Dog kidney problems might sound like a nightmare to dog owners and dog lovers. An impaired set of kidneys means that your dog won’t be able to remove his wastes, and can lead to his untimely death. While other owners don’t seem to know what to do, there are some who take this seriously and do everything that they can to help their dogs.
But how do you know if your dog has a kidney disease? Although signs may not show until about 70 of your dog’s kidney functions has ceased, there are still some observable symptoms that might help you determine if he has failing kidneys. Here is a simple list of symptoms and signs that you might observe.
* Your dog might increase his water intake.
* Your dog might have an increase in his urine production.
* Your dog might have a very bad breath.
* Mouth ulcers can be seen.
* Vomiting, diarrhea and nausea may occur.
* Your dog may have a sudden loss of appetite.
If you see some of these symptoms in your dog, bring him to a veterinarian immediately. However, if you have confirmed that your dog has kidney problems, then here are some things that you and his veterinarian can do to help ease the pain and maybe even lengthen his life.
* Restart your dogs’ kidneys. You can stimulate his kidneys to produce functioning kidney cells which can help his waste removal. This is done by ‘diuresis,’ or inserting fluids into the veins to flush out the kidneys. Although there is no assurance that it can really bring back your dogs’ kidney functions, it still brings hope. Your dog might have a functioning kidney for a few weeks or years after the process, he might have enough functioning kidney cells after dieresis but fail again after, or he might not recover his kidneys at all.
* Medications which bind phosphorus can help your dog regain his appetite. Because kidneys are responsible for the removal of phosphate in his body, he might have mineral deposits in his body which leads him to loss of appetite. Switching your dog to a low phosphate diet can help lighten his kidney workload.
* Dog kidney problems impair the production of a hormone called erythropoietin which stimulates his bone marrow to produce new red blood cells. The result maybe dog anemia, which can be fatal as well. Synthetic forms of erythropoietin maybe administered, although they might be rejected by his body if he does not tolerate it. He might develop antibodies against this synthetic hormone.
* Electrolytes and potassium can help your dog with his kidney problems. Fluids sent under the skin, or subcutaneously, will help keep him hydrated and help the kidney to restart. The frequency of this process depends on how serious his kidney problems are.
* A low protein diet further lessens the workload of your dog’s kidneys.
* Moral support and love from you can help your dog fight this serious illness, and hopefully add more years to his life.
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