Many dog parents are faced with the struggle of kidney disease in older dogs.
It is pretty common, especially as dogs reach their senior years. Luckily, even dogs with chronic kidney disease can go on to live a long, happy life with proper management.
The more you know about it, the better prepared you will be.
Your vet should be there to explain every step to you.
However, I know how overwhelming a pet’s illness can be – you hear unsettling news, your appointment time flies by, and you leave there with your head spinning and no idea what you were told.
Having some information going into your appointment will help, allowing you to better understand your dog’s condition and the available treatment or management options.
Below, you will find answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about kidney disease in dogs, including a breakdown of what it is, an explanation of the regular function of a dog’s kidneys, and tips regarding how to spot the signs of dog kidney problems.
Last Updated: Feb 4, 2024
7 Common Questions About Kidney Disease in Older Dogs
1) What is Kidney Disease?
Canine kidney disease refers to any condition that prevents the kidneys from functioning properly.
The most common form of this illness is chronic kidney disease (CKD), also referred to as chronic renal disease (CRD), chronic renal failure, and chronic renal insufficiency.
With these conditions, the kidneys are damaged but working, just not as well as they should be.
The onset may be very slow with no obvious signs, but your dog isn’t feeling well.
Due to the lack of signs and symptoms early on, the disease may have been present for months or even years before a diagnosis.
Kidney failure (or renal failure) refers to the most severe stage of CKD.
Another form of kidney disease in older dogs is acute kidney injury (AKI), also known as acute kidney disease (AKD).
This refers to kidney problems that come on very quickly.
The most severe stage of AKI is acute kidney/renal failure (ARF).
The cause typically determines whether the disease is acute or chronic. More about that later…
2) What Do a Dog’s Kidneys Do? Are They Important?
Were you aware of what an important job the kidneys do? I wasn’t!
The kidneys are responsible for filtering waste from the blood. This waste is removed with water, which then becomes urine.
This includes broken food, old cells, toxins, poisons, and drugs used to treat disease.
Some waste products, like creatinine and urea nitrogen, can be measured in the blood, but many can’t.
The kidneys also regulate the amount of water in the blood by excreting the extra or retaining water to prevent dehydration.
They help control blood pressure by saving or eliminating sodium, sustain phosphorous levels, and regulate both calcium and vitamin D.
Additionally, the kidneys manufacture a hormone that stimulates the bone marrow to produce new red blood cells.
Because the kidneys have so many critical functions, when they are not working normally, this can lead to many changes to your dog’s overall health and well-being.
3) What is the Structure of the Kidneys?
Each kidney contains thousands of microscopic functional units called nephrons.
In a young dog, not all nephrons are working all the time – some are held in reserve for use later in life.
As your dog ages, or if the kidneys are damaged, some nephrons die, and those in reserve take their place.
Because of the reserved nephrons, the kidneys can “hide” the fact that they were damaged for quite some time until the damage is severe.
However, eventually, the reserve will be gone. This is when your dog will start showing signs.
By the time you notice symptoms of kidney failure in dogs and the tests show elevated creatinine in the blood, approximately 75% of the nephrons in the kidneys have been lost.
4) How Many Types of Kidney Disease Are There?
There are two types – chronic and acute.
5) What are the Most Common Causes for Kidney Failure in Dogs?
The potential cause of kidney disease or kidney failure in older dogs will depend on whether the condition you are dealing with is chronic or acute.
For that reason, we will look at each of these two types individually.
Causes of Chronic Kidney Disease
This form of kidney disease is usually caused simply by aging.
One common preventable cause is dental disease. Bacteria enter the bloodstream from an infected tooth or abscess, causing irreversible heart, liver, and kidney damage.
Other known causes of chronic kidney disease include:
- Birth defects
- Toxins
- Heredity
- Kidney stones
- Chronic bacterial infection of the kidneys
- Lymphoma
- High blood pressure
- Diseases associated with the immune system
- Polycystic kidney disease
- High blood calcium
- Urinary blockage
Most cases are idiopathic, meaning that there is no specific identifiable cause.
Causes of Acute Kidney Disease
Unlike chronic kidney disease, which develops over an extended time, acute kidney failure is a sudden decline over just a few days.
For this reason, the causes are usually something that causes quick or instant damage.
This includes:
- Trauma
- Medications
- Aspirin or ibuprofen
- Eating toxins like grapes, raisins or anti-freeze
- Bacterial infection in the kidneys due to blockage of the urinary tract due to stones/crystals
- Tainted foods
- Dehydration
- Heatstroke
- Bee stings
- Snake bites
- Leptospirosis
- Acute Pancreatitis
- Lyme Nephritis (a condition caused by Lyme Disease)
In many cases, a definite underlying cause is not found. However, it can be easier to identify than the causes of chronic kidney disease due to the shorter timeframe.
6) What are the Signs of Kidney Failure in Dogs?
Because the kidneys perform so many functions, signs can vary.
In cases of chronic kidney disease, the signs may come on very slowly, allowing them to slide by unnoticed for quite some time.
With acute kidney disease, these changes will come on much more quickly.
Some of the most common dog kidney failure symptoms include:
- Drinking and peeing a lot
- Need to pee frequently during the night
- Difficulty peeing or peeing very little compared to normal
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal Pain
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite or more selective in what they eat
- Dehydration
- Mouth ulcers
- Stomach or intestinal ulcers that cause black stool or vomiting of digested blood
- Poor-looking coat
- Lethargy
- General depression
If you notice any combination of these warning signs, contact your veterinarian.
7) How Long Can a Dog Live with Kidney Failure?
The prognosis depends on the severity, but as we’ve already mentioned, this disease is irreversible and progressive.
Chronic kidney failure (or renal failure) does not mean the kidneys have stopped working and no longer produce urine.
As a matter of fact, most dogs with kidney failure produce vast amounts of urine.
CKD means the kidneys cannot filter the blood efficiently and rid the body of waste. It is caused by the gradual failure of the kidneys or the long-term consequences of severe acute renal failure.
It’s almost impossible to answer the question of “how long?”
Your vet will monitor your dog’s process on a regular basis, and it’s a case of playing it by ear.
For those facing CKD, medications and dietary changes can often manage it, allowing your dog to live a happy, reasonably normal life.
Sadly, the prognosis for dogs with acute kidney failure isn’t great, with more than half of dogs put to sleep because they didn’t respond to treatment.
Even those that do respond well and recover may be left with chronic kidney disease.
Your vet will be able to provide you with more specific answers relating directly to your dog’s kidney disease and their prognosis.
Prevention of Kidney Disease in Older Dogs
While not all causes of kidney disease and kidney failure in older dogs can be prevented, there are steps that you can take to reduce your dog’s risk.
Never give your dog any medication unless it has been approved by your veterinarian.
To prevent kidney problems in older dogs due to poisoning, keep all dangerous and potentially toxic products out of your dog’s reach.
If you are unsure whether a product is hazardous to your dog’s health, lock it up.
Always supervise your dog when they are playing outside. Dogs can pick up all kinds of things in a split second, some of which could be toxic.
Familiarize yourself with any poisonous plants or flowers in your area.
Final Thoughts – Kidney Disease in Older Dogs
I hope this hasn’t overwhelmed or scared you.
Even if you find out your dog does have kidney disease, each case is different. So, don’t panic.
Your vet will explain everything to you, prepare a treatment plan, and closely monitor your dog, making adjustments as needed.
Remember, many dogs can continue to live good lives for months or even years.
You know your dog best. If you notice any changes in your dog’s behavior, contact your veterinarian to share your concerns.
It may be nothing, or you may have just caught something in its early stages. Generally speaking, the earlier the diagnosis, the better the prognosis.
Most importantly, remember that a solid working relationship with your veterinarian is critical to best managing kidney disease in older dogs.
You are a team with a common goal – to give your dog the best possible quality of life.
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Hi.
Great post you have here.
As always!
You really know A LOT about dogs. I have three dogs myself, but I can not claim that I know a fraction of all the knowledge you have about dogs.
Awesome!
Lucky me, my dogs are fit, so far 🙂
Live, Laugh, Love
Linda 🙂
Hi Linda, Thanks for taking the time to comment, and I appreciate your kind words. I adopt senior dogs, so I’m afraid they always come with some problem or other. I guess that’s why I’ve been so interested in learning so much about them. Plus I’m a dog trainer, so I love helping people with their dogs.
Great Article! We had lost one of our pointer to acute kidney problems years ago. One day he just refused to eat, a dog that normally wolfed down food as though he never gets fed, so right away that set off an alarm. Then we noticed him drinking alot, other than that he seemed fine. Within a day that changed. It was scary how fast everything happened and I wish I knew more about it back then. Hopefully this helps someon e in the future!
Hi Donna, Thank you for your comment, and so sad to hear what happened to your dog. That’s the thing about acute kidney failure. It happens so suddenly, it’s easy to miss the signs. I do hope readers find my content helpful.
I would hate to think my dog would get kidney disease. I had kidney failure early last year and it is miserable. If I could prevent my dog from experiencing that, I would. I love your site. It is very informative. At least now I am armed with information should I ever face this situation. Best wishes to you and Red!
Hi Kristie, Thank you for your comment. So sorry to hear that, I hope you’re doing well and have recovered. I’m so glad you like the site, I do my best to bring as much helpful information as I can to people who share their lives with older dogs. Of course a lot of the information can help with dogs of any age. I do have two more articles on kidney disease scheduled to be published – how is it diagnosed on the 28th, and how is it treated on the 31st. Take care of yourself!
Hi Hindy,
I really enjoy reading your posts, it has helped me know what to watch out for as Oscar gets a bit older.
When I was younger we had a golden labrador who eventually died from cancer. I always wondered if it was because of the procesed dog food that he was fed every day?
Now I only feed Oscar foods that he would have had to hunt and forage for as if he were a wild dog (because that is what they are geneticaly supposed to eat, right). So he mostly gets fresh meat and bones. At 8 years old he has never been sick or needed to go to the vet once, and still has the energy he had when he was a puppy!
Thanks Brad, I’m so glad you find my posts helpful. There is a whole school of thought who will tell you processed food is responsible for many illnesses in dogs. By the same token, there are those professionals, and just regular folk, who will disagree. I know a few people who switched to a raw diet for their dogs, and they notice a big difference. I always say pet nutrition is a minefield, and now with my dog Red and her kidney disease.. Huge differences of opinion, but in her case I’m following the vet’s recommendations because he’s brilliant in his field, and so far his treatment plans have been effective. Good luck with Oscar!!
Thanks Hindy for such a huge amount of info on kidney disease in dogs. Correct me if I am wrong here, but having pale gums is always a sign that there is something wrong with your dog?
I have heard that kidney problems is more common in male animals and that it is often a result of choosing the incorrect food. Can you confirm this?
Hi Lynne, I appreciate you taking the time to comment. Two more articles on kidney disease will be published in the next couple of weeks, so stay tuned!! Typically, a healthy dog has pink gums, while blue tinged, yellow or pale will indicate some kind of problem. I had never heard of kidney disease being more prevalent in male dogs, and haven’t come across that fact in any of my research, but I couldn’t say with any certainty that it isn’t the case. Any cat or dog of mine who suffered from kidney disease was female, so who knows!! As with so many things, there are differences of opinion as to the role of diet, and that would apply in this case as well. There are those who believe processed foods are responsible for many of the illnesses and problems experienced by our dogs, while others have been feeding it to their pets for years with no problems. Dental disease for instance, is just one cause of kidney disease. Others may include age (normal wear and tear), cancer, exposure to toxins… Hope this helps.
i will try and make this short. my dogs brother died. then he would not eat treats sleep all the time and lethargic. took him to the vets did bloodwork and counts very high. was told has CKD. well he is just fine. no symptoms at all of this disease. He is eating his treats, staying awake more now and active. I truly believe he does not have CKD that he was depressed . the vet said no bloodwork doesn’t lie.
don’t believe the VET. he is back to his normal. He was ready to die cause of his brother.
How sad to hear this Lydia, but it makes sense your dog was feeling depressed after losing his brother. How strange about the test results though. I’m glad to hear he’s back to normal, but I would probably find another vet for a second opinion. Bloodwork may not lie but perhaps the test results were mixed up with another dog’s.
i am going to enjoy my dog! Not going to worry about his bloodwork. he is like any normal dog now. Beginning to go outside now without not being scared without his brother! He eats and drinks like a normal dog. i see no symptoms one bid of CKD. thank you for your reply.
Hi Lydia, I’m so glad your dog is learning to be less afraid without his brother. It’s so sad to read this, but it’s not uncommon for dogs to shut down at such a loss. The fact he’s eating and drinking is a good sign, and I hope he’ll be feeling better and enjoying life soon.
Hello,
I know this article is a few years old but you seem very knowledgeable and was hoping you could help. Is it possible that a intentional blockage could be mistaken for Chronic Kidney Failure? Would blood tests present similiar values?
Hi William, a visit to your vet will determine if your dog is experiencing any level of kidney issues. He will usually want a urine sample, blood sample and if there is a reason to suspect a blockage an x ray or perhaps even an ultrasound. If your dog is experiencing any kind of issue I recommend you take him for a check up as soon as possible, and if for some reason you suspect a blockage please mention that when you call to make your appointment as that would be considered an emergency. Good luck and let me know how things go.
Thank you for your time and response. It wasn’t my intention to post my full name with my questions. If you could remove my personal details it would be greatly appreciated. Unfortunately my little guy passed away last year but it has been heavy on my heart that he was misdiagnosed and I didnt push hard enough. I went to get second and third opinions with other vets but they were not very aggressive in countering my first vets opinion. As all the dog lovers here know no matter how much time goes by.. we always wonder what if I did this or that..just anything differently …it’s heartbreaking.
No problem, I’ve removed your last name and email address. I’m so sorry to hear that, and I would love to tell you not to beat yourself up but I know from experience how hard it is to do that. It is heartbreaking when we have to say goodbye, especially if we think we might not have had to. I’ve had wonderful vets, and I’ve had terrible vets, one was responsible for the death of my sweet puppy mill rescue Saffy, during what should have been routine dental surgery. I know all about beating myself up because I’m not able to really get over her death. The thing is we have to rely on our vets to do the diagnosing, but rely on ourselves when we think something is wrong. You took him to your vet, then another and then another. You did a lot more than others do, and you just have to remind yourself you did the best you could. I guess we take these sad experiences and use them to help others. I constantly encourage people to seek second opinions, or change vets if they’re not happy and I started a free resource centre to help people who have questions about their dog or cat. I did that in honour of Saffy. Your sweetie was lucky to have you to share his life with, and I guess that’s all we can hold on to. Take care.
My 6 year old Boston has kidney disease. He was diagnosed 2 months ago. He now has black tar colored poop. I am understanding it to be due to bleeding and/ or ulcers and a symptom of disease progression. With that said, I wonder if the prognosis is very poor as his kidneys are failing. He is such an important and valuable member of our family. My daughter’s best friend. My question is considering the symptom of black stool, how long will he live ? I understand all dogs are different, I’m asking for an answer based on your experience.
I’m sorry to hear about your pup Rhonda. I’m not a vet and you know all dogs are different so it’s an impossible question to answer by anyone. I have had cats and dogs with kidney disease but have never seen “black tar colored poop” produced by any of them. I can tell you my 16 1/2 year old dog has had many health issues including kidney disease which she’s had for quite a few years and so far she’s okay. It’s tough when we a family member is sick, so be sure to love him, appreciate each day and give him the best life you possibly can.
Hello, thank you for your post. My 9 year old schnauzer/poodle mix this past friday was having trouble standing with his back legs so i took him to my vet who assumed it was a disc problem so he gave him a cortisone shot and told us to crate him for 2 weeks so we did just that. The next morning his back legs were worse so we decided to take him to the animal hospital and they did xrays which were fine and blood work and it came back that he had kidney failure, high blood pressure with his eyes becoming so red and had abnormally low platelet levels and an autoimmune disease attacking his red blood cells. We didn’t want to make the decision to let him go so we went to north star vets for a 2nd opinion and unfortunately it was confirmed. They did not feel he would recover even if we had admitted him and they did all the testing. We made the devastating decision in the late evening. I feel so guilty because i feel that i took his life and maybe if i had admitted him they could have done something. They said he had too many health issues going on at once which he would not be able to recover from. I hope i made the right decision because it’s been killing me not knowing. Thank you.
I’m so sorry to hear that Rita. The most important thing is to ensure our animals don’t suffer, and with so many health issues at one time you took your vet’s advice and did the best thing for your pup. I know how heartbreaking it is but I hope you take comfort knowing you loved him enough to let him go when it was time.
Hello, my 15 yr old Maltese Bella was just diagnosed with Kidney Disease. She has only a few symptoms, occasional disorientation/lethargy but most of the day ok, drank alittle more than normal, now she seems to be having some hind leg pains, but not sure if that is from the disease or just her arthritis or age or all. Please advise the vet suggested we start her on SQ Fluids, 3 x a week and Epogen shot 3 x a week for low red count. at 15 what are her chances of fully recovering I’m so confused on if I should go through with trying to do this therapy or not as i do not know if her condition is acute or chronic. Please advise what would you do at this point. they also told me there is no guarantee how she will respond, and when i mentioned a different medication i know some dogs get put on Calcitriol for KD they told me she is not severe enough for that medication, so then how do i know she is severe enough for the Fluids/red Blood cell injections???
I love my dog and have changed her dog food to KD hills Kidney care prescription diet as the vet suggested and want to do anything to give her even just a few more years, but i don’t want to also shorten her life with aggressive therapy if it is truly not going to make a difference.
I’m sorry to hear about Bella. My dog had kidney disease but disorientation and lethargy were not symptoms. Hind leg pains were also not part of the symptoms, and in Bella’s case could be arthritis for example. Your vet is the one to tell you the severity of the kidney disease based on blood tests so I can’t answer that for you. Is it so advanced and is she so dehydrated she needs fluids that many times a week? I don’t know what Epogen is or what’s going on with your dog’s blood. My dog was not on any medication but she did eat Hills Prescription k/d for a few years which kept things well managed. Is this a vet you like and trust? It sounds like there’s a few things going on and perhaps he or she hasn’t explained things well enough for you. I recommend you go back there, no need to bring your dog, and have a conversation about exactly what’s going on with her. Make a list of questions ahead of time. If you don’t like or trust this vet I recommend you find one you do. Mine is a partner with me in my pets’ care and I couldn’t do it without him.