Renal Failure & Its Effects On Dogs

As a dog ages, his kidneys lose the ability to filter the blood efficiently. At a more advanced stage, the digested by-products that usually pass through urine accumulate in the blood and become toxic.

Following are the ways in which you can take care of your dog’s kidney problems:

How to protect my dog’s kidneys?

If the symptoms of kidney failure in your dogs are not visible, do not alter his protein intake. Dogs need to receive enough protein in their diets, which are then stored in their muscles. Unless your vet tells you otherwise, do not change your dog’s protein diet.

Phosphorus is the first element that tends to accumulate in the blood in cases of renal dysfunction.  If your dog has normal phosphorus levels in his blood, there is a good chance of a long-life expectancy.

Signs of chronic renal deficiency.

The signs of chronic renal deficiency tend to appear in the later stages of the disease and are not always easy to detect.

Observe your dog’s water consumption habits. If he’s drinking more water than usual, it could be a sign that his kidneys are losing the ability to concentrate urine. A fussy appetite, weight loss too are signs of the same.

Regular veterinary check-ups

Try to take your dog to a veterinarian at least once a year, or twice a year if he is older than 6-7 years. If the renal deficiency is detected early, an adapted nutritional programme can be extremely effective, and the wellbeing of your dog will be improved.

An article by Royal Canin