Kidney Disease In Dogs
One of the tasks of the kidneys is to filter the blood and remove waste materials through the urine. This is why kidney disease in dogs is a serious health problem. Diet is key to preventing them.
Kidneys are fundamental to the regulation of the organism as they are related to the moisture in the body, arterial pressure and the balance of electrolytes. They also release hormones that, among other things, stimulate the production of red blood cells. Renal failure is one of the most common kidney diseases in dogs and it can become chronic.
To diagnose this disease, at least one of the above kidney functions must be impaired. Unfortunately, it is often only recognized when these organs have lost around 70% of their full functionality, which is why the treatment is so complex.
Causes and Symptoms of Kidney Disease in Dogs
According to the International Renal Interest Society (IRIS), an association of veterinarians who conduct research into kidney failure in dogs and cats, the main risk factors are:
- Glomerulonephritis, or inflammation of the kidney cells, which work like small filters in the kidneys.
- Pyelonephritis, which is also called inflammation of the renal pelvis.
- Nephrolites, commonly known as kidney stones.
- Leptospirosis, a zoonotic disease caused by the bacteria Leptospira interrogans .
- cancer
- Amyloidosis. A condition in which an abnormally changed protein builds up in tissues or organs.
Older animals are at a higher risk of developing these diseases. It is therefore important to start prevention early.
The most obvious symptoms of kidney disease in dogs are increased urination and increased thirst. Other symptoms are: incontinence, lethargy, loss of appetite and weight, bad breath and mouth ulcers.
Treatment and importance of diet
Treatment for kidney disease in dogs depends on the duration and severity of the degree of the disease. Acute illness can occur in response to accidental ingestion of toxins or rejection of previous pharmacological treatment.
Eating grapes or raisins can also cause this type of injury. If the symptoms are acute, it is best to take the animal to a veterinary clinic, where it will be helped with fluid therapy and a diet that is kind to the kidneys.
A chronic disease, on the other hand, can drag on for months, years or even a lifetime, as is the case with hereditary diseases. Early detection is essential here, which is why it is so important that the reference person, the animal, observes and cares for it.
Once the disease is recognized, it is difficult to determine the exact cause of the kidney failure, but treatment can be prescribed for the animal. These include medication, fluid therapy, and therapeutic nutrition that is gentle on the kidneys.
There is special feed that you can buy, but you can also switch to home-made food. In both cases the following aspects should be considered for the feed:
- Cutting down on foods high in phosphorus to slow the progression of kidney disease.
- Alkalizing supplements to combat common metabolic acidosis.
- Moderate decrease in protein: 40 grams of protein for every 1,000 calories to reduce uremia.
- Increased omega-3 fatty acids to aid in glomerular filtering.
