For an avid dog-lover, the loss of his pet is the single most traumatic experience. If this occurs due to an illness, it becomes even more tragic. Kidney disease is one such killer. It can manifest itself in two ways. One is acute kidney disease and the other is chronic kidney disease. The former strikes suddenly whereas the latter takes effect over a period of time. Either way, the result if fatal for the canine and heartbreaking for the owner.

Kidneys are an important organ for the body - human or canine. They are responsible for ridding the body of toxins by filtration. Kidney disease causes the kidneys to function at only about thirty percent of their capacity. If the kidneys stop working, the toxins accumulate in the blood and get deposited in other organs. Subsequently, the dog dies.

Kidney failure in dogs stops the ability of the body to function properly. Toxins begin to build up in their bodies and once this starts, a number of symptoms and warning signs will more than likely become apparent. These two chronic diseases show different symptoms, the acute form can appear more suddenly. Often, dogs suffering from this type of kidney disease will possibly have become dehydrated. For the owner to test for hydration, gently pull on the skin of your dog's stomach. This should spring back. If it doesn't, there may be a possibility that your dog is dehydrated.

You may have noticed your dog not wanting to pass urine or no urine production at all. This is also is a warning sign that your pet may be a victim of acute kidney disease. This disease can lead to your dog having extremely painful kidneys; or you may notice the animal moving with stiff legs or an arched back. These symptoms are signs for any dog owner to watch out for.

In the case of chronic kidney disease, the symptoms are different and they occur over a period of time. The first indicator is an increase in thirst and consequently water consumption. This is a constant indicator of the disease. The dog might lose his or her desire to eat resulting in excessive weight loss over time. Contrary to the acute kidney disease, in the chronic version, the canine loses control over its bladder function. As a result, it urinates very frequently. As time passes, the process of urinating will cause extreme discomfort and become very painful. It is possible that there might even be blood in the urine or it may become impossible for the dog to urinate completely. Since the chronic kidney disease is a fatal illness, it is advisable to rush your pet to the veterinarian as soon as you see any of the warning signs such as problem in urination, vomiting, lethargy and depression. Any combination of these signs is a sure shot reason to go to the vet. If caught in time, there is hope for cure of this malady.

Kidney disease in dogs is serious and if the veterinarian suspects this he will normally follow four steps to determine if the dog has the disease or not. Firstly he will conduct a thorough physical examination. Secondly he will speak to the owner about their dog's relevant history, regarding symptoms and behavior at home. After completing the first two steps he will conduct two steps, a blood test and urinary test. Both of these are necessary as to do one without the other will give a less certain diagnosis. Both of these tests will confirm whether your dog has the acute form or chronic kidney disease.

Veterinary medicine has limited answers for treating kidney disease in dogs, but there are natural alternatives that can even reverse canine kidney failure.

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Written by Geraldine Dimarco using tags: canine kidney disease, canine kidney failure, canine renal failure, dog health, dogkidney failure, Dogs, kidney disease in dogs, kidney failure dogs, kidney failure in dogs, kidney problems in dogs, pet health, Pets, renal failure in dogs