Signs of Dog Kidney Failure
No one likes to see a loved one suffer---especially a loved one as helpless as the family dog. On top of this, kidney failure can be extremely difficult to diagnose and treat because many of the disease's symptoms, such as fatigue and loss of appetite, could signal other problems that could be serious or no big deal. Additionally, some dogs exhibit no symptoms of kidney failure, or they may only seem sick once the disease gets to the very end. For those reasons you should monitor your dog's habits closely.
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Increased Drinking
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The kidneys filter water into the bladder, which is why activities associated with the kidneys and bladder will be interrupted if there is a problem with those organs. One of the first signs of kidney failure is when a dog begins drinking water excessively. This is because the kidneys are working overtime, flushing out water, sodium and impurities. The imbalance of water and salt in the body makes an animal thirsty, so it will continue to drink water constantly.
Increased Urination
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As mentioned above, the kidneys are flushing everything out of the body excessively, throwing off the body's natural PH balance and resulting in thirst. Drinking large amounts of water naturally leads to increased urination, which is very common in dogs with the beginning stages of kidney failure. Monitor your dog's drinking and bathroom habits carefully. While a dog will become more thirsty during the summer and after lots of physical activity, eating a salty meal, or vomiting or having diarrhea, a pattern of excessive thirst and urination is something to be concerned about.
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Weight Loss
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A common sign that something is wrong with a dog is that it stops eating. This could mean a lot of things, including stomach cancer, upset stomach or kidney failure, among others. Though you can try to spur a dog's appetite by giving it hot food, treats or food from the table, chances are that a dog that does not want to eat will not take the food. This, of course, leads to weight loss. Anytime you see that your dog is not interested in eating you should take it to the vet. Be sure that it hasn't simply developed an aversion to what you're feeding it, however. You can do that by providing the dog with a few different options, such as dry dog food, wet dog food or different brands.
Fatigue
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Similar to a loss of appetite, a dog may also become lethargic if something is wrong with it. Kidney failure is no different. This disease and its symptoms, such as not eating and frequent urination, can take a toll on a dog, leading it to feel ill and tired. Fatigue can result from many other conditions as well, so owners should consider the dog's overall behavior before jumping to the conclusion that there's something wrong with the dog's kidneys. Fatigue combined with another kidney failure symptom, such as excessive urination, is more likely to point to kidney failure than it would on its own.
Lack of Urination
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This is one of the last signs of kidney failure before a dog loses his life to the condition. Unfortunately, by the time a dog has completely ceased urinating there is not a lot that can be done for it in the way of treatment.
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