Symptoms & Treatment of Dog Kidney Failure: What You Ne
What is Canine Kidney Failure?
Canine kidney failure, also known as renal failure, is a clinical syndrome characterized by a decline in kidney function. It is a condition that is often insidious, destructive, and has a high mortality rate. Kidney failure in dogs can be categorized into three types: prerenal, renal, and postrenal.
Prerenal kidney failure involves acute renal ischemia, reduced glomerular perfusion, and decreased glomerular filtration rate. This type is typically caused by a decrease in cardiac output due to shock, infectious diseases, or cardiovascular diseases.
Renal kidney failure includes kidney injury and poisoning, usually due to the ingestion of nephrotoxic drugs or substances such as aminoglycosides, sulfonamides, biological toxins, and heavy metals during daily care and feeding.
Postrenal kidney failure is commonly seen in cases of ureteral obstruction, often caused by stones, tumors, sulfonamides, and uric acid crystals blocking the ureters. Certain parasitic diseases, such as leptospirosis, can also lead to kidney failure. In clinical diagnosis and treatment, kidney failure is characterized by symptoms like dehydration, oliguria or anuria, metabolic acidosis, azotemia, heart failure, anemia, and disturbances in water, electrolyte, and acidbase metabolism.
Symptoms of Canine Kidney Failure
Dogs with kidney failure may exhibit symptoms such as anorexia, vomiting, severe diarrhea, weakness in the hind legs, pale gums, yellowish mucous membranes, fatigue, weight loss, coarse hair, and abdominal pain upon palpation.
Treatment Methods for Canine Kidney Failure
Kidney failure is an irreversible pathological process. Fluid therapy is the most effective treatment, aiming to correct acidbase imbalances and electrolyte disturbances, control dehydration, provide essential nutrients, and maintain kidney metabolic function. A common approach is to mix 0.9% normal saline with an energy solution and administer it intravenously. This method is suitable for dogs with urinary symptoms such as polyuria. For cases with anuria or oliguria, furosemide, a diuretic, can be used, and precautions can be taken to prevent hyperkalemia.
The Close Connection Between Liver Disease, Acute Pancreatitis, and Kidney Failure
There is a close relationship between canine liver disease, acute pancreatitis, and kidney failure. Liver disease often leads to acute pancreatitis, which can ultimately result in kidney failure. Most kidney failure cases will develop uremia, which is difficult to cure but can be actively prevented. Prevention focuses on daily care and management, providing dogs with a clean environment, ensuring access to clean drinking water, and feeding a balanced diet rich in nutrients. It is also crucial to prevent bacterial infections, urinary tract obstructions, and ingestion of toxins.
