Could dog be having kidney problems?

jkoch

By Dr. John Koch

Question: I have noticed my 8-year-old dog has been drinking more water lately. In addition, a slight decrease in appetite and energy level has been noticed. Since I am a diabetic myself, I thought I recognized the symptoms of diabetes. I used one of my test strips to check his urine for sugar. The test was negative. Could he have kidney problems?

Answer: At this age many pets will start showing early signs of kidney dysfunction. It would be appropriate in all pets after middle age to have blood and urine tests performed to determine how the kidneys are working.

Kidney disease effects approximately 1 million pets each year and is a leading cause of death. The working unit of each kidney is a small microscopic unit called a nephron. Each kidney has roughly 1 million of these units. As the pet ages, these units are gradually lost due to illness, exposure to toxins, and stress or trauma of various kinds. Nephrons are important because they filter the body of wastes, maintain hydration, keep important electrolytes balanced, and even regulate the production of red blood cells.

The kidneys can take a tremendous amount of damage before symptoms of dysfunction are seen. Animals only require between 25 and 30 percent of functioning kidney tissues to be able to maintain themselves. Signs of failing kidneys include increased thirst, loss of energy, urinating more than usual, vomiting, weight loss, and sore or stiff joints.

The good news is that, if caught early, kidney failure can be controlled. By using special diets that regulate the amount of protein, mineral, vitamins, and calories, pets with early kidney failure can live twice as long as those fed regular food. They key is early detection. After middle age, your pet's urine and blood should be routinely tested for kidney function.

Dr. Koch is a Cape Girardeau veterinarian.