The following will help you interpret the results of some of the most commonly performed blood tests.įirst, it’s imperative you understand what “normal” means. When you do, you probably ﬁnd all those numbers and notations more than a little confusing. Most of the time, you don’t see a copy of your animal’s lab results. Any infection, vomiting, diarrhea, or changes in appetite or activity could severely dehydrate the pet and worsen the disease.Are you confused by your animal’s lab results? Here’s a helpful guide to some of the most common blood tests your veterinarian might perform. These dogs will be easily dehydrated, as their kidneys are not able to keep water in their bodies. The families of dogs with kidney disease should expect to watch them closely and will need to see their veterinarian often, especially as their pet’s kidney function gets worse. Most dogs die or are euthanized within a year because of poor quality of life.

With acute kidney failure, prognosis is variable depending upon the cause of the disease, how severe the disease is, how damaged the kidneys are, the speed and aggressiveness of treatment, and the dog’s response.įor chronic renal failure, long-term prognosis is not good. Recovery and Management of Kidney Failure in Dogs Some dogs with kidney disease need to receive injectable fluids at home or may even need to be hospitalized at times to help their fluid needs. Pets with chronic kidney disease need to see their veterinarian often so that their renal values can be checked.

Some dogs need to be on medications to control high blood pressure or to protect their stomach. Many dogs have improvements with a prescription kidney diet. They need to have access to water at all times and be encouraged to drink water. This last procedure is rare, only available at some university or veterinary specialty hospitals.Ĭhronic kidney disease requires careful management of dogs at home. In extreme cases, renal dialysis can help the kidneys. Depending on the cause of the disease, decontamination medications, toxin-binding medications, antibiotics, or medications to support the gastrointestinal tract may be given. Treatment of kidney failure is based on the severity of the disease and whether it is acute or chronic.Īcute kidney disease is treated with hospitalization and IV fluid therapy to support the kidneys and help them remove wastes. Your veterinarian will want to run several tests, in addition to a physical exam, to diagnose kidney failure, such as: How Veterinarians Diagnose Kidney Failure in Dogs Human medications such as ibuprofen or naproxenĪn overdose of canine medications such as carprofen or meloxicamīreeds that are prone to inherited renal failure include: Kidney failure can occur because of an acute event, such as a toxin ingestion or infection that harms the kidneys degenerative (worsening) changes over time or an underlying medical condition that damages renal tissues, which can occur due to genetic predispositions in some dog breeds. Chronic kidney disease refers to a process with a more gradual onset or one that has been happening for a longer period of time.Ĭhanges that can occur with an aging pet are often caused by chronic kidney disease, but if a dog’s kidneys were damaged by eating a toxic item several months ago and he now has renal failure because of this, it is also known as chronic kidney disease.Ĭheck your pet’s symptom Symptoms of Kidney Failure in DogsĬhanges in defecation (either diarrhea or constipation) Acute renal failure occurs in a very short time frame, and is often caused by eating or drinking a toxin or getting a severe infection that harms the kidneys. Kidney disease is often divided into categories based on how long it has been affecting the dog.

Failure, insufficiency, and disease are commonly used to describe similar issues with the kidneys. The word renal refers to all things related to kidneys, and is often used interchangeably. Kidney failure may also be referred to by terms listed below. As waste products build up in the blood and tissues, dogs can get ulcerations (tears) in the lining of their digestive tract as well. With any type of kidney failure, this filtering isn’t working well, so waste products are not properly removed from the bloodstream and too much fluid is passed in urine along with proteins and electrolytes. The primary job of the kidneys is to filter the blood by removing waste products and controlling the amount of fluid and nutrients kept in the body and how much is passed in urine.

Dog bun normal range