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.
The stage of the disease influences the treatment strategy for canine kidney disease. Integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby explains how veterinarians employ the IRIS staging recommendations for chronic kidney disease. She also explains how the recommendations can assist dog parents in understanding what to anticipate as they deal with kidney disease in their senior dog.
You might be feeling overwhelmed right now if your cherished senior dog just received a kidney disease or kidney failure diagnosis. Perhaps your mind is swimming with questions and worries. And you wish you could see clearly what lies in front of you.
Fortunately, there is a thorough set of guidelines that can assist you in determining how severe kidney failure is currently affecting your dog. Additionally, it provides treatment recommendations for each stage of kidney disease.
In a moment, we’ll talk more about this tool and its applications. But before that, let’s pause and examine a few commonly used terms related to the kidney.
Causes of a Dog’s Kidney Failure
The following are the most typical causes of kidney failure in dogs:
Genes:
Some breeds such as Bull Terriers and English Cocker Spaniels are more predisposed to kidney failure than others.
Contaminated water or food:
The intake of contaminated water or substandard food can cause the kidneys to pack up.
Lack of exercise.
Diet.
What do my dog’s kidneys do?
The kidneys have many functions. They primarily function to produce urine, control the levels of certain vital minerals like potassium and sodium, remove waste from the bloodstream, and conserve water.
How is chronic kidney failure diagnosed?
A complete urinalysis and a blood chemistry analysis are the two fundamental tests for kidney function.
A urinalysis is needed to evaluate kidney function. The earliest sign of kidney failure is a low urine specific gravity (USpG). Having more protein in the urine (proteinuria) is another sign of diminished kidney function.
A blood biochemistry analysis evaluates how well various internal organs are working. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and blood creatinine (CREA), two waste products that can be measured, can indicate diminished kidney function. In order to assess the severity of the condition and choose the most appropriate course of action, it is crucial to perform tests to measure the blood levels of additional substances like albumin, globulin, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, and calcium as well as the red and white blood cell counts.
Early renal failure can be identified using a recently developed blood test to measure levels of SDMA (a naturally occurring biological indicator for kidney function). Prior to the onset of an increase in serum creatinine, SDMA concentrations rise above the baseline reference interval. This will enable your dog’s doctor to start treatment for the condition much earlier on.
The BUN and creatinine levels of a dog with compensated chronic kidney failure and minimal kidney function may be normal, but the urine specific gravity will be low. The kidneys may fail under severe stress, such as an illness or surgery, which would cause a sharp increase in the blood test results.
A dog is referred to as azotemic if its urine specific gravity is low and its BUN and CREA levels are elevated.
FAQ
What are the final stages of kidney failure in dogs?
Clinical indicators of more severe kidney failure include depression, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and extremely bad breath. Occasionally, ulcers will be found in the mouth.
Is a dog in pain when it has kidney failure?
Kidney failure is typically accompanied by a great deal of pain. Most of the time, the symptoms are obvious, such as tremors, vomiting, and appetite loss. It is important that you prioritize your dogs’ comfort.
Can a dog with kidney failure survive?
According to estimates, more than half of pets with acute kidney failure either pass away from the condition or are put to sleep to end their suffering. That said, some dogs can recover from acute kidney failure if the condition is detected early and treated aggressively.
How Long Can dogs live with Stage 4 kidney disease?
PROGNOSIS. Prognosis is associated with severity of disease. Studies have shown that dogs with higher IRIS stages have shorter median survival times. Dogs in IRIS Stage 1 had a median survival time of more than 400 days, while those in Stage 2 ranged from 200 to 400 days, Stage 3 from 110 to 200 days, and Stage 4 from 14 to 80 days.