Liver & Kidney Failure Signs in Dogs

Kidney and liver failure occur when the organs become damaged or diseased, resulting in their inability to filter harmful toxins from the dog's body. Early symptoms are vague and mimic other diseases.

Chronic/Acute Failure

Both liver failure and kidney failure can be classified as acute or chronic. Acute failure produces a rapid onset of symptoms; chronic failure produces symptoms slowly over a period of time.

Early Symptoms

In both kidney and liver failure, the disease is fairly advanced before symptoms begin to appear. Early symptoms include increased thirst and urination, loss of appetite, weight loss, and vomiting.

Liver Failure

With the advanced stages of liver failure, you may notice that your dog's skin, gums, and eyes appear yellow (jaundiced). You may also notice dark or bloody urine or bloody stool, as well as an enlarged abdomen, seizures, and other neurological signs.

Kidney Failure

As kidney failure advances, your dog will have a strange smell to his breath, ulcers in his mouth, and pale gums. He may produce bloody urine or no urine at all, and he may experience confusion and disorientation.

Final Stage

During the final stages of kidney or liver failure, your dog will be extremely weak and unable to eat. He may experience swelling in his limbs and prolonged seizures followed by coma.

References

• Liver Disease in Dogs
• Early Symptoms of Liver Failure in Dogs
• Chronic Renal (Kidney) Failure in Dogs

Resources

• Kidney disease in dogs and cats