Renal failure in dogs: causes, symptoms and treatment
Many dogs develop kidney failure during their lives. The disease can be acute or chronic, and in the worst case can even end in fatal kidney failure for the affected dog.
The following section explains the causes of renal failure in dogs, the difference between the acute and chronic forms, and the symptoms you should be aware of. We will also explain how renal failure in dogs is treated and why nutrition plays a particularly important role.
What is canine renal failure?
Just like people, dogs have two kidneys. Their function is to filter metabolic waste products and possible harmful substances from the organism so that they can be excreted with the urine.
For this purpose, the kidneys are made up of many small nephrons, which in turn are made up of renal corpuscles and renal tubules, which are responsible for filtering the blood.
The renal corpuscles can be damaged for various reasons. Although the dog's kidneys are very powerful and can compensate for the loss of nephrons to a certain extent, their function can be affected over time.
This is known as kidney weakness, or renal insufficiency, which in dogs leads to an increased deposition of harmful substances in the body and associated discomfort.
Acute renal insufficiency in dogs
Renal insufficiency can be acute or chronic in dogs. Acute renal insufficiency in dogs can be caused, among other things, by a short-term reduction in blood flow after a shock or by various infectious diseases.
If it is recognised in good time and properly treated, acute renal failure can normally be brought under control so that no permanent consequences for the affected dog need be feared.
Chronic renal insufficiency in dogs
In comparison to the acute one, chronic renal insufficiency proves to be much more dangerous for dogs. Chronic renal insufficiency is characterized by an increasing death of nephrons. This causes the performance of the kidneys to decrease over time.
There are several possible causes for the development of chronic renal insufficiency in dogs. In addition to a genetic predisposition, these include disorders of the immune system, various infectious diseases, the absorption of toxins or even tumours.
Consequences of chronic renal insufficiency in dogs
Since the dog's kidneys are sufficiently powerful, they can compensate for damage to their tissue to a certain extent and thus continue to ensure adequate filtering of the blood.
While this is a great advantage, it also makes it difficult to detect the dog's chronic renal insufficiency early on. This is because before any noticeable symptoms appear, a good 70 percent of the kidney tissue is usually already damaged.
Dead nephrons cannot regenerate. As a result, chronic renal insufficiency in dogs, detected too late, is associated with permanent impairment and, depending on the degree of damage, can cause considerable problems.
How to recognize renal failure in dogs?
It can take quite a while before the first symptoms appear. However, if the damage to the kidneys is sufficiently advanced, chronic renal failure in dogs causes various unspecific symptoms.
Some of the possible symptoms that could indicate a chronic renal failure in your dog include
- Exhaustion
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhoea
Without prompt countermeasures, chronic renal insufficiency in dogs also leads to calcification of the organs, heart problems, neurological disorders, demineralisation of the bones, behavioural changes and anaemia.
How is renal failure diagnosed in dogs?
Untreated chronic renal failure in dogs leads sooner or later to fatal kidney failure. If you are concerned that your dog may be suffering from kidney failure, you should consult a vet as soon as possible.
The veterinarian can investigate your suspicion with blood and urine tests, ultrasound and X-rays. However, a definitive diagnosis can only be made once your dog's chronic kidney failure has already led to a significant reduction in kidney function.
How can I treat my dog's kidney failure?
The measures required to treat your dog's kidney failure depend primarily on its severity and the exact cause. Regeneration of already dead kidney tissue is no longer possible.
The efforts made in the treatment are therefore limited to preventing further damage or slowing down the progression of renal failure as much as possible.
Whether the treatment is successful and the remaining capacity of the kidneys can be maintained also depends to a large extent on your efforts as the owner of the dog with renal insufficiency.
What is important in feeding a dog with kidney failure?
Nutrition plays a critical role in the treatment of a dog with chronic kidney failure. A dog food suitable for the so-called kidney diet must above all have a reduced content of phosphorus, sodium and protein.
A low sodium content relieves the dog's cardiovascular system and a reduced intake of protein and phosphorus relieves the weakened kidneys to prevent further damage.
As renal insufficiency usually leads to a lack of appetite in dogs, it is important that the kidney food of your choice is as tasty as possible and is well accepted by your four-legged friend. As part of the kidney diet, you should also make sure that your dog drinks enough and that you don't expose him to excessive stress.
Bellfor dog food for dogs with kidney problems
If your dog suffers from kidney failure, we recommend that you use Bellfor's Farm Menu when feeding him. Bellfor Landgut-Menü is a hypoallergenic wet food for dogs based on insects.
The insect protein contained in the feed, which comes from the larvae of black soldier flies (Hermetia illucens), is characterised by its excellent digestibility and high biological value.
These characteristics make our Farm Menu an excellent choice to supply your dog with high-quality animal proteins as needed, despite kidney insufficiency, without putting unnecessary strain on his kidneys.
Natural food supplement for kidney detoxification
In order to support your dog's kidneys and promote their natural detoxification activity, the use of a suitable food supplement such as Bellfor Nierenkraft (Kidney Strength) can be useful.
Bellfor Nierenkraft is a special herbal mixture that can help to remove harmful substances from the kidneys and thus prevent complaints such as chronic kidney failure in your dog.
An overview of the most important facts about renal failure in dogs
Dogs can suffer from both acute and chronic renal insufficiency. While the acute form can be well treated with timely measures, chronic kidney weakness in dogs requires lifelong treatment.
The aim of the therapy measures is primarily to prevent further damage to the kidney tissue and to maintain the remaining performance capacity as long as possible.
A change in diet plays a decisive role in the treatment of renal insufficiency in dogs. For this purpose, we recommend that you take our easily digestible insect-based wet food for dogs. In order to prevent kidney problems, it may also be advisable from time to time to supplement your dog's diet with Bellfor Nierenkraft (Kidney Strength).
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