Home | Lifestyle | Dogs | Dogs & Kidneys | Phosphorous & Kidney Failure in Dogs
Overview
Depression can be a sign of kidney failure in a dog.
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Kidney failure in dogs, also known as chronic kidney failure or chronic renal failure, is a serious condition. The popular misconception about this condition is that the body stops producing urine. In fact, dogs who suffer from kidney failure generally produce large amounts of urine. The function of kidneys is to remove waste from blood effectively. Therefore, kidney failure means that the body has trouble eliminating waste products effectively. Controlling phosphorus levels is part of kidney failure treatment.
Causes
Kidney failure can happen for several reasons. First and foremost is age, in which the dog’s body goes through a natural wear and tear process. Also, parasitic, fungal or viral infections can cause kidney failure. Accidental poisoning, toxic reaction, an autoimmune disease, cancer and a reaction to medication are other causes of kidney failure in dogs. In rare cases, the dog may have inherited the condition from his parents.
Symptoms
A dog’s kidneys are the filters of her body, and with age the filtration process can become ineffective. When that happens, the flow of blood to the kidneys goes up, resulting in the production of more urine. Frequent urination dehydrates the dog, making her thirstier. Therefore, the primary symptoms of kidney failure in dogs are visible signs of increased thirst and production of excessive urine. As the condition becomes more advanced, other symptoms manifest themselves, such as loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, very bad breath and, occasionally, ulcers in the pooch’s mouth.
Phosphorus
Phosphorus is a naturally occurring mineral in a dog’s body, and about 85 percent of it is concentrated in the bones. Next to calcium, phosphorus is the most abundant mineral in a dog. Among other roles, phosphorus builds strong bones and teeth, transports oxygen to body tissues and converts proteins, carbohydrates and fats into energy.
Kidney failure can affect the balance of phosphorus in a dog. Hormonal changes also make it very difficult for the pet’s body to excrete phosphorus. Increasing levels of phosphorus can cause the soft tissues in his body to develop mineralized deposits. These deposits are inflammatory in nature, can cause discomfort and can lead to weakness in bones. For this reason, dogs with kidney failure are prescribed special medicines and a special diet to keep phosphorus levels down in their body.
Treatment
Diuresis is one of the most popular treatments used for dogs with chronic renal failure, and it helps to flush all the intravenous fluids out of the kidneys. This allows the healthy kidney cells to take over and start the process of waste removal from the body. Along with treatment, it is important to focus on the dog’s diet, which should be low in proteins, sodium and phosphorus. That reduces the deposit of minerals in the kidneys and generates fewer nitrogenous excesses.
Prognosis
Depending on a dog’s response to treatment and followup care, veterinarians usually give a good prognosis for a dog with kidney failure. Usually, a dog responds very well to the treatment and is able to live a healthy life for up to 4 years following kidney failure.
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