As with any disease process, the first step in successfully treating kidney disease in the dog is diagnosing the disease. This is important whether the dog is suffering from chronic kidney disease or acute kidney failure.
Kidney disease is commonly referred to as renal disease. It is also sometimes called kidney or renal failure, particularly when the symptoms are severe.
There are numerous tests that are used to diagnose and monitor canine kidney disease. The most commonly used include both blood and urine tests. These tests are important to determine the appropriate treatment for kidney disease in the individual dog. In the case of chronic kidney disease which is ongoing, monitoring the progress of the disease is important as well.
Blood Tests Used to Diagnose Canine Kidney Disease
There are several blood tests that are used to diagnose kidney disease in dogs.
- Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine both measure the amount of nitrogenous waste products that are building up the dog's blood. In the normal healthy dog, nitrogenous waste products are filtered by the kidneys and are excreted from the body as part of the urine. In a dog suffering from kidney disease or kidney failure, the kidneys stop filtering these products effectively and they build up in the blood stream, causing uremia (an increase in nitrogenous waste products in the blood).
- When BUN and creatinine values are elevated, kidney disease is a potential cause of the increase. However, other processes can contribute to an increase in these values also. For instance, dehydration often causes an increase in the BUN value. As a result, the BUN and creatinine values must be interpreted in light of other test findings. In addition, any clinical signs exhibited by the dog should be taken into account as well.
- Electrolyte levels also are quite often affected by canine renal disease, particularly the calcium, phosphorus and potassium levels. Most often, blood phosphorus levels are elevated in kidney failure. The same is often true of blood calcium levels. Blood potassium levels may be elevated or decreased.
- Red blood cell values may also be affected by kidney disease, leading to anemia.
- In some cases, more specific tests may be necessary to determine the underlying cause of the kidney damage. These may include testing for leptospirosis, Lyme disease, toxins and other potential causes of kidney disease.
Urine Tests Used to Diagnosis Renal Failure in the Dog
There are also several urine tests that are helpful in determining how efficiently the canine kidney is functioning.
- Urine specific gravity measures the concentration of the urine. In kidney disease, the canine kidney often is unable to produce an appropriate urine concentration. This will lead to a urine specific gravity that is low, often between 1.004 and 1.012.
- Protein loss through the kidneys and into the urine is another concern in canine kidney failure. Urine protein levels should be monitored to evaluate for abnormal protein loss.
Monitoring the Progress of Renal Disease and/or Kidney Failure in the Dog
Monitoring the progress of canine kidney disease or renal failure includes the same blood and urine tests required to diagnose the disease. The values can be compared, looking for changes and trends over time. This allows evaluation of changes in the disease process, particularly when also evaluated in coordination with changes in the clinical signs the dog is displaying.
Blood pressure should also be monitored for dogs suffering from kidney disease or renal failure. Blood pressure may become elevated as a result of the disease.
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