Dogs may still develop this condition even though it is more common in felines.You can provide treatments to help manage the condition if you find out your dog has the disease.There are a number of things you can do to slow down the disease of your dog.
Step 1: Limit the amount of food your dog eats.
Most of the toxins found in the kidneys are natural waste products of digestion, and by feeding a food that breaks down more " cleanly" the need for detoxification is lessened.When a prescription diet is eaten, less toxic waste can be produced.Hills canine K/D diet is one of the examples.
Step 2: Feed your dog a restricted diet.
If less than 10% of the diet is food from the kidneys, the beneficial effect is lost.It is an urban myth that chicken is good for pets with kidney disease.Chicken is a good source of meat, but once it is eaten, it presents a lot of problems to the ailing kidneys.
Step 3: The amount ofphosphate your dog consumes should be reduced.
It is included in many foods as aPreservative and aFlavoring agent.It can cause scar tissue in the process of excretion, which is why it is hard for the kidneys to excrete it.High phosphate levels can make your dog feel sick and irritate the stomach lining.The first step of this section is a prescription renal diet.
Step 4: Add Renalzin or an aluminum-based binder to your dog's food.
If your dog won't eat a special diet, you can add Renalzin or an aluminum-based binder to its food.It is equally effective for dogs and cats, even though it is designed for cats.The added food is bound to the phosphate in the food so that it doesn't get absorbed into the bloodstream.
Step 5: If your dog is dehydrated, check it out.
If you hold the scruff on your dog's shoulders with one hand, you can detect dehydration.The skin should be lifted away from the spine.When you let go of the animal's skin, it springs back into place.The skin of a dehydrated animal can take a few seconds to fall back into place.
Step 6: Make sure your dog gets plenty of water.
Water can be lost because your dog excretes it through his urine.Your dog will become dehydrated if the loss of water exceeds the intake.To encourage your dog to drink, place large drinking bowls in every room.Investing in a pet water fountain is a good idea because some dogs prefer to drink from the water.Some dogs get sick from the chlorine in tap water.Provide your dog with wet or canned dog food if you aren't already.Dry food has less water than wet food.Adding water to your dog's dry food can increase its water intake.Your dog may need to be rehydrated with IV fluids if it is severely dehydrated.This rehydrates the dog and it can help your dog to feel better because of the toxins in the bloodstream.There is a need for a 2 to 3 day stay at the vet clinic.
Step 7: Know what a uremic ulcer is and how to recognize it.
The kidneys can't filter toxins as it should, so they remain in the bloodstream.The lining of the stomach can be irritated by these substances.These high levels of urea andphosphate can cause ulceration, which can be seen as inflammation on the gum or tongue, or as stomach ulcers.The latter is a serious problem because they are painful and can lead to more serious medical emergencies.They are associated with nausea, vomiting, and appetite loss.
Step 8: If you want to treat uremic ulcers, get a prescription from the vet.
If your dog vomits frequently, or if the vomitus is blood-tinged, talk to your vet so that a treatment plan can be formed.Most likely, your vet will prescribe antepsin.The medication forms a protective layer and allows the area to heal.The dose can be given by mouth two or three times a day.
Step 9: Talk to your vet if you want to give your dog an H2 antagonist.
When used with an H2 antagonist such as cimetidine, antepsin is most effective.The two drugs should not be given at the same time.The amount of stomach acid that is produced is reduced by cimetidine.The dose for a dog is between 5 and 10 grams per kilo of body weight, which can be taken by mouth or injection three to four times a day.The vomiting stops and the dog regains his appetite.You can talk to your vet about omeprazole, which is 10 times more effective than cimetidine.Your vet can tell you if this treatment is better for your dog.
Step 10: Your dog should be checked for high blood pressure.
Many dogs have high blood pressure.The increased distress hormones are caused by the decreased blood flow.Blood pressure rises as a result of the hormones causing sodium retention and blood vessel constriction, which makes it harder to pump blood around the body.Untreated hypertension can result in death.Hypertension is measured by inflating a cuff around the arm, just as in humans, and a sensor placed on a vein under the tail or on the back of the paw.An average value is determined after three or more readings.
Step 11: Get your dog a medication.
If your dog's blood pressure is between 160 and 180mmHg, then you should give it an ACE inhibitor to protect it from the effects of hypertension.Amlodipine is a human anti-hypertensive medication that is prescribed if the blood pressure is over 180mmHg.The normal daily dose is 0.1 to 0.5mg.A 30 kilogram dog requires between 3 and 15mg a day.Therapy is usually started with 1 tablet a day for a 30 kilogram dog, given the wide dose range.After 7 days, the blood pressure will be checked and the dosage adjusted.
Step 12: If you have urinary infections, treat them.
A hostile environment forbacteria can be created by concentrated urine.There are more infections in dogs with kidney disease.There is a chance that the bladder will be colonized withbacteria that will cause an illness in the kidneys.Further damage is caused by this infection.Subclinical cases are those that are a nuisance but not severe enough to cause obvious symptoms.Subclinical infections need to be detected and treated with antibiotics before they cause further damage to the kidneys.The easiest way to find out if an infection is present or not is with a 3-monthly urine culture, which gives a definitive answer as to what antibiotics will work best for killing the infection.
Step 13: Benazepril is a drug that can be given to your dog.
There is less functional tissue doing more work, which puts it under greater strain and leads to a vicious circle.One of the risk factors for worsening is the blood pressure in the kidneys.The daily dose is usually 0.25 to 0.5mg/kg.
Step 14: Benazepril should only be given to dogs in the early stages of the disease.
There are long term benefits to be had from the treatment of acetic acid.Your dog's condition can get worse if the local blood pressure fails due to severe kidney failure.The use of the drug is reserved for dogs in the early stages.
Step 15: Some vets will not prescribe this medication.
This medication is not licensed for use in dogs.Some veterinarians will still prescribe it.