If you've seen some concerning changes in your dog, including lethargy, urinary issues, and a decreased appetite, you'll want to take the pet to your local animal hospital so that the veterinarian can run some tests. In some cases, the outcome of the testing could reveal that your dog has kidney failure — something that can be distressing for any pet owner to hear. The vet will talk to you about the severity of this condition. While advanced kidney failure generally doesn't have a good prognosis, it's possible to effectively manage the condition if it's mild. Here are some treatment options that may be appropriate for mild kidney failure in your dog.
Medication
Like many health conditions in pets, it's often possible to manage a mild case of kidney failure through the use of medication. The vet will likely want to get your dog started on one or more types of medication as quickly as possible, as kidney failure worsens the longer it goes untreated. Once your dog begins to take medication for this condition, you'll likely need to return to the animal hospital at regular intervals so that the veterinarian can assess whether or not the medication is helping — and to what degree.
Fluids
When a dog has kidney failure, it will typically be severely dehydrated as a result of frequently urinating. When you return home after the appointment, you'll need to ensure that your dog always has fresh water available so that it can restore its lost fluids. Generally, this won't be enough on its own, and your vet will want to administer fluids to the pet through the use of an IV. Just like when a human is severely dehydrated, receiving fluids by IV can help with your dog's hydration.
Dialysis
You've likely heard about humans with kidney problems receiving dialysis, but you might not realize that this treatment option is also available for dogs that have kidney failure. Dialysis can be a good way to prolong your pet's life, as well as help its symptoms to be less severe. If the dialysis can restore your pet's kidney function, you may be able to stop taking it to these appointments. In other cases, you may need to regularly take the pet to dialysis appointments for the rest of its life. Speak to your veterinarian to learn more about kidney failure in dogs and discuss what treatment scenarios may be appropriate for your pet.
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