how to get a dog with kidney disease to eat

Signs of Kidney Disease in Dogs and How to Treat It

Kidney disease can exist a scary diagnosis, but information technology'southward possible your dog tin still live a salubrious, happy life for years.

Kidney disease in dogs isn't super common, but the odds of your dog acquiring this wellness status can creep upwardly as he gets older.

Merely simply like kidney disease in cats, you and your veterinary can treat chronic kidney disease so your dog can live on for years later on the diagnosis. Hither's what to know about the causes, symptoms, and treatment for domestic dog kidney illness.

Causes of Kidney Disease in Dogs

Sometimes, the causes of kidney disease in dogs only isn't known, Washington Land Academy veterinarians write. But a younger dog with built kidney disease likely has some kind of birth defect that causes the kidney trouble, Tracey says. She adds that sometimes kidney illness can exist caused by an astute injury that harms the organ—like if your canis familiaris consumes grapes or raisins.

Chronic kidney disease tin can also exist connected to another chronic disease that affects the kidneys, WSU writes. It tin can also be caused past high blood pressure level.

Signs and Symptoms of Dog Kidney Disease

It'southward hard to tell if one of your dog'due south internal organs is compromised, merely Tracey says there are a few things to look out for that could point to chronic kidney disease. Here are a few:

Frequent urination
Drinking more than h2o (going hand-in-paw with the peeing)
Weight loss
Loss of appetite
Vomiting
Nausea

close upward of Beagle drinking water

Credit: alex_ugalek / Getty

WSU warns that depression, anemia, and overall weakness tin can also be strong indicators.

Encounter these signs? Call your veterinarian. Dogs' kidney disease symptoms overlap with other maladies, namely diabetes and kidney stones, so you'll need tests to go a definite reply. You tin opt for a blood or a urine test, Tracey says. The claret test indicates how well the kidneys are filtering out waste while the urine exam examines the pee's concentration. If it's too low, your pup could accept kidney affliction.

Because kidney disease mostly affects older dogs, Tracey's hospital employs annual blood testing when a dog is 6 followed by yearly urine testing at age 7.

"Unfortunately, nosotros're really late to the game when we come across signs for kidney illness," she says.

How to Care for Kidney Disease in Dogs

First and foremost: Dog kidney affliction tin't be cured. But your dog tin can alive with it, sometimes for years. 2nd: Talk to your vet. They'll prescribe the right treatment.

The good news is that early-phase chronic kidney disease tin can be treated at dwelling. For a lot of dogs, kidney disease might be more uncomfortable rather than painful for the remainder of their lives. Hydration is the proper name of the game.

"We have to go on them every bit hydrated equally possible," Tracey says.

Having fresh water available at all times is a must, but Tracey also mentions hydration supplements, canned dog food, or a special kidney diet as other at-home options. If your canis familiaris's hydration needs are more than serious, your vet can teach you lot how to administrate subcutaneous fluids—like a doggy Iv baste—at home.

If your dog is dealing with acute kidney failure—when the kidney deteriorates rapidly because your canis familiaris ingested grapes, antifreeze, or ibuprofen—yous may need antibiotics, more subcutaneous fluids, or even a temporary feeding tube, co-ordinate to BluePeal Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital.

What's the Outlook? The Hereafter for Dogs with Kidney Disease

A canis familiaris'due south life expectancy with kidney disease depends on the severity of the illness, the individual dog, and the dog's treatment. A reminder: This might be why yous want to have pet insurance. If non, at least make certain you can afford visits to the vet.

Tracey notes that quite a few dogs take lived for years later their chronic kidney disease diagnosis, bold it's caught in the early stages. The Internal Renal Involvement Club (IRIS) lists four stages of kidney diseases, Stage I existence the least serious and Stage IV existence the nigh apropos.

With all that in mind, it'south tough to decide a prognosis on your own if your domestic dog has kidney disease. So regardless of your dog's age, condition, and type of kidney problem, become to your veterinarian. They're in the best position to help your pup.