Kidney Failure in Dogs

The kidneys play an integral and important function inin your dog.
your dog's health and survival. The recent dog foodContact your veterinarian immediately. Kidney failure
recall due to kidney failure and death in dogs whoin dogs is a very serious and life threatening disease.
have eaten contaminated dog food has raisedYour veterinarian will examine your dog and if kidney
awareness about this condition.failure is suspected he will take blood and urine tests
Kidneys primarily function to assist in the maintenanceto aid in a proper diagnosis.
of blood chemicals, and act as a filtering system forYour veterinarian may also recommend other tests in
waste products through your dog's urine. Kidney alsomaking a diagnosis of kidney failure in your dog such
aid inmaintaining the balance of certain chemicals inas a radiograph or ultrasound.
your dog's blood .Keep your dog hydrated. It is essential that your dog
When your dog's kidneys fail to work properly, toxinsdrink as much water as possible if his kidneys are not
will not be filtered out of the blood system via urine.properly functioning.
The result is a build up of toxins and waste, whichOnce a diagnosis of kidney failure has been confirmed
can be very dangerous to your dog's survival.in your dog, your veterinarian will make additional
Kidney failure in dogs may be caused by toxinsrecommendations with respect to your dogs diet and
introduced into your dogs system, infection, orcertain supplements and vitamins that may be
hereditary reasons.appropriate in helping to treat your dogs kidney
According to the Word Small Animal Veterinaryfailure.
Association, acute renal or kidney failure is "rapidIn the case of advanced acute kidney failure in dogs,
onset of azotemia over hours to days (twoa stay at the veterinary hospital may be in order so
weeks)..." Some of the consequences "... often are lifethat your veterinarian can monitor your dogs
threatening."condition, assure proper hydration, administer
Some of the symptoms commonly associated withprescribed veterinary medications and make changes
kidney failure in dogs are:o Dehydration, your dogto your dogs diet as needed .
may be drinking more water than normalo MoreIn the recent dog food recall, toxins in the form of
urination than normalo Less urination than normalo Amelamine, a plastic used in the manufacture of
lack of urinationo Blood in the urineo Loss ofplastics has been determined to have been added to
appetitiveo Vomitingo Lethargyo Stiff gait when yourwheat gluten, a common protein In many commercial
dogs walko Diarrheao Poor condition of your dogsdog foods. Additional problems have now been
coatdiscovered in contaminated corn gluten and rice
What you should do if you see signs of kidney failureprotein contributing to kidney failure in dogs as well.