The chances of your dog being affected by canine kidney disease is 1 in 5.
Therefore it is important for all dog lovers and owners to understand what it
is. The kidneys of dogs work the same way as they do for humans. They are
responsible for filtering out waste from the body. They also allow the various
nutrients to be taken into the bloodstream. When the kidneys don’t function like
they should though toxins can build up in the body. Canine kidney disease can
also deprive your pet of the nourishment it needs to survive.
What you will find is that canine kidney disease will continue to progress
unless it can be discovered and treated. The earlier the stage is that your dog
is in, the better he or she will respond to treatment. There are a variety of
symptoms to watch for including changes in eating habits, changes in energy
levels, and changes in what is eliminated from the body.
There is no way of knowing if your dog will be at risk for canine kidney disease
unless your vet does regular urine and blood testing. Should you have a dog that
is genetically prone to such problems you should let your vet know about it. Of
course most of the time the history of the parents aren’t known so that can be
hard information to gain access to.
Keeping your dog in a safe environment will help to reduce the risk of canine
kidney disease. Exposure to viruses, parasites, toxins, and other problematic
substances can lead to an infection of the kidneys. When they are inflamed there
will be a blockage as well that affects the way in which they can function. This
type of canine kidney disease is acute and it can be corrected.
When a dog has chronic kidney disease the damages can’t be reversed. That is why
you need to work with your vet as soon as you suspect something may not be
right. They can get the test results and let you know what course of action to
take. Feeding your dog a proper diet can reduce the risk of canine kidney
disease as well. There are plenty of harmful additives in the dog food products
offered today. Should your dog be diagnosed with a kidney problem, you will need
to adhere to a specialized diet plan.
Today there is plenty that can be done to treat canine kidney disease. How a
particular dog will do with it though depends on many other factors. Those with
other health issues including obesity, heart problems, cancer, and diabetes will
have a harder time recovering from kidney problems.
In some cases, you will have to decide if you want to prolong the life of your
dog or allow it to be put down. It depends on the stage of kidney disease though
in most cases. Your vet will be honest and straightforward with you about the
options concerning a diagnosis of canine kidney disease.
