Kidney problems in dogs



Dog kidney diseases and tumours can happen to any dog and there’s no way of predicting which dogs will develop kidney failure and which won’t. Although there’s nothing you can do to actually prevent your four-legged friend from developing a kidney disease, feeding them a good quality diet throughout their life, and providing them with a constant supply of fresh, clean water will help support their kidneys and, if they do develop kidney failure, could help slow down its progress.
There are a number of causes for kidney failure from dog kidney diseases to tumours, and these problems can be acute or chronic.
Signs to spot in dogs with kidney disease

Diagnosis by your vet

Your vet may ask you to collect a sample of your dog’s urine as a part of monitoring their condition. The best time to collect your dog’s urine sample is first thing in the morning, ideally in mid-flow. How you physically collect their pee will depend on whether you have a boy or a girl dog but plastic lunchboxes or soup ladles can come in handy! Your vet will probably provide you with a sterile container to store your sample in or you can use a container such as a clean jam jar (any residue can affect the results, so do make sure the container is very clean).
The fresher the sample, the more accurate the tests will be, so try not to delay in getting the sample to your vet.
Treatment of kidney failure in dogs

Diet
A special diet can reduce signs of kidney failure and slow the progress of the disease. Your vet may suggest a carefully balanced prescription kidney diet for dogs. This food will have been formulated to meet your dog’s special needs and should always be your first choice if recommended.
Unfortunately these special diets aren’t always the tastiest, as they’re made to very strict recipes, so your dog might not guzzle it up with as much gusto as they do with their usual food. Bear in mind that a dog’s sense of smell and taste is around 200,000 times more sensitive than a humans, so they’re bound to notice the difference! That said, don’t give up on your prescription diet just because your dog seems disinterested at first – with a bit of perseverance, they’ll come round in the end.
When feeding a dog with kidney problems, take things slowly, introducing their new diet gradually so they can learn to adapt to the blander flavours and different textures. Unless your vet says otherwise, start by blending a little of the new diet thoroughly into your dog’s original food. Then, each day, increase the quantity of the new diet by very small amounts, reducing the amount of their original diet proportionately. Ask your vet about portion sizes for the prescription diet, or use the guidelines on the packaging, because it won’t necessarily be the same as you’re used to feeding your dog.
While your dog’s getting used to their new feeding routine try offering them smaller meals more regularly rather than one or two larger meals. You’ll need to avoid giving them treats when they’re on their special diet anyway, so more regular feeding might help fill those gaps.
You can also try to make their new diet more palatable by slightly warming wet food in a microwave to release aromas and soften its texture. If your dog is used to wet food but the prescription diet is dry, try soaking the kibbles briefly in warm water to soften them.
The changeover process can take anything from two to six weeks to complete, but it’s worth the extra time and effort to keep your furry friend as fit and healthy as possible. With a good quality diet and plenty of water, you and your dog should be able to carry on enjoying a healthy, happy life together.

If you’d like more information on dog kidney problems or have any other queries, contact our PETCARE EXPERT TEAM.