Very common in elderly dogs, kidney failure in dogs is one of the most common diseases that can affect the canine urinary system. Organs such as the kidneys and bladder of dogs are responsible for eliminating toxins from the body and for the proper functioning of the organism. When they are injured or worn out for some reason, the whole body is affected and the puppy begins to suffer the consequences.Although the most famous disease in the urinary tract is kidney infection, dogs also suffer from other problems such as kidney stones and bladder stones. But do you know how these diseases manifest themselves? Or what is the function of the kidneys and why is it so important for the functioning of the body? The Paws of the House answers all questions about diseases of the canine urinary system. If you want to know ifdog with kidney failure feels pain, how kidney stones form and how to prevent your pet from having these problems, check out the following article!

Nephropathy in dogs: understanding how the canine urinary system works

The urinary system is responsible for balancing the concentration of substances in the body through the production and elimination of urine. The dog's body performs metabolic reactions of the most varied types all the time. In each reaction, certain toxins are produced that need to be eliminated from the body. That's where the urinary system comes in, which has a urethra, ureters, kidneys and bladder.These organs filter the blood and "collect" these substances, forming urine. Dog pee is eliminated and takes these toxins with it. When there is a problem in the organs present in the dog's urinary system, we have diseases such as kidney failure in dogs or bladder stone.

Where is the dog's kidney? Understand more about the functions of the organs of the urinary system

The kidney is one of the main organs of the canine urinary system. It is where the dog's kidney is located that the blood will be filtered and urine will be formed, eliminating toxins (such as urea and creatinine) from the body. Another important organ is the bladder. Dogs will not always pee immediately after the kidneys filter the blood, as this occurs all the time. Therefore, urine is stored in the bladder.in the dog's bladder, which works like a bag that expands according to the amount of pee present in it. The ureters connect the kidneys to the dog's bladder, while the urethra is the channel through which the dog's pee is eliminated by the pet.

What is kidney failure in dogs?

Unfortunately, a dog's kidneys lose their function with old age or are damaged throughout life. When this happens, we have a case of kidney failure in dogs, a serious condition in which the kidneys stop working. If the bad one doesn't work, the toxins in the body are not filtered or eliminated. Thus, there is an excessive loss of water and a high concentration of toxins in the body.Therefore, the dog with a kidney problem presents dehydration and high urea, in addition to other health problems.

Kidney failure in dogs can have genetic or acquired causes

The nephrons (kidney cells) degenerate over time, so it is normal that with advanced dog age, the kidneys lose their function and suffer from kidney failure. Dogs may also have a greater genetic predisposition to develop the disease. This is the case with some breeds such as German Spitz, Golden Retriever and Yorkshire, which have a greater tendency to develop diseasesIn addition, there are several other causes of kidney failure in dogs: use of certain medications, heart problems, infections and ingestion of toxic products. Kidney failure in dogs is one of the most common diseases in the elderly dog, but that doesn't mean it can't affect younger dogs.

Chronic vs. acute renal failure in dogs

We can see that there are many different causes for kidney failure. Dogs can have two different types of the disease, depending on the reason that caused it. Chronic kidney disease has a genetic origin and usually manifests itself throughout the animal's life. As time goes by, the dog's kidneys lose their function. The type of chronic kidney disease has no cure, but there is a treatmentAcute kidney failure, on the other hand, arises for other reasons that are not related to genetics. This type of kidney disease usually has a sudden onset and is more aggressive, but since it is not a hereditary problem, it can be cured. For this, treatment must begin immediately.

In renal failure, dogs show symptoms silently

Kidney failure in dogs is known to be a silent disease. Usually, the first signs only begin to appear when the kidneys are already quite compromised. Therefore, the guardian usually becomes aware of the disease only when the symptoms of the terminal phase of kidney failure in dogs are already appearing. Apathy, fever, vomiting and diarrhea are some of the most common signs. In addition,as the dog with a kidney problem loses a lot of fluid, we can notice that the pet starts to drink a much larger amount of water to compensate. There is also an increase in the frequency of urination and the volume of dog pee.

Does a dog with kidney failure feel pain?

In renal failure, dogs often show symptoms in a silent way. They are very subtle and, therefore, many people have doubts about pain. After all, does the dog with renal failure feel pain? It is not one of the most classic signs, but it can be one of the symptoms of end-stage renal failure in dogs, when creatine levels are so high that they cause painSo, not every dog will have this problem, but it can happen. That is, the dog with kidney failure feels pain depending on the severity of the disease and how the body of each animal reacts.

Kidney stone is another disease that can affect a dog's kidneys

Renal calculi are the famous kidney stones that occur when there is an accumulation of minerals in the body that are not eliminated. This problem is often associated with dogs that drink too little water. Low water intake contributes to the formation of these stones that cause a lot of pain and difficulty urinating. It is also common to see the dog peeing with blood and in smaller quantities.

Dog bladder stone also causes pain and difficulty urinating

Stones do not only occur in the kidneys, they can appear in any organ of the urinary tract, and bladder stones are very common. Dogs with this problem also suffer from enormous difficulty urinating. In addition, the place where the dog's bladder is located is compromised by the presence of the stone, which causes fluid retention. As a result, the pet feels a lot of pain.Pain: A dog's bladder stone is usually a consequence of poor diet, when the animal does not eat essential nutrients and drinks little water.

Dog peeing with blood: symptom is common to several urinary problems

If you notice your dog peeing with blood, be alert. This is always a sign that there is something wrong with your dog's urinary tract. The presence of kidney stones and bladder stones can lead to this condition, but other diseases can also be the cause. Kidney failure in dogs can be the reason for this symptom. Among the diseases that result in kidney failure, there areIf your dog is peeing with blood, we can mention: tumors in some part of the urinary system, intoxication, clotting problems, inflammation, trauma and infections. When you see your dog peeing with blood, take your pet to the veterinarian for tests.

Strong smelling dog urine may be a sign of low water intake

Another symptom common to many kidney diseases is strong-smelling dog urine. Normally, dog pee already has a distinctive odor, but in this case, we're talking about a much more intense smell, often compared to the odor of fish. Normally, strong-smelling dog urine signals an infection, most often in the kidneys or bladder. Dog may still bewith a high concentration of substances that have not been eliminated. In other words, the pet is not peeing in the proper amount. This is a warning sign, because peeing too little means that either he is holding urine or not drinking enough water. Both cases can lead to diseases in the urinary system.

My dog can't urinate: what to do?

A dog peeing too little is always a warning sign for a dog with a kidney problem. The animal needs to have a proper urination frequency, as it is through dog pee that the entire ionic balance in the body is established. When the dog does not pee at all or is peeing much less than before, there are very high chances that something is wrong in your pet's urinary system. But after all, mydog can't urinate: what to do? The main thing is to take your pet to the vet. He will perform tests to check if there is something wrong such as kidney or bladder stones. Notice if there are other symptoms, such as a dog peeing with blood, and tell the vet everything. A dog that does not pee is always a warning sign, so do not waste time and go to the vet.

Kidney food: dogs with kidney problems can benefit from dietary changes

A dog with a kidney problem needs to have certain care throughout his life to prevent his situation from worsening and to have a greater well-being. Among these cares, the change in food is fundamental. A good tip is to change the normal food for the renal food. Dogs suffering from chronic urinary problems have great benefits with this change, because the renal food has a lower cost.concentration of substances that harm the kidneys. In addition, with kidney food, dogs are favored with extra nutrients (such as Omega 3), which have anti-inflammatory properties, helping to fight inflammation throughout the body, including in the urinary system. With the use of kidney food, dogs with chronic kidney disease or prone to develop this problem are much more protected.Talk to your veterinarian to understand how to properly implement this change in diet.

How to prevent kidney failure in dogs and other kidney diseases?

As we have explained, some breeds of dog are predisposed to developing kidney disease. In this case, there is no way to prevent the disease, but it is possible to prevent it from becoming something more serious. To do this, monitor the animal's hydration, encourage the dog to drink more water and make use of the kidney food. Dogs of any breed can develop diseases in the urinary system throughout their lives, thereforeInvest in water fountains for dogs or other ways to encourage their hydration, make check-ups, frequent visits to the vet, take care of their diet according to their age and size, take them to exercise regularly and keep their vaccination card always up to date.