Dog Kidney Disease

Kidneys old gerontology cat dog old
The most common sign of kidney problems in all pets is an increase in the amount of water the pet drinks and a corresponding increase in urination.  A veterinarian can judge how well the kidneys are by feeling them through the abdomen with his hands. Weakened kidneys are the most common old age-related problem in cats and one of the most common in dogs.

The vet can run tests on the blood (B.U.N. & Creatinine) and urine (specific gravity).  When B.U.N. and Creatinine and other waste products begin to rise in the blood the pet is said to be uremic. Uremia is a common problem in elderly pets.

Several things can be done to make your pet more comfortable: First, uremic pets benefit from lots and lots of water. Get them to drink and urinate as much as possible. Other signs of uremia are vomiting, weight loss and lethargy.

Most uremic pets are also anemic. This is because toxic waste in their blood stream depresses their bone marrow – the source of red blood cells and because their kidneys no longer produce enough erythropoietin, a hormone necessary to form red cells.

Administering anabolic steroids (stanazolol, nandrolone) to these pets helps them form new red blood cells and increases their energy level. A newer drug that counteracts the anemia of uremia is bioengineered human erythropoietin given twice a week. In addition, iron supplements can help as well.

Realize too, that many meds are stressful on the kidneys, such as the heart meds as indicated on the "heart disease" page.