Prognosis for Dogs With Kidney Disease Sadly, many dogs with acute renal failure will not survive more than several days. 6 However, if caught early enough and treated aggressively, some dogs can fully recover. Treatment generally involves intravenous fluid therapy and supportive medications.
Stages of Renal Failure in Dogs
It's best if some treatments are started when the pet is at a specific stage of chronic kidney disease. Median survival time for dogs in Stage 1 is more than 400 days, while Stage 2 ranged from 200 to 400 days and Stage 3 ranged from 110 to 200 days.
Chronic kidney failure cannot be reversed or cured. The kidneys will continue to worsen. Damage to the kidneys has been happening for more than 3 months (as opposed to acute failure, which occurs much more rapidly). Chronic kidney failure is the most common type of kidney disease in dogs, occurring in 0.5-1% of dogs.
Without treatment, acute kidney failure is fatal. Chronic kidney failure is treated primarily through changes in diet, fluid therapy, and various medications on an outpatient basis. Chronic kidney failure is terminal, but not immediately fatal. For dogs chronic kidney failure tends to progress over months to years.
Prognosis. Despite all the advances in the treatment of acute kidney failure, it remains a serious and often fatal disease. About 60% of dogs and cats with this disease either die or are humanely euthanized because of failure to respond to supportive care.
The clinical signs of more advanced kidney failure include loss of appetite, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, and very bad breath. Occasionally, ulcers will be found in the mouth.
Recommended dog food for pups suffering from chronic kidney disease typically includes a therapeutic diet containing reduced amounts of sodium, protein and phosphorus, combined with increased levels of omega-3 fatty acids. In some cases, your vet may also recommend potassium.
For dogs with renal health issues, feed them a diet of high-quality protein with low phosphorus and sodium, and added omega-3 fatty acids, such as a mix of good quality meat, veggies like bell peppers, and either a supplement of omega-3's or fish, flax, sardines, or anchovies.
In addition to feeding a lower protein diet, you also need to avoid giving high protein treats such as meat, jerky treats, cheese, rawhides, pig ears, etc. High salt (sodium) diets may increase blood pressure and may worsen kidney damage, so diets designed for pets with kidney disease are low in sodium.
Is Kidney Failure in Dogs Painful? Yes, kidney failure in dogs can be painful. Kidney failure in dogs can be painful because the kidneys are responsible for filtering body waste and toxins. When they fail, these toxins build up in the bloodstream and can cause discomfort and pain.
Breed: Some dog breeds, including English Cocker spaniels, bull terriers and German shepherds, are more likely to develop particular types of kidney disease. Learn more about a very special German shepherd named Buddy that was diagnosed with kidney failure.
Unfortunately, CKD is usually a progressive disease. However, progression is relatively slow, and pets with CKD often survive for many months to years with a good quality of life. It is important to recognize that in pets with advanced CKD, treatment will not reverse or stop the disease but will slow it down.
The end stages of kidney disease occur when the kidneys no longer work, and the body is not responding to treatment. Your dog may become very lethargic, or sleepy, and have a hard time rising. They likely have lost a great deal of weight and their appetite is usually diminished.
Symptoms of Acute Kidney Failure
Signs of acute kidney failure in dogs will come on quickly, usually within a couple of hours or days of ingesting the toxin. If your dog is experiencing acute kidney failure, you might notice one or more of these symptoms: Lethargy. Increase or decrease in volume of urine.
The cost of treating kidney failure in dogs can vary based on the prognosis. Costs can range from several hundred dollars a month for supportive care (special foods, hydration therapy done at home) to thousands of dollars for dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Sick kidneys are unable to retain water, and they lose a lot of it, producing an abnormally large volume of dilute urine. Therefore, dogs with kidney disease urinate more than usual, a symptom we, vets, call polyuria. Dog owners usually report their pet has become incontinent or is suddenly urinating in the house.
Symptoms of Kidney Failure in Dogs
Weight loss. Nausea and vomiting. Pale gums. Loss of balance, or stumbling.
Chronic renal failure occurs when the kidneys lose function gradually (over a period of weeks, months, or years). It's most commonly caused by degeneration related to old age. While all kidneys have a lifespan, some dogs' may deteriorate faster than others.
Dental disease is a leading cause of chronic kidney failure in older dogs. Bacteria build up on your dog's teeth and enter the digestive system when eating and drinking. While your dog's kidneys are designed to filter waste, bacteria can lessen kidney function over time.
In severe kidney failure, the amount of urine may actually decrease, or the pet may stop making urine altogether. Other signs as things get worse include digested blood in the stool making the stool look black and tarry, or vomiting digested blood, which looks like coffee grounds.
Reduced GFR is a red flag for six major complications in patients with CKD: acute kidney injury risk, resistant hypertension, metabolic abnormalities, adverse drug reactions, accelerated cardiovascular disease and progression to end-stage kidney disease.
And as kidney disease progresses, you may notice the following symptoms. Nausea and vomiting, muscle cramps, loss of appetite, swelling via feet and ankles, dry, itchy skin, shortness of breath, trouble sleeping, urinating either too much or too little.
Bad breath - Breath that smells like an outhouse can be seen in the advanced stages of renal failure in dogs. This is a result of the toxins that build up in the blood.