facilitated by a large amount of urine. Further, the kidneys no longer cope with their duties and this entails a deterioration in the health of the animal. Clearly becomes noticeable:

Weight loss,
Endurance.
The activity of the animal is lost.
The dog drinks a lot.
The excretion of urine becomes less and less every time. And there are false positives.
The fur becomes dull.
Saliva is viscous. Dehydration occurs.
The temperature drops to thirty-seven degrees.
There is bradycardia. The pulse rate is less than sixty beats per minute.
The smell of ammonia comes from the dog's mouth.
Periodically there are vomiting or vomiting. At the same time, undigested food is visible.
Swelling of the extremities is quite common. Although this does not always happen.
The kidneys gradually decrease in chronic renal failure.

To the owner four-legged friend with such symptoms, you just need to go to a specialist. After all, the pet urgently needs help.

Treating a disease in a dog

Renal failure in dogs early stage it is rather difficult to determine, because the kidneys are a paired organ. If one of the kidneys becomes ill, then the healthier kidney takes over its function for some time. And the body continues to work without any deviations.

Therefore, before proceeding with the treatment of kidney failure in a dog, the doctor will definitely prescribe a number of tests and examinations. In this case, the veterinarian will ask the owner about the living conditions of the dog, its usual behavior. And also to clarify what has changed in the behavior of the animal for recent times. Tests performed, x-rays, ultrasound procedure allow you to fully reveal the picture of the pet's disease. Based on this, the doctor makes an appointment.

Such a diagnosis requires inpatient treatment. For therapeutic treatment with acute renal failure and with chronic renal failure, the same drugs are used. In the treatment of acute renal failure, the cause that led to the attack is eliminated. And in chronic renal failure, the goal is to maintain vitality pet. With such a disease, the animal experiences severe intoxication. First of all, it must be eliminated.

Intravenously, the animal is injected with a buffer composition, glucose, a physical solution in the form of droppers.
In addition, the liver and heart are supported by certain drugs.
Blood transfusion, if necessary, can sometimes also support the life of a pet.
Application " artificial kidney' is also possible. But this will require very high costs.
To improve general state pet and improve digestion, you need to take vitamins and probiotics.
In addition, the doctor prescribes drugs to the caudate patient that can lower blood pressure, and pills or injections are also needed to calm the nervous system.
To maintain health, a diet for dogs with kidney failure is very important.

It should be noted that the life expectancy of a pet depends on the stage of the disease, its type, as well as the conditions in which the animal is located.

What to feed a dog with such a deficiency

One of the conditions for the treatment of acute renal failure and chronic renal failure, as well as your desire to prolong the life of a pet, is nutrition. Properly selected and balanced selection of products will enable the four-legged friend to live a full and joyful life again. To do this, again, you need to listen to the opinion and advice of a specialist. At the same time, you can cook your own meals for your pet. And you can use special food for this purpose, buying it in specialized stores or veterinary pharmacies.

When choosing food for dogs with kidney failure, certain requirements must be met. But the most important requirement in cooking is a strict restriction of salt intake. It is salt that is the main enemy for those suffering from kidney failure. And if the pet is dear to the owner, then he will carefully adhere to this rule.

But fats in food should be in sufficient quantities. They are necessary to restore the vitality of your pet. Eggs should be included in the dog's diet butter, yogurt, which has a high percentage of fat content. But don't use it for cooking. vegetable oil. When preparing meals at home, it must be remembered that fats should be introduced gradually and in small portions so as not to upset the work of the stomach and intestines.

Protein foods can not be completely excluded from the diet. But it still needs to be limited. You can give your pet two proteins and only one yolk for food. You can include in your diet eggshell. Just before serving, it must be finely chopped. This use of the shell will allow the absorption of phosphorus. For half a kilogram of any cooked food, you need only one gram of crushed eggshell.

Consumption of dairy products

With some caution and in small quantities, it is necessary to introduce milk and products containing milk, bones. The amount of foods that contain phosphorus directly depends on the severity of the disease. How harder degree disease, the less phosphorus should be in the diet of the animal.

Carbohydrates that have low quantity phosphorus should also be used when feeding a dog suffering from kidney failure. You can cook dishes using semolina and rice, as well as white potatoes.

Another very important factor in dietary nutrition - this is water. Tap water should never be used for cooking, especially for an animal suffering from kidney failure. Therefore, water is taken for culinary products and just for drinking, only filtered.

If your pet does not want to eat, then it is better to cook for him those dishes that he likes. Treat your pet with tasty treats. As the dog recovers, he will eat whatever is offered to him.

There are special dry food for dogs () suffering from kidney diseases. And their range is quite diverse. But before you buy such food, you need to make sure it suits your pet.

It is worth knowing that transferring a dog to a normal diet is possible only after certain treatment and tests, with the permission of a doctor. This is possible if a four-legged friend is diagnosed with acute renal failure. With chronic renal failure diet food is always observed and cannot be abandoned. If dogs suffered from kidney failure in the old days old age, now PN has become younger. And many more favorites young age suffer from this disease. Take care and love your pets.

The complex excretory function of the kidneys classifies almost any pathology of the paired organ as a severe and life-threatening pet. The impossibility or difficulty of removing toxic substances from the blood of the body leads to self-poisoning. Renal failure is not a single developing disease but a range of symptoms. In veterinary practice, acute and chronic form ailment.

Read in this article

Causes of kidney failure

Renal failure in dogs has multiple etiologies. Veterinary specialists, based on many years of therapeutic practice, identify the following main causes of renal pathology:

According to the observation of veterinary specialists, representatives of such breeds as Bull Terrier, Cocker Spaniel, Shih Tzu, Doberman Pinscher, have a tendency to hereditary nephropathology. German Shepherd, Golden retriever, pinscher.

There is also an age-related dynamics of pathology. In dogs older than 8 years, renal failure develops 2 times more often than in young pets under 1 year old.

Stages of the course of the disease

In veterinary practice, renal failure syndrome develops in the following stages:

Latent. In this phase of explicit clinical signs the owner is usually not watching. In rare cases, it is found general weakness, increased fatigue, lethargy. Clinical researches urine and blood drawn during this phase can reveal characteristic changes parameters for the underlying pathology.
Phase of compensated insufficiency. The stage is characterized clinical manifestation problems with the excretory system. The owner observes increased thirst in the dog and frequent urination. By this time, 50-55% of nephrons have died. The level of urea in the blood can reach 20 mmol / l, the creatinine index - 200 μmol / l.
Stage of decompensated insufficiency. The number of disabled structural and functional units of the kidneys reaches 80%. The animal has not only problems with urination, but also general symptoms: loss of appetite, vomiting, constipation, weight loss. In blood tests, a persistent increase in urea and creatinine is recorded, which indicates a serious violation of protein metabolism in the body.
Terminal. At this stage, the ability of nephrons to filter blood is reduced to a minimum. The coefficient of kidney function is reduced to 15%, that is, the death of nephrons is 85%. In the blood, the electrolyte balance is sharply disturbed, uremic intoxication develops. The animal shows damage to the respiratory, cardiovascular and nervous systems. Pathological processes at this stage of nephropathology are irreversible.

With timely handling of the owner and competent complex treatment the animal manages to fully restore the filtering ability of the kidneys. terminal stage usually ends with the death of the pet.

Acute and chronic forms

Acute renal failure is lightning-fast development and is observed, as a rule, immediately after the cure of the primary disease. With a timely diagnosis and complex therapy, the pathological process in acute course is reversible and is accompanied by the restoration of the filtering ability of nephrons.

Specialists encounter the chronic form of the disease in veterinary practice more often than the acute manifestation of pathology. As a rule, at the time of manifestation clinical picture most of the nephrons are removed from functional state and it is not possible to recover them.

Symptoms in dogs

The manifestation of clinical signs of impaired excretory function in a pet becomes apparent only at the stage of compensated insufficiency. Until this phase, the disease can be suspected only by the results of a clinical examination of the blood.

Veterinary experts note that not always the symptoms of the disease have characteristics which complicates timely diagnosis. The owner should pay attention to the following symptoms with a four-legged friend:

Decreased appetite. The dog is reluctant to approach the bowl, picky. The amount of food eaten is reduced.
Increased. A sick animal drinks a lot and often.
The owner notes frequent urination in the pet. In the initial stage of the disease, portions of urine are normal. With the development of pathology, there is a decrease in the amount of separated urine, up to total absence urination. In some cases, the owner finds puddles of urine on the floor.
Depressed, lethargic, apathetic state. The dog often lies, spends a lot of time half asleep. Reluctantly goes for a walk, does not take part in games. The dog has muscle weakness. The animal stoops, moves reluctantly.

Nausea, frequent vomiting.
Visible mucous membranes are anemic.
In a sick animal, edema is observed in the dewlap, fore and hind limbs, in the abdomen.
Signs of dehydration: dry skin, dull coat, viscous saliva, retraction of the eyeball.
Violation of nitrogen metabolism leads to an unpleasant ammonia odor from the oral cavity.
In some cases, dogs have a digestive disorder in the form of diarrhea.
Body temperature, as a rule, is slightly lowered. The dog has an irregular heartbeat.

Diagnostic methods

Taking anamnesis allows the veterinarian to suspect the development of kidney failure after suffering an infectious or non-contagious disease of the excretory system. During a clinical examination, edema, dehydration, signs of heart failure can be detected. An important diagnostic component is a laboratory analysis of blood and urine.

An increase in urea and creatinine indicates a serious violation of the filtering ability of nephrons and a violation of nitrogen metabolism in the pet's body.

Normally, the urea in dogs is 3.5 - 9.2 mmol / l, and the concentration of creatinine is 26 - 120 μmol / l. With moderate renal insufficiency, the urea index in the blood of a sick animal reaches 28 mmol / l, and in the terminal phase - 50 and above.

The concentration of creatinine in the stage of compensated insufficiency rises to 400 µmol/l, in the terminal - 600 µmol/l. Such high values indicate a complete cessation of the filtration function of the kidneys, poisoning of the body with nitrogenous metabolic products and mean fatal outcome for pet.

In addition to indicators of protein metabolism, the mineral also changes in the blood. In the chronic form of the disease, an increase in the concentration of phosphorus in the blood is observed, while the content of calcium falls. Low values of hemocrit during the disease indicate a violation of the process of erythropoiesis in the body of a sick dog. Protein and sugar are found in the urine.

Ultrasound diagnosis allows you to assess the size of the kidneys. As a rule, in the case of the development of an acute form of the disease, during the examination, the doctor detects an increase in the organ, and with the development chronic insufficiency kidneys are reduced in size. Postrenal pathologies, for example, can be detected in x-ray examination.

ultrasound examination

Treatment of a four-legged friend

In veterinary practice, there is no fundamental difference between the tactics of treating acute and chronic renal failure. In both cases, the same treatment regimens are used. In the acute form, therapy is aimed at eliminating the provoking factor. With the development of chronic insufficiency, therapeutic forces are compensatory in nature and are aimed at improving the quality of life of the pet and its extension.

An approximate treatment regimen for a sick animal is as follows:

Infusion therapy in order to eliminate the phenomena of dehydration and normalize electrolyte and acid-base balance. Intravenous drips help reduce the burden on the kidneys, promote detoxification of the body. For this purpose, physiological solutions, Ringer's solution, Polyglukin, Reogluman, Reosorbilact, etc. are used.
Normalization of the urinary process. A sick dog is prescribed diuretics: Furasemide, Mannitol, Lespenefril. In some cases, the veterinarian uses mechanical diversion of urine by inserting a catheter.
With phenomena purulent infection a sick dog is prescribed antibacterial agents cephalosporin series.
Severe vomiting is stopped with antiemetics, for example, Cerucal, Papaverine, Enterosgel.
At high rates phosphorus in the blood must be bound. For this purpose, Almagel, Maalox, Aludrox are used. good effect noted when used to bind phosphorus and increase calcium in the blood of potassium acetate.
The presence of symptoms of anemia is eliminated with the help of vitamin B12, Ferroglukin, Ursoferan.
With kidney failure, the heart also suffers. To normalize the work of the myocardium, a sick dog is prescribed Cordiamin, Riboxin, Cocarboxylase.
If the disease is caused by autoimmune processes in the kidneys, systemic glucocorticoid therapy is successfully used in veterinary practice.

Hemodialysis

Cleansing the blood with hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis allows you to quickly and effectively rid the body of toxins. Specialized veterinary clinics have in their arsenal high-tech devices for hemodialysis in animals. In their absence, the sick pet can undergo peritoneal dialysis.

The essence of the manipulation is to wash the peritoneum, which has a high ability to absorb liquid, through special openings with medicinal solutions.

For symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of kidney failure in dogs, see this video:

Dietary nutrition in pathology

The therapeutic diet for renal failure is characterized by a minimum protein content. The main part of the diet of a sick pet should be fats and carbohydrates. Products should contain a minimum amount of phosphorus, salt is completely excluded. Veterinary specialists, as a rule, recommend transferring the pet to medicinal feeds specially designed for problems with the excretory system for the duration of treatment.

Therapeutic food for dogs with kidney disease

Prognosis for renal failure

The development of an acute form of the disease has more favorable consequences for the animal, provided timely diagnosis and adequate treatment. This is due to the fact that the detection of clinical signs occurs at a time when the main part of the nephrons has not yet died.

In the chronic form of the disease, the prognosis is cautious. If signs of the terminal stage are found in the animal, the outcome for the animal is unfavorable.

Renal failure in dogs is a severe pathology of the excretory system, accompanied by a violation of nitrogen metabolism and the functions of other organs. Cautious forecast veterinary specialists give with the development of a chronic form of the disease. Treatment is aimed at detoxifying the body, restoring the filtering ability of the kidneys, and prescribing symptomatic therapy. In some cases, a lifelong therapeutic diet is prescribed.

Useful video

About the diet for chronic renal failure, see this video:

Dogs suffer not only from infectious diseases, but also from diseases of the internal organs, and the most common of them are diseases of the urinary system. The main organ of this system is considered to be the kidneys - a "filter" that removes toxins from the body along with urine.

Kidney disease in dogs ranks second among the causes of death, since owners of dogs with such diseases usually turn to a veterinarian during an exacerbation of the disease ( damage to the functional elements of the kidneys at this point is about 60-70% ). That is why it is important to recognize the disease in time and consult a doctor.

Classification of kidney disease in dogs

Depending on the location of the lesion, diseases such as:

Nephritis , characterized by inflammation of the parenchyma of the kidneys and damage to the vessels of the glomerular apparatus. There are acute and chronic forms of the disease, and depending on the localization - diffuse and focal. It usually occurs as a result of infectious diseases, poisoning, hypothermia and injuries;
Nephrosis , which is characterized by dystrophic processes in the capillaries of the glomerular apparatus. It happens acute and chronic. The main causes of the disease are feed intoxication, metabolic disorders, poisoning, as well as complications in certain diseases (endometritis, nephritis, urocystitis, etc.);
Nephrosclerosis or cirrhosis of the kidneys - sclerotic lesions of the renal arterioles, proliferation connective tissue and atrophy of the parenchyma. As a result of this disease, the kidneys are structurally rebuilt, compacted and wrinkled, which leads to a violation of the excretory and synthetic functions. It develops as a result of prolonged exposure to toxic substances, as well as due to nephritis, nephrosis, glomerulonephritis, hypertension and other diseases;
Pyelitis in which the mucous membrane of the renal pelvis becomes inflamed (may be purulent, catarrhal or catarrhal-purulent). Usually occurs as a result of infectious diseases. It is also possible the development of pyelitis with urolithiasis and the presence of helminths;
Pyelonephritis - a rare disease in dogs, in which the renal pelvis and kidney parenchyma become inflamed. Both kidneys are usually affected. This disease is called penetrating from Bladder and urethra by pathogenic bacteria. In bitches, the disease can develop against the background of urocystitis, endometritis and vaginitis;
Glomerulonephritis - inflammation of the kidneys, in which the renal corpuscles are damaged by circulating immune complexes. The disease occurs due to infection, as well as incorrectly made injections;
kidney failure (PN) - accompanied high content in the blood of nitrogenous products of metabolism, a disorder in the functions of the kidneys. The primary causes of the disease include acute interstitial nephritis, acute glomerulonephritis, renal ischemia, toxic effects of heavy metals and aminoglycosides, blockage urinary tract. PN can also occur with parvovirus enteritis.

Chronic diseases are more common than acute ones. At the same time, the symptoms of various kidney diseases are similar, and the methods of treatment must be different. Therefore, for the correct effective treatment timely diagnosis is important.

Symptoms and course of diseases

For nephritis, the characteristic symptoms are:

Depressed state;
Decreased appetite;
Increased body temperature;
An unnatural posture that the dog is trying to adopt;
Pain on palpation of the kidneys in the lumbar region;
Edema (abdomen, thighs, intermaxillary space, eyelids);
Vomiting, dyspeptic phenomena;
Paleness of mucous membranes;
increased thirst;
Shortness of breath, congestive moist rales, a slight cough is possible.

As a result of fever and oversaturation of the small circle system with blood, the development of bronchitis and bronchopneumonia is possible. Urine is cloudy, pH changed. At the beginning of the disease, the urge to urinate is often observed, and then anuria or oliguria develops.

The acute form lasts 1-2 weeks. It ends with recovery in the absence of uremia (in its presence, the animal dies). The chronic form can last for years.

Nephrosis is characterized by general symptoms (gastrointestinal disorders, loss of appetite), as well as:

Edema of the extremities, intermaxillary space and eyelids;
Weakening of heart function;
Increased nervous excitability;
Signs of kidney failure.

In a mild form, low-density urine contains protein, urination decreases.
A severe form of the disease may be accompanied by renal failure with signs of uremia. When the condition improves, polyuria is observed, the urine is light, the protein content is insignificant.

With nephrosclerosis, there are:

Depressed state and lethargy in movements;
poor appetite;
Thirst;
Emaciation with good feeding;
polyuria;
Protein in the urine.

When uremia occurs, dermatitis, eczema, pruritus, swelling of the extremities and vomiting. The mucous membranes acquire an earthy hue. Liver congestion, gastroenteritis and shortness of breath develop. Body temperature remains normal.
The disease lasts for years, gradually progressing. The terminal stage ends with the death of the animal.

Symptoms of pyelitis:

Short-term vague pain;
A slight jump in body temperature.

With a mild form of the disease, the general condition is not disturbed. Increased inflammation leads to frequent urination but the amount of urine is small. In the chronic form of the disease, there are:

progressive weight loss;
Dandruff;
Poor condition of the coat.

With pyelonephritis observed:

Frequent urination;
Increased body temperature;
Enlargement of the kidneys and their pain on palpation.

In the acute form, breathing quickens, there is no appetite.

With glomerulonephritis observed:

Syndrome acute inflammation glomeruli characterized by:

a) pain on palpation on both sides of the abdomen in the back and lower back;
b) body temperature up to 40°C;
c) oliguria (little urine);
d) the color of urine is reddish;

Cardiovascular syndrome characterized by:

a) shortness of breath;
b) heart failure;
c) pulmonary edema;

Edema syndrome, which is characterized by swelling (intermaxillary space, eyelids). In severe cases, ascites (peritoneal dropsy) may be observed.

Acute renal failure is characterized by:

oppression;
Reduction or absence of diuresis (the volume of urine);
An increased concentration in the blood of urea, sulfates, creatinine, potassium, magnesium (in this case, the concentration of calcium, chlorine and sodium decreases).

Due to the development of intoxication, vomiting and a coma begin to develop. Possible symptoms include pulmonary edema (severe shortness of breath), cardiac arrhythmia, intestinal bleeding, liver enlargement, and pericarditis.

The favorable course of the disease is the development of the polyuric stage (gradual restoration of the normal composition of the blood and the disappearance of signs of renal failure). With an unfavorable course of the disease, dogs die without coming out of a coma. The chronic course of the disease is characterized by smoothed symptoms.

Video: Urolithiasis in cats and dogs.

Methods of treatment are selected by the doctor based on the results of the tests.

Kidney disease in dogs, the characteristic symptoms of which are very diverse, are frequent pathology. Unfortunately, not a single breed is immune from such ailments, since the reason for their development is often the improper maintenance of a pet. In this case, prevention can help if the owner of the animal notices violations in the body in time.

Kidneys are very important paired organ, responsible for secretion, removal of excess fluid and blood filtration, as well as participating in metabolic processes. The main danger of the diseases under consideration is that the kidney tissues are not able to regenerate, therefore they are destroyed without proper therapy. Wherein noticeable symptoms appear too late, when the functions of the organ are reduced by more than half.

The accumulation of harmful substances at a certain point causes severe intoxication, as a result of which the dog may die. Therefore, if the following signs are found, the animal should be examined as soon as possible:

change in odor and volume of urine;
general malaise (fever, loss of appetite, a sharp decline weight);
diarrhea and vomiting;
bloody discharge from the genitals;
unusual color of urine (brown, red, brown, and so on);
the smell of ammonia from the mouth;
incontinence;
a strange gait in a semi-squat (the dog lowers the croup to the ground and with difficulty goes over with its hind legs);
restlessness during urination;
unusual posture in males (without lifting the limb).

Almost all kidney diseases in dogs have similar symptoms, so it is extremely difficult to make a diagnosis without a thorough examination. Without the results of biochemical tests, ultrasound and x-rays, it is impossible to distinguish one ailment from another. Thus, completely self-treatment a pet is impossible, in addition, even trusting a veterinarian, it is worth asking for a more detailed diagnosis.

Common diseases and methods of their treatment

The kidneys perform vital important features Therefore, without them, the work of the body is almost impossible. However, due to the high load, they are most susceptible to extraneous influences. This is the source of many pathologies.

Glomerulonephritis

Inflammation is non-infectious. The causes of the development of the disease are different - the catalyst can be:

wound with a large area;
decreased immunity due to a previous illness;
prolonged contact with a strong allergen.

At the initial stage, the renal glomeruli are affected, then pathological processes affect surrounding tissues. Typical symptoms include increased pressure, swelling of the shoulder girdle, pain in the back of the body (strange gait), and red urine.

Treatment is complex: injections of hormones, antibiotics and hemostatic, as well as auxiliary drugs for oral administration.

Pyelonephritis

Bacterial inflammation. Usually occurs due to ingestion in the kidneys pathogenic microorganisms(staphylococcus, coli), less often than viruses. This disease can act as a complication after cystitis, STDs and peritonitis. Symptoms differ little from the signs of glomerulonephritis, only general weakness is added to them. Sometimes the disease goes away without swelling of the shoulder girdle.

To alleviate the condition of the animal, painkillers, antispasmodics and homeopathic medicines are used. To fight the infection, a long course of Ciprofloxacin and immunomodulators are prescribed.

Nephrosis

Damage to the renal tubules, as a result of which the function of protein metabolism decreases. This leads to serious intoxication, since the filtered substances are not excreted through the urine, but are splashed back into the blood. The reason is viral diseases, birth defects organs, oncology, acute poisoning and prolonged inactivity in the development of other kidney ailments. Nephrosis can be caused by any disorder associated with the ingestion of a large number toxins into the body.

Treatment in this case is completely diverse and depends on the root cause of the onset of the disease. Any actions can be aimed at eliminating it, whether it is a substitution hormone therapy or surgery.

Hereditary congenital ailments

These include dysplasia, amyloidosis, polycystic and so on. In dogs, the kidneys are less susceptible to such pathologies, however, they still come across often. Among the symptoms, many of the previously listed signs are found, and the situation is further complicated by the fact that such defects cannot be treated. In the overwhelming majority of cases, a veterinarian can only delay the death of an animal by slowing down the process of tissue destruction. Some ailments do not cause harm to the health of the dog (for example, duplication of the organ), but abnormally developed kidneys are often susceptible to other pathologies.

Acute and chronic renal failure

In the first case, the extinction of functions occurs rapidly (from 2 hours to 4 days), in the second case, it can stretch for several years with timely treatment and a well-chosen diet. However, with such a diagnosis, a sick animal is doomed to death, since the full-fledged work of the body becomes impossible. The reasons for such a terrible pathology are numerous: ischemia, acute intoxication, tubular obstruction, trauma, lack of treatment of early diseases or ineffective methods.

With renal failure, the animal experiences discomfort in the lumbar and abdomen, loses appetite. The function of urination is disturbed or completely extinguished, swelling appears throughout the body. The dog may vomit. The acute form of the disease requires immediate veterinary intervention.

To avoid development similar diseases, must be adhered to preventive measures and provide the pet with the proper conditions of detention.

How to support kidney health

If you monitor the condition of the pet, most likely, no serious illnesses will occur in the animal (except for oncology, which does not depend on the efforts of the owner). The precautions are very simple:

avoid suspicious contacts;
timely treat emerging inflammation;
think over a balanced diet;
walk the dog at least 3 times a day and do not skip workouts to maintain activity;
the animal should not experience hypothermia, pressure on the neck area and be injured (most attention should be paid to the lower half of the body).

It is important to remember that kidney disease is rarely completely cured, since the late manifestation of symptoms entails an untimely visit to the veterinarian. As a result, the disease in the dog flows into a chronic form. You can avoid this if you pass urine every six months for biochemical analysis without waiting for symptoms of the disease to appear.

Each person is responsible for those whom he tamed. Therefore, if you have a pet, then you need not only to enjoy its existence, stroke it and caress it, play with it and do other things that bring you pleasure. You also need to take care of your pet, because he is not able to do it himself. Especially when it comes to health - absolutely everything is in your hands. Many people ask the question: “What can go wrong?” And the answer to this question can be short and clear - almost everything. Animals can suffer from a wide variety of diseases, and your task is to prevent their occurrence or cure if the disease has already manifested itself. This article will address one of the most well-known problems - kidney failure in dogs. This disease is quite common, and the saddest thing is that most often it manifests itself due to the inattention of the owners. So if you want to save your pet from suffering, you should know absolutely everything about what constitutes kidney failure in a dog.

What it is?

Kidney failure in dogs is a disease that most often develops closer to old age. What does she represent? Throughout a dog's life, its kidneys function at full capacity to filter out everything. harmful substances that enter the body. Under such a load, gradual wear occurs. internal organ and the cells begin to fail. Accordingly, they cannot perform their functions, as a result of which toxins penetrate the body, spread through it, slowly killing the dog. Kidney failure is diagnosed when the number of dead cells exceeds half. It is then that the corresponding symptoms begin to be felt. Why so late? Kidney failure in a dog has one feature that you should definitely be aware of if you do not want to allow this disease to manifest itself in your pet.

Cell work

Like any other disease, kidney failure develops gradually. It does not come suddenly, at one moment, so you should think about how to prevent it. However, this is not easy to do. The point is precisely in the feature that was discussed above - it is because of it that kidney failure in dogs cannot be determined with the naked eye. The stages of the development of the disease imperceptibly pass from one to another, since the kidney cells that remain after death take on the functions of those that can no longer perform them. Accordingly, they simply redistribute the load as long as they can do it without harm to the body. When do health problems start to show up? Just after fifty percent of the cells fail, as was said earlier. That is why you need to pay Special attention for diseases such as dogs. You can learn the symptoms and treatment of this disease from this article.

Stages of the disease

Briefly, it is necessary to talk about the issue that has already been raised above. What are the stages of a disease like kidney failure in dogs? Symptoms and treatment are different for each of them, so it is important to know at what stage the disease is. So, the first one is the initial one, which is almost imperceptible. You will have to try hard to notice it, as your pet will not show any obvious symptoms. The clinical stage will be described in this article in as much detail as possible, since it is on it that all the main symptoms become noticeable, and it is also for it that almost all courses of treatment are prescribed. As for the final stage, in no case should you allow it to occur. The fact is that it occurs when more than seventy percent of the kidney cells are destroyed, after which it is almost impossible to restore the organ, and your dog will have a disappointing future. However, it is precisely for you to prevent the onset of the final stage that this article exists, which will provide you with all the necessary information.

Symptoms

You have to learn absolutely everything about such a disease as kidney failure in dogs: treatment, prognosis, and most importantly, the symptoms by which you can determine that something is wrong with your pet. So, the main and most important of them is intense thirst experienced by the dog. She may drink huge amounts of water, and will try to find it throughout the house and beyond. But this symptom is not the only one - you should also look out for increased urination, decreased appetite and subsequent weight loss in the animal, as well as signs of loss of strength, such as lethargy, constant fatigue, lack of mobility. Thus, if your cheerful and joyful pet suddenly refuses to eat and get up from one place, and all he wants is water, then you have serious problem with which you should definitely consult a veterinarian. Simply put, this is kidney failure in dogs. It makes no sense to predict the course of the disease right away - this pathology is not a sentence for an animal. You need to see a doctor to find out at what stage the disease is, and after that you can already find out the course of treatment, and forecasts and recommendations for further care of the animal.

Critical Condition Symptoms

Of course, I don’t want to talk about this - I would like to hope that all dog owners will be attentive enough to their pets to notice the first manifestations of the disease in time. But still it is worth knowing also about what symptoms this disease has not in the first, but in the last stages. Critical in dogs manifests itself much more unpleasant symptoms. Firstly, in a dog's mouth, numerous ulcers may begin to appear on the mucous membrane - the result of exposure to toxins in the body. Secondly, the dog may begin to lose balance out of the blue, and may also experience convulsions and violent trembling. And thirdly, the dog may begin to vomit, in which it will be possible to notice the remnants of undigested food. Also, this vomiting will be accompanied. Naturally, you should not bring your pet to such a critical state, you should not joke with such a disease as kidney failure. You already know the symptoms of this disease, but there is one more thing that you should pay attention to, and if you do everything right, you may never see any signs of the disease.

Laboratory tests

If you have even the slightest suspicion that your dog is developing kidney failure, you should definitely visit the veterinarian and have some laboratory tests. The fact is that the efficiency of the kidneys can be easily checked with a blood test for urea and creatinine. As already mentioned above, on initial stages the disease cannot be detected, since living cells distribute the functions of the dead among themselves, so the level of urea and creatinine in the blood will be normal. And it is this norm that you should constantly check. For a dog, the presence of one to two milligrams of creatinine and 10-25 milligrams of urea per hundred milliliters of blood is considered normal.

What indicators should be of concern?

Always focus on the upper threshold - if the indicators begin to approach it, then you already have reason to worry. Why try so hard and strain? The bottom line is that, as with most diseases, the sooner kidney failure is diagnosed, the easier it will be to treat and the better the prognosis for the dog.

Treatment of the disease

It's time to talk about the most important point regarding such a disease as kidney failure in dogs - treatment. There is only one solution here, and, fortunately, it is quite effective. Your pet will need infusion detoxification therapy. What does it mean? This means that a special solution will be introduced into the body in the form of a liquid, which will cleanse the body of your dog from those toxins that the gradually failing kidneys let through. This therapy will allow attacking the disease from all directions at once.

How does the therapy work?

Firstly, it quenches the pet's thirst, secondly, it rids the animal's body of toxins, and thirdly, it reduces the load on the kidneys, which are already working at the limit of their capabilities. Accordingly, depending on the severity of the disease, this therapy will have its own frequency. If the disease was diagnosed already at the clinical stage, then therapy sessions will need to be carried out daily, but if it was detected at a critical stage, then sessions will have to be carried out more often. So the sooner you can spot your pet's problem, the less problems you and he will have. In addition to fluid therapy, some medications can also be prescribed that can alleviate the course of the disease and contribute to the effectiveness of treatment.

Further therapy

And, of course, in dogs it is a disease that will not go anywhere, since the cells of this internal organ are not restored. You can only normalize the state of the body and then maintain it in working condition on your own. To do this, you will either need to visit the veterinarian periodically for intravenous therapy, or, if the disease was not at a critical stage, this therapy can be administered subcutaneously at home. One way or another, you need to constantly consult with your veterinarian to determine the effectiveness of the treatment and the frequency of further sessions.

Food

Well, the last point that you should focus on is nutrition. When the worst is behind you, you will need to think about what to do next. How to keep your pet in good condition? To do this, you will need to think over his diet in as much detail as possible. Fortunately, a wide variety of dietary pet foods are now available in the public domain, and among them you can find special options designed for dogs with kidney failure.

What to feed a dog?

One of the clearest examples is Hills Prescription Diet Canine, which is available in two varieties. One of them is designed for dogs that suffer from kidney failure, while the other is designed for those animals that suffer from a severe stage of this disease. How is this food different from regular food? It has a completely different composition, which contains much less protein, phosphorus and sodium, that is, those elements that put a greater burden on the kidneys and can contribute to the accumulation of toxins in the body. Instead, these foods have more soluble fiber and vitamins, as well as fatty acids Omega 3. Depending on how much the disease has affected the animal's body, the diet can be either permanent, that is, lasting until the end of the pet's life, or temporary. Food for dogs with kidney failure is something you should pay special attention to, do not try to save money on this. If the doctor tells you to buy special medical food, it is better to spend money on it.

Herbal treatment

Many dog owners believe that they can cope with the disease on their own, looking for information that it can be influenced by certain medicinal herbs, such as dandelion, nettle or alfalfa, so they decide that they do not need the help of a specialist. However, this is a very big mistake - it is impossible to argue with the fact that such herbs right approach can be of great help in the fight against the disease, but it is impossible to cure kidney failure exclusively with them. So do not torture your animal with attempts home treatment- always consult a specialist.