Renal Failure in Dogs – Causes, Treatments | Dog Acute Renal Failure Symptoms

Renal failure in pets is a common problem. In dogs, renal failure occurs when the kidneys lose their ability to function normally. Since kidneys are extremely important for the functioning of the normal bodily activities, their impairment can be extremely dangerous.

Kidneys are essentially made up of thousands of nephrons. These nephrons are tiny funnel-shaped cells that help filter out blood and remove all wastes from it. The kidneys are also important for maintaining the water and electrolyte balance in the body. They also produce hormones like erythropoietin, which is associated with the production of red blood cells.

There are two types of renal failure: acute and chronic. While cats usually suffer from chronic renal failure, dogs usually experience acute renal failure.

Acute renal failure in dog is usually caused due to a toxic injury sustained by the kidneys. If there is a problem in blood circulation, and the kidneys do not receive the necessary amount of blood needed to keep the organs functioning well, this could cause renal failure. Damage to the kidneys due to stones, infections, or a ruptured bladder, which causes hindrance in the process of elimination, are other causes of renal failure in dogs.

Renal failure can occur in any breed of dogs, with older animals being more susceptible to it. The symptoms of the disease are very severe but are not always specific. Renal failure, both chronic and acute, is an extremely serious disorder and may even cause the death of your pet.

Disorientation, lethargy, loss of energy, weakness, lack of coordination, problems in urination, loss of appetite, and a noticeable change in the pattern of water consumption are some of the symptoms of renal failure that you should look out for.

In acute renal failure, these symptoms would be visible as soon as the kidney gets damaged. However, in chronic renal failure, the kidneys keep sustaining damage for a long time before the symptoms begin to appear. By the time the first symptom appears the kidney loses about 75% of its functioning. The diagnosis is therefore done by lab testing. The specific gravity of the urine is measured in order to determine the ability of the kidneys to concentrate the urine. Blood tests may also be run on the dog to confirm renal failure.  Renal failure cannot be cured. The only way to treat it is to slow down the progression of the disease, and to help alleviate the symptoms that the dog may be suffering from because of the disease.

Acute Renal (Kidney) Failure in Dogs

Acute kidney failure (acute renal failure or ARF) is characterized by an abrupt decline in kidney function that leads to changes in the chemistry of the body including alterations in fluid and mineral balance. The changes that arise as a result of ARF affect almost every body system.

The kidneys filter blood, remove the waste products of metabolism, and eliminate them in the urine. The kidneys also regulate the volume and composition of body fluids (including mineral concentrations and acid base balance), and produce hormones that stimulate the production of red blood cells (erythropoietin) and regulate calcium balance (calcitriol).

Acute kidney failure can be caused by toxic injury to the kidneys, decreased blood flow and oxygen delivery to the kidneys, infections, obstruction of the kidneys and prevention of urine elimination caused by a ruptured bladder.

The recent recognition of kidney failure is not necessarily the same as acute renal failure, since some animals with chronic kidney failure tolerate it for some time before symptoms are apparent.

There is no specific breed predilection but older animals are thought to be at greater risk for acute kidney failure. Acute kidney failure is more common in the fall and winter due to pet exposure to anti-freeze which contains ethylene glycol. Dogs that are allowed to roam outside without supervision and working dogs potentially have increased exposure to ethylene glycol.

The symptoms of ARF, although often severe, are not specific. Even with intensive management, ARF is a very serious disorder and often is fatal.

What to Watch For

Disorientation

Incoordination

Decreased urine production

Straining to urinate

Loss of appetite

Lethargy

Vomiting

Weakness

Changes in water consumption and urination

Acute Renal Failure In Dogs with Kidney Disease

Posted at October 30, 2009 // Uncategorized

Dogs who have Acute Renal Failure will be lethargic and seem depressed, with a lack of appetite. This is a disease in which a dog’s kidneys are so severely affected that they suddenly stop functioning. As a result, there are many changes that occur within a dog’s body chemistry, such as alterations in fluid and mineral balances, which affect nearly every other system within the dog’s body.

Since there is such a rapid decrease in kidney function, the physical symptoms that present themselves are usually more intense with Acute Renal Failure.

How The Kidneys Work

A dog’s kidneys are used to filter its blood so that it can remove any and all waste, which is a product of metabolism, and then eliminates them through the urine. Another function of the kidneys is to regulate both the composition of the fluids inside the dog’s body, such mineral concentrations and acid base balance, and the volume of such fluids as well. The kidneys also help to create hormones that are used to stimulate the making of red blood cells, as well as to regulate calcium balance.

Causes

Whilst no specific breed of dog is more prone to having Acute Renal Failure, senior dogs are somewhat more susceptible. This is thought to be due to the natural aging process of older dogs.

Causes of Acute Renal Failure are diverse:

• Obstruction of the kidneys

• A ruptured bladder that prevents proper elimination of urine

• Blockage of the dog’s urinary tract from a kidney stone

• A decrease in the amount of oxygen that is delivered to the kidneys via the blood

• Shock or heat stroke that can lead to inadequate blood flow to the kidneys

• An infection

• Medications, such as anti-cancer drugs, antibiotics, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen

• Poisoning by ingesting harmful toxins, especially ethylene glycol

It is interesting to note that Acute Renal Failure occurs more commonly during the colder months because dogs are more readily exposed to anti-freeze, which contains ethylene glycol. Therefore, working dogs, such as service dogs, and unsupervised dogs, have an increased risk of developing Acute Renal Failure.

No matter what the cause, there is a sudden disruption of the renal system, and this is what leads to quick kidney failure.

Treatment

Because kidney failure is so sudden with Acute Renal Failure, it is imperative that you take your dog to a veterinarian as soon as you notice any symptoms. Unfortunately, these symptoms are not very specific and can often be misunderstood as a different illness or disease. Therefore it is very important to discuss any and all symptoms and changes in your dog’s behavior with your veterinarian.

A great treatment to give to your dog at home, in conjunction with your vet’s treatments, is a herbal supplement called Tripsy, which was formulated by a leading naturopathic veterinarian. Made up of strong herbs, Tripsy helps to improve the kidneys by fighting any kidney infection. Tripsy also works to improve your dog’s urinary flow and discomfort.

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Canine health threat: acute renal failure

There is a term called the IRA in dogs is acute renal failure. IRA comes on quickly, and sometimes fatal. E ‘identified by the sudden interruption (or dramatic decrease) in renal function, renal blood flow and decreased glomerular filtration rate, called the GFR. IRA also includes health problems that are the direct result of the cessation of kidney function. ARF is the result of a toxin or ischemia, an insufficient blood supply. Causesare often linked to another illness or a surgical complication. There is a sudden increase in blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine and phosphate. It can also cause metabolic acidosis and hyperkalemia.

ARF may be reversed, but must be taken in the early stages and treated by a veterinarian. If the diagnosis and treatment is too late, the damage to the renal system is permanent, and can be fatal.

These are the symptoms to lookfor:

Lack of appetite
Vomiting and diarrhea
Depression and apathy
Bad breath
Sore mouth and gums discolored

The causes of ARF are sometimes difficult to detect, and includes:

Blood loss
Blocked urethra
Inadequate blood to the kidneys
Poisons

Pets are the most common accidental poisonings caused by frost. It ‘s almost entirely composed of ethylene glycol, a chemical that can destroy the kidneys of a dog. The reason why a product is dangerous for petsthat often goes into the ground under a car, and sweet tastes with animals. Antifreeze poison dog bicycle in the liver and changing the pH of the blood and causes the formation of calcium crystals in renal tubules. Unfortunately, most dogs do not go to the vet in time to save the kidney, because the symptoms are sudden it’s often too late, when no obvious signs of trouble. No evidence of antifreeze ingestion by a dog, it is likely that the smallopportunity to save it.

The only way to treat the IRA is to stop damage to the kidneys to go further. The organs are flushed with large amounts of IV fluids, and electrolytes such as potassium. Diuresis is the term for this type of treatment not only removes toxins from the kidneys, stimulates the body’s cells to resume their normal tasks of removing waste from the body. The remaining kidney can have enough cells to resume wasteand remove the body. Support measures are also performed when the dog is put umlauts, like medication to relieve diarrhea and vomiting, and get the nutrients into the dog’s system.

There are numerous outcomes that can occur with treatment. If diagnosed early, the kidney may start working normally and up to several years. They might not even work at all, or only works until the treatment is administered. It is important to take measures tothe kidneys to work as soon as possible. The longer the kidneys are not functioning, the greater the damage to the cells.

Dogs treated in the IRA can be given a strict diet to follow, one with a minimum amount of phosphorus and protein, and is not acidic. There is also a drug that may be because it controls the amount of calcium levels in the blood and parathyroid gland function. A phosphate-binding medication is sometimes prescribed. Thishelp to remove excess phosphorus that has begun to build in the blood (as a result of not being processed and excreted by the kidneys). There should be twice the blood calcium, phosphorus, and if not sufficient, and the parathyroid gland begins filtering needed extra calcium from the bones.

Treatment of the IRA can continue for weeks, and includes subcutaneous administration of fluids to increase the kidneys begin to fail more and more. This can happen everyday or every week depending on how badly the kidneys are damaged.

Unfortunately, while organ transplants and dialysis are now more readily available for dogs, the cost is often too high for the dog owner to pay. However, with proper treatment, there are a lot of dogs have suffered kidney failure and lived much longer in good health. It is very important to ensure that your dog is checked regularly, and take it to a veterinarian at the first sign of trouble. Theretests may indicate kidney failure in its early stages, before it is life-threatening problem. By the time may mean more of a happier life for your beloved pet.