Archive for October, 2010

Contact your vet who can confirm chronic kidney disease by a thorough clinical examination and pathology tests. Often one or both kidneys on palpation are hard, irregular in shape, and larger or smaller than normal. A urine sample may include the presence of blood, a high level of protein and a low specific gravity which [...]

Signs: As the disease progresses slowly over months or years the signs correspondingly may also develop slowly or the dog may compensate and the signs may be hidden up to the point where the dog can no longer compensate and the signs appear suddenly. The signs may be: * drinking excessively * urinating excessively * [...]

This disease can take months or years before symptoms are obvious enough to make the owner aware that the dog is seriously ill. The signs or symptoms are more subtle than acute kidney disease and unless you are alert to the signs they may go unnoticed for some time. Causes: * Infection: bacterial and viral. [...]

regular blood tests for urea and creatinine can help the vet assess the dog’s progress. It is a sign that recovery is taking place when the dog starts to eat and drink. Once your dog goes home it is important that it should be given a balanced diet to reduce stress on the damaged kidneys. [...]

Contact your vet. Nephritis can be readily diagnosed by blood tests for urea and creatinine. Your vet will treat your dog according to thr causes and symptoms. The treatment may involve: * antibiotics; * anti-vomiting drugs; * fluid and electolyte therapy given intravenously, subcutaneously (i.e. under the skin), or orally if the dog is not [...]

* Not eating (but may show intrest in food by hovering over the food bowl). * Drinking may be increased or decreased depending on how toxic the dog is. * Vomiting. * Lethargy. * Dehydration. In cases that are fairly severely dehydrated the skin loses its elasticity. When the skin is pinched behind the neck, [...]