Renal failure in dogs symptoms, diagnosis, treatment of CKD in Shar Pei. Renal failure in dogs

Kidney disease can occur for the following reasons:

unbalanced and poor quality food,
bacterial and viral infections,
immune system defects
toxins,
hereditary predisposition that is present in certain breeds

Most often in dogs there are not acute, but chronic kidney diseases. They pass slowly, up to several years, accompanied by a gradual deterioration. In this process, the kidneys undergo irreversible changes and the disease becomes incurable.

These include the entry into the body of infection, toxic substances. Also, kidney failure can be provoked by various injuries, previous illnesses, or simply poor-quality products. Some dogs succumb to kidney failure due to changes in age or because of a genetic predisposition.

Doctors divide acute renal failure into several groups:

prerenal - develops as a result of shock that arose from various sources with a drop in blood pressure and a violation of blood circulation inside the kidneys;
renal - occurs and develops in the presence of infections, inflammatory processes in the kidneys due to the direct effect on the tissues of the kidneys of certain substances and drugs;
postrenal - appears after urolithiasis, with squeezing or even blockage of the urinary tract.

The chronic form occurs and manifests itself for a long time. In this case, the process of constant death of nephrons occurs. Interestingly, for some time, still living cells take on tasks and completely replace the dead ones. And only when 23 or more kidney tissues are affected, they begin to identify and show signs of the disease.

Symptoms of Kidney Failure in Dogs

In the acute form, the animal, in addition to the above circumstances, also becomes less active. The dog gradually moves less, sleeps more.

Symptoms that are noticed almost immediately include the dog's extreme thirst and frequent urination. To distinguish this symptom from a normal condition, you need to remember that a healthy dog needs 50 milliliters of water for every kilogram of weight. With kidney failure, the amount of water taken by her increases at least twice.

The doctor diagnoses kidney failure based on data on the condition of the animal, as well as on the results of the tests performed. One of the decisive parameters in the diagnosis is the amount of urine.

The urea of a diseased dog may contain urea and creatine, the level of acidity and phosphorus in the blood increases.

In addition to general tests, X-ray diagnostics are also carried out, including the introduction of certain special substances into the blood, less often ultrasound diagnostics or biopsy.

Treatment of kidney failure in dogs

The main direction of treating a dog for kidney failure is to eliminate the causes, correct the imbalance of fluid and electrolytes, stimulate diuresis, and remove toxins from the body. Therefore, sick pets are often prescribed intensive care. It is the elimination of causes that plays a huge role. Because it can solve several problems at once.

To correct the water-electrolyte, acid-base balance, infusor therapy is carried out. It is carried out until the content of urea and creatine is normalized, and the general condition is not stabilized. During treatment, it is important to ensure that important functions of the pet's body are not violated.

If the form of insufficiency is chronic, irreversible pathological changes occur in the kidneys. Conducting in this case the same as in the acute form of treatment will not be enough. You need peritoneal dialysis. This procedure is carried out only in the clinic.

Help treatment can be paying attention to the nutrition of the dog. In a state of illness, it is very important that the animal receives the right amount of nutrients. If the pet has not lost its appetite and eats well, it will be enough just to add special dietary feeds to the diet. You can also enter a diet, the main condition of which is a decrease in the amount of phosphorus, sodium and protein.

But it is better to take care of the animal and not allow its health to deteriorate so much. The life of a pet often depends solely on the actions of the owner, and the responsibility also lies with him.

There are many potential causes leading to chronic kidney disease, so often the root cause cannot be determined. The main reasons are:

hereditary kidney condition (most common in purebred dogs)
infections
poisoning
immune disorders
kidney tumors
obstruction of urine flow

Acute renal failure:

Absence or low blood supply to the kidneys, for example due to dehydration.
Poisoning, for example, due to accidental ingestion of poisons.

Veterinary practice shows that the most common causes of kidney inflammation in dogs are the following:

Veterinarians also note cases of nephritis in dogs that have been fed spoiled feed for a long time. The risk group includes homeless animals and dogs of decorative breeds with a poorly developed undercoat.

In veterinary medicine, it is customary to divide nephritis in animals according to the nature of the process into acute, subacute, chronic and subchronic. The chronic form of the disease is a complication of acute nephritis. In the chronic course of the disease, hyperthermia is of a galloping nature, the effects of intoxication are weakly expressed. The acute form of the disease is accompanied by a feverish state, pronounced intoxication, and the rapid development of uremia.

According to the form of the pathological process, veterinary specialists distinguish between diffuse and focal nephritis. In the first case, the inflammatory process affects all tissues of the kidneys - the pelvis, parenchymal tissues and the vascular network of the glomeruli.

In the case of focal pathology, inflammation is localized in individual glomeruli. This form of the disease passes without hypertensive phenomena and edema. The blood flow in focal nephritis is not disturbed, the phenomena of intoxication in the animal in this regard are not observed.

All kidney diseases in dogs are classified according to several criteria:

Kidney disease in dogs can occur as an independent (primary) pathology, or as a result of complications of underlying diseases (secondary). Secondary renal failure occurs against the background of dysfunction of the immune system (autoimmune diseases), vascular pathologies that occur as thrombosis, thromboembolism, arterial hypertension.

Stages of the disease

In veterinary practice, renal failure syndrome develops in the following stages:

Latent. In this phase, the owner, as a rule, does not observe obvious clinical signs. In rare cases, general weakness, fatigue, lethargy are found. Clinical studies of urine and blood carried out in this phase may reveal characteristic changes in parameters in the underlying pathology.
Phase of compensated insufficiency. The stage is characterized by the clinical manifestation of problems with the excretory system. The owner observes increased thirst in the dog and frequent urination. By this time, 50-55% of nephrons have died. The level of urea in the blood can reach 20 mmol / l, the creatinine index - 200 μmol / l.
Stage of decompensated insufficiency. The number of disabled structural and functional units of the kidneys reaches 80%. The animal has not only problems with urination, but also general symptoms: loss of appetite, vomiting, constipation, weight loss. In blood tests, a persistent increase in urea and creatinine is recorded, which indicates a serious violation of protein metabolism in the body.
Terminal. At this stage, the ability of nephrons to filter blood is reduced to a minimum. The coefficient of kidney function is reduced to 15%, that is, the death of nephrons is 85%. In the blood, the electrolyte balance is sharply disturbed, uremic intoxication develops. The animal has damage to the respiratory, cardiovascular and nervous systems. Pathological processes at this stage of nephropathology are irreversible.

With the timely treatment of the owner and competent complex treatment, the animal manages to fully restore the filtering ability of the kidneys. The terminal stage ends, as a rule, with the death of the pet.

Briefly, it is necessary to talk about the issue that has already been raised above. What are the stages of a disease like kidney failure in dogs? Symptoms and treatment are different for each of them, so it is important to know at what stage the disease is. So, the first is the initial one, which is almost imperceptible.

You will have to try hard to notice it, as your pet will not show any obvious symptoms. The clinical stage will be described in this article in as much detail as possible, since it is on it that all the main symptoms become noticeable, and it is also for it that almost all courses of treatment are prescribed.

As for the final stage, in no case should you allow it to occur. The fact is that it occurs when more than seventy percent of the kidney cells are destroyed, after which it is almost impossible to restore the organ, and your dog will have a disappointing future. However, it is precisely for you to prevent the onset of the final stage that this article exists, which will provide you with all the necessary information.

Common signs of kidney disease

The kidneys perform a number of functions necessary for normal life. The development of edematous phenomena and the accumulation of toxic substances in the bloodstream leads to malfunctions in the entire body of the animal.

Symptoms of kidney disease in dogs have a number of characteristic features. But depending on the type of pathological process, there will be its own symptoms. The main signs for most pathological processes developing in the renal structures are:

change in the smell of urine (rotten, sour, or too concentrated);
an increase or decrease in the excreted portion of urine;
the frequency of urination increases or vice versa, decreases;
change in the shade of excreted urine (depending on the type of pathological process, urine may acquire a reddish tint, become colorless, brown, cloudy or with suspensions);
loss of appetite and intense thirst;
a sharp decrease in body weight;
changes in body temperature;
the appearance of the smell of ammonia from the oral cavity of the animal;
eruption of gastric contents associated with stool disorders;
violation of coordination of movements, stiffness in the movements of the animal when walking;
feeling of discomfort during the act of urination;
uncontrolled acts of urination (the animal can write on the bed, bedding or carpets);
adoption of an unnatural posture in a pet when going to the toilet.

In order to accurately determine the cause that led to the failure of the renal structures, it is necessary to undergo a thorough clinical examination in a veterinary clinic. In addition to taking blood and urine tests, ultrasound and x-rays are performed.

Accurate diagnosis is necessary to prescribe adequate treatment and determine the degree of kidney damage. Thanks to accurate research, the veterinarian will be able to develop an individual treatment strategy.

Symptoms of the disease

With pyelonephritis, the connective tissue of the kidneys and renal pelvis becomes inflamed. As a rule, the nature of this disease is bacterial and occurs as a result of infectious processes of the genital organs. Both kidneys are mostly affected.

The disease can proceed so suddenly that the animal dies within 12 hours. In the chronic course of the disease, the animal becomes exhausted, becomes lethargic, and experiences pain during urination.

With nephritis in dogs, the kidney parenchyma becomes inflamed and the vessels of the glomeruli are affected (glomerulonephritis). The disease has an immunoallergic nature and is manifested by a decrease in appetite, an increase in body temperature, and depression. Animals often unnaturally arch their backs, swelling of the eyelids, intermaxillary space, abdomen, hips, vomiting, and dyspeptic phenomena appear. His mucous membranes turn pale. As a secondary phenomenon, bronchitis and bronchopneumonia can develop.

Alarming and life-threatening are the symptoms of azotemic uremia:

pupil constriction,
drowsiness,
vomit,
complete rejection of food
shortness of breath in a dog, convulsive twitches

Signs of chronic renal failure

The most common condition in dogs is chronic renal failure. It is dangerous because the kidneys cannot excrete metabolic products with urine. As a result, toxic substances accumulate in the blood: nitrogen, ammonia, acids and others. With this disease, the animal has the following symptoms:

increased thirst and increased urine output,
the dog loses its appetite and, accordingly, loses weight,
may be vomiting
depression,
a brownish coating appears on the surface of the tongue,
ulcers may appear on the tongue and gums, and an ammonia smell is noticeable when breathing

In the severe stage, the dog develops anemia and the animal falls into a coma. It should be borne in mind that similar symptoms indicate diseases such as diabetes in a dog, so the diagnosis is established only after a complete examination of the animal. However, these signs appear very late, at the stage when more than 70-80% of kidney functions have actually been lost.

First of all, it is necessary to prevent dehydration of the body, since the kidneys do not cope with their functions and all the liquid is excreted along with the urine. The dog should always have fresh water. In the most serious cases, veterinarians will inject fluid into the dog subcutaneously. The dog needs to provide proper nutrition, reducing the amount of toxins, that is, the intake of salt, protein and phosphorus. Iron and B vitamins must be included in the diet.

If the dog eats dry food, you can switch to a special kidney diet, which is produced by some manufacturers, such as Hill's and Royal Canin. Timely drug treatment is also necessary, which should be systematic and supportive, aimed at detoxifying the body.

The course of antibiotic treatment should be carefully calibrated and drugs selected with the least nephrotoxicity. Thus, tetracyclines, polymyxins, aminoglycosides, cephalosporins are contraindicated in renal diseases. Therefore, only a veterinarian should prescribe treatment, as well as make a diagnosis.

Distemper in dogs is a viral disease, characterized by damage to the skin, digestive and respiratory organs, in rare cases, the development of meningitis and encephalitis is noted. The virus infects dogs of all ages, although dogs between one month and two years of age are predominantly affected. Even marine animals are susceptible to the disease. Terriers and a boxer dog are considered relatively resistant to distemper, a person does not get sick.

There is an asymptomatic virus carrier or a fulminant, violent course. The duration of the disease can vary from a few days or weeks to several months. When the symptoms of respiratory organs damage prevail in the clinical picture of the disease, they speak of the pulmonary form of the disease, when the nervous system is extensively affected - the nervous form.

Perhaps the development of hyperkeratosis on the elbows and small-focal alopecia. There are discharges from the nose, which are transparent at the first stages of the development of the disease, and become mucopurulent over time. Sometimes there is clouding of the cornea, gluing or redness of the eyelids, shortness of breath appears, wheezing is heard. The intestinal form of the disease is characterized by the development of diarrhea, vomiting.

Symptoms of damage to the nervous system include the appearance of tics, which begin with the muscles of the head. At the first stages, they are not intense, later they spread to the limbs and become pronounced, as a result, the animals do not sleep at night, often whine. Gradually develop paralysis, paresis, hyperkinesis. At the last stage, meningoencephalitis develops, which is accompanied by severe intoxication and ends in death.

Treatment is prescribed only by a veterinarian.

Liver disease in dogs can be acute or chronic. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of diagnosed liver diseases in dogs, which is directly related to the violation of the feeding regimen for pets, the widespread occurrence of autoimmune diseases. Sometimes the cause of liver disease in dogs is iatrogenic lesions (caused by a veterinarian).

Symptoms of liver disease in dogs are conditionally divided into a number of syndromes, among them it is customary to single out:

cholestatic syndrome;
cytolytic syndrome;
mesenchymal inflammatory syndrome;
hemorrhagic syndrome;
dyspeptic syndrome;
portal hypertension syndrome;
hepatolienal syndrome;
hepatodepressive syndrome;
liver shunt syndrome.

Cholestatic syndrome implies a violation of secretion and excretion of bile, which is manifested by skin itching, jaundice, a tendency to eczematous skin lesions, discoloration of feces.

Cholestatic syndrome is a consequence of the destruction of liver cells and leads to fever (fever), an increase and tenderness of the liver, and an increase in liver enzymes in blood tests.

Mesenchymal-inflammatory syndrome is characterized by damage to the stroma and mesenchyme of the liver, which is manifested by an increase in the level of immunoglobulins.

Hemorrhagic syndrome is manifested by various bleeding and hemorrhages, anemia.

The syndrome of portal hypertension is manifested by an increase in the size of the abdomen, expansion of the veins on the skin of the abdomen.

Dyspeptic syndrome is manifested by lethargy, depression, vomiting, impaired defecation and weight loss.

Hepatolienal syndrome is manifested by an increase in the liver and spleen.

Hepatodepressive syndrome is manifested by a violation of the protein-synthesizing, antitoxic and excretory functions of the liver, the symptoms are very numerous.

Liver bypass syndrome leads to the entry into the general circulation of substances dangerous for the life of the dog, leading to damage to the central nervous system.

Symptoms of Kidney Disease in Dogs

In dogs, kidney diseases are recorded more often than in other animals, their frequency increases over the years. According to scientists, in dogs older than 8 years, in almost fifty percent of cases, pronounced symptoms of kidney damage are detected during studies. On histological examination, the number rises to eighty percent.

The main syndromes of kidney damage include:

nephrotic syndrome;
uremic syndrome;
pain syndrome;
osteorenal syndrome;
renal eclampsia syndrome.

Pain syndrome is manifested by the desire of the dog to lie in a cold place, in frequent arching of the back, the need for frequent urination, pain during urination, soreness of the muscles of the back (it is possible to check with finger pressure), edema and transient paresis.

Nephrotic syndrome is manifested by edema, proteinuria, hypoproteinemia, oliguria and cylindruria, detected during laboratory tests.

Uremic syndrome is manifested by apathy, lack of appetite, vomiting, persistently recurrent diarrhea, urine odor from the mouth, anemia and anuria.

Osteorenal syndrome is characterized by deformity and osteoporosis of bones, hypocalcemia and osteodystrophy.

Renal eclampsia syndrome is manifested by tonic-clonic convulsions, nephrotic syndrome, and episcleral vascular injection (eye redness).

Urolithiasis in dogs is a disease characterized by the formation of stones in the kidneys, bladder or their retention in the ureters or urethra.

A similar disease for dogs is considered a relatively rare disease, in contrast to cats, in which urolithiasis is often recorded. Dogs are prone to developing bladder stones.

Predisposing factors for the development of urolithiasis in dogs are:

- age (usually found in dogs aged 2-8 years);
- sex (occurs equally often in both sexes, urethral obstruction occurs more often in males);
- breed (large breeds are less susceptible to disease than small ones);
- diet (food rich in protein, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, provokes the development of the disease);
- indoor maintenance and exercise (the list includes infrequent walks, a small amount of water in the bowl and low physical activity).

The main symptoms of urolithiasis in dogs include:

vomiting and pain;
frequent urination;
tension when urinating;
blood in the urine;
weakness;
depression;
constant excretion of urine drops;
loss of appetite.

Diagnostic methods

Diagnosing kidney disease is a very difficult task - you should not even try to do it yourself. Information found in medical manuals and on the Internet should help you detect the disease in time, but no more.

Often, violations in the functioning of the kidneys have similar symptoms with other serious diseases, which means that an error in diagnosis can cost the animal its life. That is why, at the slightest suspicion, a complete examination of the dog's body should be done, namely, a general blood and urine test, ultrasound and x-rays. In no case can conclusions be drawn, relying solely on the clinical picture of the disease.

Having found symptoms of nephritis in a four-legged friend, the owner should contact a specialized institution without delay. A veterinarian, in addition to a general examination of the animal, palpation of the kidney area, tonometry, will prescribe a clinical blood and urine test.

In urine, erythrocytes and leukocytes, renal epithelium and salts are found. Proteinuria, hematuria are characteristic conditions for inflammation of the kidneys. A clinical blood test shows, as a rule, an increased state of protein, leukocytes and creatinine.

Ultrasound is an effective diagnostic tool. The method allows to identify the localization of inflammation, to assess the size of the diseased organ, to detect destructive changes in the parenchyma.

Contrast radiography, as well as a kidney biopsy, can help in establishing the diagnosis. The disease should be differentiated from nephrosis, pyelonephritis, urolithiasis, inflammation of the bladder.

Taking anamnesis allows the veterinarian to suspect the development of kidney failure after suffering an infectious or non-contagious disease of the excretory system. During a clinical examination, edema, dehydration, signs of heart failure can be detected. An important diagnostic component is a laboratory analysis of blood and urine.

An increase in urea and creatinine indicates a serious violation of the filtering ability of nephrons and a violation of nitrogen metabolism in the pet's body.

Normally, the urea in dogs is 3.5 - 9.2 mmol / l, and the concentration of creatinine is 26 - 120 μmol / l. With moderate renal insufficiency, the urea index in the blood of a sick animal reaches 28 mmol / l, and in the terminal phase - 50 and above.

The concentration of creatinine in the stage of compensated insufficiency rises to 400 µmol/l, in the terminal - 600 µmol/l. Such high values indicate a complete cessation of the filtration function of the kidneys, poisoning of the body with nitrogenous metabolic products and mean a fatal outcome for the pet.

In addition to indicators of protein metabolism, the mineral also changes in the blood. In the chronic form of the disease, an increase in the concentration of phosphorus in the blood is observed, while the content of calcium falls. Low values of hemocrit during the disease indicate a violation of the process of erythropoiesis in the body of a sick dog. Protein and sugar are found in the urine.

Ultrasound diagnosis allows you to assess the size of the kidneys. As a rule, in the case of the development of an acute form of the disease, during the examination, the doctor detects an increase in the organ, and with the development of chronic insufficiency, the kidneys decrease in size. Postrenal pathologies, for example, urolithiasis, can also be detected by x-ray examination.

Based on the results of laboratory, physical, instrumental studies and analysis of the collected information, the veterinarian makes a diagnosis and develops an individual treatment regimen. It has been established that the most common cause of kidney pathology in dogs is a violation of the content, errors in the diet of pets. Thus, the main fault lies with the owners of the animals.

Laboratory tests

If you have even the slightest suspicion that your dog is developing kidney failure, you should definitely visit the veterinarian and run some lab tests. The fact is that the efficiency of the kidneys can be easily checked with a blood test for urea and creatinine.

As mentioned above, it is impossible to identify the disease in the initial stages, since living cells distribute the functions of the dead among themselves, so the level of urea and creatinine in the blood will be normal. And it is this norm that you should constantly check. For a dog, the presence of one to two milligrams of creatinine and 10-25 milligrams of urea per hundred milliliters of blood is considered normal.

Common kidney diseases in dogs and their treatment

Glomerulonephritis - an inflammatory process in the kidneys, which is often caused by the penetration of an infection into the body. Wounds, infectious diseases, allergies, as well as inflammation of the internal organs can also provoke the disease. First of all, the disease affects the renal glomeruli, and then the adjacent tissues. Clinical signs of the disease are: swelling, the presence of blood in the urine, fever, fever, pain in the lower back, a sharp increase in pressure. Usually, veterinarians prescribe hormones to reduce inflammation, and antibiotics to suppress an existing or prevent a possible infection. Certain painkillers are also prescribed, for example, vikasol is used to stop bleeding. The process of therapy for glomerulonephritis involves a serious limitation of the pet's physical activity, a special diet and the intake of additional drugs.
Nephrosis is a lesion of the renal tubules, which leads to serious violations of protein metabolism, as well as general intoxication of the body. The factor that led to the onset of the disease can be any viral disease (in this case, nephrosis is considered a complication), a malfunction of the system, malignant tumors, poisoning, congenital malformation, and other diseases. Therapy for this disease depends on the cause of its occurrence. Doctors spend most of their efforts on eliminating the root cause. Treatment is symptomatic and individual. It is necessary to reduce physical activity and a certain dietary diet.
Pyelonephritis is an inflammatory disease caused by certain bacteria. However, there is a small chance that a virus or fungus can provoke the onset of the disease. Pyelonephritis can also occur as a complication of diseases such as cystitis, purulent inflammation of any of the internal organs, or a sexually transmitted disease. The main clinical signs of pyelonephritis are: apathy and lethargy, increased pressure, complete or partial refusal of food, fever and a stiff gait. To relieve the symptoms of the disease, doctors use painkillers, drugs that reduce blood pressure, antispasmodics, antibiotics, and immunomodulators to increase the dog's immunity.
kidney failure - with this disease, the organs are actually not able to perform their direct functions normally. This state can last from a couple of hours to three or four days. Among the factors that can affect the onset of the disease are intoxication, infection, ischemia, or injury. Clinical signs of the disease are as follows: urination drop by drop, swelling, severe pain, especially in the belt area, lethargy and partial refusal to eat. Gagging, severe itching and the presence of blood in the urine are also not excluded. Acute renal failure is an extremely dangerous disease that requires immediate medical attention. The chronic form of the disease occurs as a kind of complication of another kidney disease. It has similar but milder symptoms.
hereditary kidney disease, such as, for example, amyloidosis, are not so common in dogs. However, they are extremely difficult to treat. Often, a specialist can only slow down the destructive processes inside the organ. At the same time, certain defects, for example, the presence of a double kidney, do not lead to any negative consequences. The irony is that a healthy organ suffers much more from various diseases.
urolithiasis disease- the appearance of stones in the kidneys of an animal.

There are a number of factors that provoke or contribute to the development of pathological conditions of the renal structures. The most common causes of diseases in the kidneys are poor nutrition with a low content of nutrients, genetic diseases, infections and bacterial lesions, disruptions in the body's defenses, tumor processes, acute intoxication, accumulations of toxic substances in the body, as well as dehydration of the dog's body, leading to to poor blood supply within the kidneys themselves.

The following diseases are most often diagnosed in dogs:

Polycystic kidney disease in dogs is a genetic disease that is inherited. Anomalies of a genetic nature that disrupt the functioning of the renal structures also include amyloidosis and dysplasia, they are difficult to treat with therapeutic methods, but it is up to the doctor to stop the pathological destructive process and resume the functioning of the organs as much as possible. Animals with polycystic kidney disease can live a fairly long life, but if the owner observes the rules of feeding and maintenance therapy.
Kidney stones in a dog - an ailment called urolithiasis, occurs in dogs not as often as in cats, but also causes kidney dysfunction. The disease occurs as a result of the formation of stones from the salts present in urine. Kidney stones can range from small to large, and as they move through the kidney ducts, they can lead to blockage and severe inflammation. Treatment of this pathology includes taking medications that dissolve small calculi, as well as performing a surgical intervention that allows you to crush large drops and then remove them from the body.
Glomerulonephritis- processes of an inflammatory type that do not have a direct connection with an infectious agent. Pathology occurs as a result of exposure to the body of allergic substances, inflammatory processes of internal organs, as well as previously transferred bacterial or viral infections. With glomerulonephritis, the characteristic symptoms are a sharp increase in blood pressure, swelling of the periphery, a change in the shade of urine and an increase in body temperature.
Pyelonephritis - inflammation of the renal structures caused by the development of pathogenic bacterial microflora. Pyelonephritis occurs as a result of exposure to staphylococcal, intestinal infections, as well as due to infection by the body with viral or fungal microorganisms. The disease can develop on its own, but quite often pyelonephritis is a secondary complication against the background of inflammation of the bladder, purulent processes in other internal organs. Signs of pyelonephritis are expressed in the absence of appetite in the animal, severe lethargy, stiffness when walking, raising body temperature to high levels. Treatment of inflammatory processes in the kidneys includes taking painkillers and antispasmodic drugs, as well as drugs that reduce blood pressure. It is mandatory in the treatment of pyelonephritis to use antibiotics, which are selected by the doctor, taking into account the age, weight and health of the patient.
Nephroses are destructive processes that develop in the tubules of the renal structures. As a result of a systemic pathological process, protein-type metabolism is disrupted, and not filtered toxic substances are not excreted from the body, but enter back into the systemic circulation. There are many causes of nephrosis. These can be systemic poisoning, tumor processes in the animal's body, incorrect and untimely treatment of kidney pathologies, and congenital diseases. Depending on the cause that led to the destructive changes in the tubules of the kidneys, the veterinarian prescribes a treatment regimen. A mandatory criterion is compliance with a specific diet, as well as the appointment of drugs that eliminate the main symptoms of the disease.
Chronic kidney failure is a slowly progressive disease associated with the gradual loss of functional features of the renal structures. Most often, the disease progresses slowly and without severe symptoms, affecting both kidneys at once. The appearance of characteristic symptoms of chronic renal failure occurs when one of the paired organs has already ceased to function, and the other is affected by 1/3. Treatment of pathology is symptomatic, since a complete cure is not possible.
Hypoplasia of the cortical substance of the kidneys is a congenital type of disease. It occurs in certain breeds of dogs and consists in a violation of the processes of removing toxic substances from the body. Against the background of hypoplasia, kidney failure occurs. Symptoms of kidney hypoplasia are characterized by a large amount of excreted portion of urine, vomiting and diarrhea. The disease is not treated and only symptomatic therapy is used in veterinary medicine to keep the pet alive. Most often, the animal dies from severe intoxication of the body.

The kidneys remove various substances from the body less and, as a result, they accumulate. Dogs over 5 years of age are at risk.

Causes of kidney failure

In most cases, kidney failure occurs due to diseases that affect the vessels that filter the blood.

Also, the cause may be a long-term effect on the kidneys of infection, birth defects in the form of a thickening of the internal structure of the kidney, inflammatory processes, and cancerous tumors.

The causes of chronic kidney failure in dogs are kidney diseases such as:

pyelonephritis,
glomerulonephritis,
kidney dysplasia,
heavy metal toxicity
renal amyloidosis

Symptoms

Symptoms of the disease often develop very slowly and may not appear even if one kidney is completely damaged and the second kidney is damaged by a third.

The disease is manifested by the general depressed state of dogs
The amount of urine changes dramatically. It can become much larger due to the fact that the body cannot retain fluid.
There are frequent urges to urinate, which may be false
The animal constantly drinks, periodically the dog has diarrhea and vomiting, it loses weight and appetite
Edema may appear, the pulse rate increases, the mucous membranes turn pale
In some cases, stomatitis, trembling, muscle weakness may appear

Symptoms may not appear constantly and one by one, so it is very important to consider them in time and consult a veterinarian in order for the treatment to be effective.

Further therapy

Treatment is carried out using therapies such as:

drug therapy;
physiotherapy;
dietetics;
surgery.

Diet therapy is of great importance in the treatment of renal pathologies and the prevention of progression and recurrence of diseases. With the help of an adequately designed diet, it is possible to:

weaken the symptoms of pathology in the form of dyspeptic disorders;
reducing the amount of protein in the diet helps to cope with acidosis;
an increase in dietary fiber content provides an alternative way to eliminate toxins and metabolic products - with feces;
ensure the supply of minerals and vitamins to restore metabolism;
restoring body weight with foods containing non-protein calories, vitamins, essential fatty acids.

In extreme cases, surgery may be required, for example, to remove stones from the kidneys. The problem is that not all veterinary clinics can provide surgical treatment for renal pathology. To avoid serious pathologies of the kidneys, long-term and expensive treatment, it is necessary to use prevention methods.

Firstly, it quenches the pet's thirst, secondly, it relieves the animal's body of toxins, and thirdly, it reduces the load on the kidneys, which are already working at the limit of their capabilities. Accordingly, depending on the severity of the disease, this therapy will have its own frequency. If the disease was diagnosed already at the clinical stage, then therapy sessions will need to be carried out daily, but if it was detected at a critical stage, then sessions will have to be carried out more often.

And, of course, chronic renal failure in dogs is a disease that will not go anywhere, since the cells of this internal organ are not restored. You can only normalize the state of the body and then maintain it in working condition on your own. To do this, you will either need to visit the veterinarian periodically for intravenous therapy, or, if the disease was not at a critical stage, this therapy can be administered subcutaneously at home. One way or another, you need to constantly consult with your veterinarian to determine the effectiveness of the treatment and the frequency of further sessions.

Prevention of Kidney Disease in Dogs

To prevent the occurrence of kidney disease, pet owners should strictly observe the following rules:

Do not allow your pet to come into contact with street dogs. In addition, the animal must be vaccinated on time and subjected to anthelmintic prophylaxis. Also, several times a month it is worth checking the condition of the dog's oral cavity - any inflammatory process in the mouth can adversely affect the functioning of the kidneys.
The dog needs to be fed properly. Deviation from the norm, obesity, anorexia or exhaustion have an extremely negative effect on the work of internal organs, including the kidneys. Gastrointestinal problems cause a lot of kidney disease, especially if the dog is older. Owners should also seriously think about the fact that cheap food or too much protein leads to an overload of this organ.
Watering a pet is worth the water that you drink yourself. Also, do not allow the dog to often suffer from thirst.
The dog must be physically active. It is recommended to train or actively walk the animal at least several times a week.
In no case should the dog be allowed to become hypothermic or be under a draft. In winter, older animals should be wrapped or dressed. In addition, pets should not sleep on a cold floor or near a fan.
You should also not use especially strict types of collars. It is better to spend some money on a dog handler and teach the dog to listen to commands. Constant pressure on the neck can lead to displacement of the internal organs, disruption of the urination process, as well as a deterioration in blood flow.

If suddenly the dog received a tangible injury at the location of the kidneys, it should immediately be shown to the veterinarian. Such an incident can provoke violations, which may well manifest themselves only after a few months or even years.

It is possible that even if the disease is correctly diagnosed, it cannot be completely cured. The disease can progress or become chronic. It is ignoring the symptoms of kidney disease that most often leads to a similar outcome.

Biochemical analysis of urine every six months can insure you against a sudden onset of illness and greatly facilitate possible treatment.

It is recommended to conduct diagnostic examinations of the pet in veterinary clinics once every 6 months. You can simply give urine every six months to monitor the state of the kidney structures. This will avoid the development of chronic renal failure and other pathological conditions that are difficult to treat.

As a preventive measure, you can use medicines based on plant extracts. One of these drugs is Phytoelita "Healthy Kidneys". This is a general tonic drug with antispasmodic, salt-removing and anti-inflammatory effect.

An important part of the prevention of kidney disease in dogs is a properly formulated diet. Severe obesity, as well as malnutrition, have a sharply negative effect on the kidneys. Systemic disorders in the functioning of the entire digestive system are closely associated with kidney disease in dogs, especially after 5 years of age.

A large amount of protein, cheap types of feed, food that is not digested by the dog, create a strong load on the kidneys. The danger of kidney disease lies in the fact that in the absence of characteristic symptoms or in case of untimely treatment, the ailments become chronic and are not completely cured.

Get your old dog to the vet regularly, at least once a year (ideally every 6 months). Blood or urine tests can help detect kidney disease at an early stage.
Measure your dog's water intake every month. If it starts to grow, then it may be a sign of kidney disease or another disorder. Normal water intake, as a rule, should not exceed 100 ml per kg of dog weight during the day. However, remember that if the dog's diet consists of dry food, he or she may drink a little more!
Of course, monitor your dog for the symptoms listed above and take him to the vet if you are concerned.

In order to prevent the development of severe kidney disease in a four-legged friend, veterinarians give owners the following advice and recommendations:

Preventive vaccination of pets against infectious diseases.
Regular deworming at least 3 times a year.
Feeding fresh food. Balanced diet.
Prevention of poisoning.
Keeping dogs in warm, dry, draft-free rooms.
Gradual hardening of pets.
Immunity boost.
Prevention of hypothermia. Decorative breeds of dogs should be walked in special protective overalls.
Timely treatment of colds.

There is a breed predisposition to kidney pathologies in dogs. For example, dalmatians, dachshunds, bulldogs, terriers are more likely than other breeds to have urolithiasis. Therefore, the owner must know the characteristics of the breed of his pet and carry out the prevention of renal pathologies:

Regularly visit the veterinary clinic to monitor the condition and function of the kidneys.
Observe the drinking regimen, especially when eating dry food and high physical activity of the dog, as well as during a hot period of time.
With age, a visit to the veterinary clinic should be regular - at least 1 time in 6 months.

As the experience of veterinarians and statistical data show, the health and well-being of his pet depends on the responsible behavior of the owner. This is also true for renal pathologies in dogs.

Dietary nutrition in pathology

The therapeutic diet for renal failure is characterized by a minimum protein content. The main part of the diet of a sick pet should be fats and carbohydrates. Products should contain a minimum amount of phosphorus, salt is completely excluded. Veterinarians, as a rule, recommend transferring the pet to medicinal feeds specially designed for problems with the excretory system for the duration of treatment.

Well, the last point to focus on is nutrition. When the worst is behind you, you will need to think about what to do next. How to keep your pet in good condition? To do this, you will need to think over his diet in as much detail as possible. Fortunately, a wide variety of dietary pet foods are now available in the public domain, and among them you can find special options designed for dogs with kidney failure.

Kidney failure in dogs is a fairly serious disease. And if your dog suffers from a similar disease, then you need to be well aware of this disease in order to help your pet heal and continue a full life.

Symptoms of Kidney Disease in Dogs

Quite a severe disease is renal failure. The kidneys do not completely remove from the pet's body those substances that poison it. Phosphorus, calcium, vitamin D3 are poorly absorbed and the acid-base balance is disturbed throughout the body.

A number of infections and toxic substances cause kidney disease. The disease develops due to previous diseases, all kinds of injuries, and even because of low-quality products. This disease can be transmitted genetically. Age-related changes can also cause kidney failure. The concept itself means a disease not only of the kidneys themselves, but also of the adrenal glands too.

Certain symptoms indicate that your pet is suffering from kidney failure. Attention should be paid if

The dog constantly drinks and suffers from endless thirst. During the day, the animal, having healthy kidneys, drinks up to fifty milliliters of fluid throughout the day. This is based on one kilogram of weight. In case of renal insufficiency, the dose of water consumed is increased to one hundred milliliters.
Urine excreted by a dog, with a disease of renal failure, increases significantly in quantity. A dog can go to the toilet six to eight times a day. Over time, the kidneys no longer produce the required amount of urine. As a result, she doesn't stand out at all.
Decreased appetite - may not be accidental. This is one of the most severe symptoms of this disease. At the beginning, the animal begins to sort out food. Then he does not eat even what is offered to him. Loses weight rapidly. As a result, the dog generally refuses to eat.
Your friend has stopped frolicking. He doesn't care. He became lethargic, sleeps a lot or just lies. This condition of the animal may indicate that the dog is developing kidney failure.
Vomiting is also one of the symptoms of this disease. At the onset of the disease, vomiting is rare. But over time, they become more frequent. Such a phenomenon can occur after each meal or just drinking water. The pulse quickens.
Edema appears.
The mouth becomes inflamed and ulcers appear.
Vision drops sharply.
Alternating indigestion and constipation.

Acute renal failure in dogs

The acute form of this disease has a distinctive feature: it develops extremely quickly. It is necessary to contact a specialist in time so that he makes the correct diagnosis. Under this condition, it is possible to cure this disease, as far as possible in each case, although this will require sufficient time. The difficulty lies in the fact that the acute form is quite rare. There are a number of factors that lead to the appearance of the disease.

So nephrosis or nephritis entails the complete destruction of kidney tissue.
Worms and the toxins they release lead to kidney disease. A variety of infectious diseases in dogs quite often entail AKI.
There are a number of congenital diseases in which the kidneys do not cope with their immediate duties.
It is possible that poisoning also causes this disease.
A cyst in a dog interferes with the work of the kidneys. But after its removal, the body is restored completely.
The tumor can provoke the appearance of the disease.
One factor may be sand or a kidney stone.

The kidneys begin to work poorly if

OPN is divided into the following groups:

Prerenal.

At the same time, the pressure drops sharply. This is possible if there is not enough fluid in the body or during heat stroke.

Renal.

In the kidneys, tissues and cells are damaged. It can be caused by pyelonephritis, drug poisoning.

Postrenal.

In this case, the ureter is compressed, and possibly clogged. This means the presence of stones in the kidneys and ureters. OPN, if it is already secondary, becomes incurable.

Chronic kidney failure in dogs

Distinguish between acute and chronic renal failure in dogs. The acute form of renal failure is very fast in its development. And if you seek help from a specialist in time, who will quickly and correctly establish the diagnosis, you can help your pet. Chronic renal failure often occurs in dogs,

who have lived for six years or more. But not only age can serve as the onset of the disease.
It could be genetic heritage.
And also OPN, formed much earlier.

The whole trouble is that the onset of kidney failure in a dog is not noticed by the owner of the dog for the simple reason that the disease does not have pronounced signs. And, therefore, no one is much alarmed. The first signs of CKD are:

Bad appetite
Weakness.
The results of analyzes and certain tests indicate the presence of the disease.
Increased thirst.

At the first stage of the disease, the dog remains active, frisky. The kidneys still cope with their functions and manage to purify the blood. This is facilitated by a large amount of urine. Further, the kidneys no longer cope with their duties and this entails a deterioration in the health of the animal. Clearly becomes noticeable:

Weight loss,
Endurance.
The activity of the animal is lost.
The dog drinks a lot.
The excretion of urine becomes less and less every time. And there are false positives.
The fur becomes dull.
Saliva is viscous. Dehydration occurs.
The temperature drops to thirty-seven degrees.
There is bradycardia. The pulse rate is less than sixty beats per minute.
The smell of ammonia comes from the dog's mouth.
Periodically there are vomiting or vomiting. At the same time, undigested food is visible.
Swelling of the extremities is quite common. Although this does not always happen.
The kidneys gradually decrease in chronic renal failure.

The owner of a four-legged friend with such symptoms just needs to go to a specialist. After all, the pet urgently needs help.

Treating a disease in a dog

Renal failure in dogs can be difficult to diagnose early on because the kidneys are a paired organ. If one of the kidneys becomes ill, then the healthier kidney takes over its function for some time. And the body continues to work without any deviations.

Therefore, before proceeding with the treatment of kidney failure in a dog, the doctor will definitely prescribe a number of tests and examinations. In this case, the veterinarian will ask the owner about the living conditions of the dog, its usual behavior. And also to clarify what has changed in the behavior of the animal in recent years. The tests, x-rays, ultrasound examinations allow you to fully reveal the picture of the pet's disease. Based on this, the doctor makes an appointment.

Such a diagnosis requires inpatient treatment. For therapeutic treatment of acute renal failure and chronic renal failure, the same drugs are used. In the treatment of acute renal failure, the cause that led to the attack is eliminated. And with chronic renal failure, the goal is to maintain the vitality of a pet. With such a disease, the animal experiences severe intoxication. First of all, it must be eliminated.

Intravenously, the animal is injected with a buffer composition, glucose, a physical solution in the form of droppers.
In addition, the liver and heart are supported by certain drugs.
Blood transfusion, if necessary, can sometimes also support the life of a pet.
The use of an "artificial kidney" is also possible. But this will require very high costs.
To improve the general condition of your pet and improve digestion, you need to take vitamins and probiotics.
In addition, the doctor prescribes medicines to the caudate patient that can lower the pressure, as well as pills or injections that calm the nervous system.
To maintain health, a diet for dogs with kidney failure is very important.

It should be noted that the life expectancy of a pet depends on the stage of the disease, its type, as well as the conditions in which the animal is located.

What to feed a dog with such a deficiency

One of the conditions for the treatment of acute renal failure and chronic renal failure, as well as your desire to prolong the life of a pet, is nutrition. Properly selected and balanced selection of products will enable the four-legged friend to live a full and joyful life again. To do this, again, you need to listen to the opinion and advice of a specialist. At the same time, you can cook your own meals for your pet. And you can use special food for this purpose, buying it in specialized stores or veterinary pharmacies.

When choosing food for dogs with kidney failure, certain requirements must be met. But the most important requirement in cooking is a strict restriction of salt intake. It is salt that is the main enemy for those suffering from kidney failure. And if the pet is dear to the owner, then he will carefully adhere to this rule.

But fats in food should be in sufficient quantities. They are necessary to restore the vitality of your pet. The dog's diet should include eggs, butter, yogurt, which has a high percentage of fat content. But you should not use vegetable oil for cooking. When preparing meals at home, one must remember that fats should be introduced gradually and in small portions so as not to upset the work of the stomach and intestines.

Protein foods can not be completely excluded from the diet. But it still needs to be limited. You can give your pet two proteins and only one yolk for food. Egg shells can be included in the diet. Just before serving, it must be finely chopped. This use of the shell will allow the absorption of phosphorus. For half a kilogram of any cooked food, you need only one gram of crushed eggshell.

Consumption of dairy products

With some caution and in small quantities, it is necessary to introduce milk and products containing milk, bones. The amount of foods that contain phosphorus directly depends on the severity of the disease. The more difficult the degree of the disease, the less phosphorus should be in the diet of the animal.

Carbohydrates, which have a low amount of phosphorus, should also be used when feeding a dog suffering from kidney failure. You can cook dishes using semolina and rice, as well as white potatoes.

Another very important factor in dietary nutrition is water. Tap water should never be used for cooking, especially for an animal suffering from kidney failure. Therefore, water is taken for culinary products and just for drinking, only filtered.

If your pet does not want to eat, then it is better to cook for him those dishes that he likes. Treat your pet with tasty treats. As the dog recovers, he will eat whatever is offered to him.

There are special dry food for dogs () suffering from kidney diseases. And their range is quite diverse. But before you buy such food, you need to make sure it suits your pet.

It is worth knowing that transferring a dog to a normal diet is possible only after certain treatment and tests, with the permission of a doctor. This is possible if a four-legged friend is diagnosed with acute renal failure. In chronic renal failure, dietary nutrition is constantly observed and cannot be abandoned. If older dogs suffered from kidney failure in a dog in the old days, now PN has become younger. And many younger pets suffer from this disease. Take care and love your pets.

Kidney failure, which our most beloved dogs often fall ill with, is considered the most dangerous, severe kidney disease, manifested by impaired filtration (the main function of the kidneys). In other words, taking into account various reasons, the kidneys are not able to remove poisonous substances that are dangerous for its body, which are formed during the life process of the body, from the blood of an animal. Immediately after the kidneys cease to function normally, poisoning is observed in dogs.

kidney failure- one of the most dangerous diseases, often leading to the death of pets. This problem has recently gained such an extensive turn that veterinarians are interested in it closely.

I would like to immediately emphasize that such a disease as kidney failure does not exist in general either in animals or in humans: it is a series of external manifestations of a number of kidney diseases. Kidney failure, like in humans, in dogs is caused by various reasons, but the general symptomatology still exists - the kidneys work very poorly, and ultimately, if they are not treated, they fail, the dog dies.

Causes of the disease

Cause of kidney failure:

An infection that has entered the body of a dog from the outside.
Toxic substances from the environment.
Injury and disease once suffered by a dog.
Bad foods high in salt.
Age changes.
genetic propensity.

Symptoms of kidney failure

For dogs, kidney failure is quite serious illness accompanied by intense thirst. Consider the fact that a healthy dog (per kilogram of weight) consumes up to fifty milliliters of water per day. A sick dog consumes 2 times more liquid. Also, the dog's body suffers from dehydration, a sharp decrease in temperature, a depressed general condition of the animal's body is observed, an unpleasant, sour smell often comes from the mouth, the dog often swears and vomits. Vomiting does not immediately manifest itself: at first, the animal begins to eat little, then eats food reluctantly and intermittently, and then stops eating altogether, because vomiting is observed after each meal. Also, the dog may have frequent urination or vice versa, with a long delay.

If a dog's kidney failure has passed into an acute stage, the animal generally ceases to show any signs of activity: it does not play, does not jump, but only eats a little and sleeps a lot.

The diagnosis of "renal failure" is made by the veterinarian only after he has carried out all the necessary studies. Having received the results of the tests and all the data on how the animal feels, the doctor prescribes the appropriate treatment. Urinalysis is very important in this aspect. The urine of a dog with kidney failure contains a nitrogen-containing carboxylic acid (creatine) and phosphorus. Poor dog urine analysis - significant protein content, excess glucose. In addition to urine analysis, the veterinarian may additionally prescribe an ultrasound, x-ray and biopsy.

Stages of disease development

Kidney failure in a dog does not just happen. It is a consequence of the above reasons and is divided into stages, each of which is too significant not to pay attention to it.

There are two common stages of kidney failure, and both are very dangerous: acute stage: toxic effects on the body of too toxic substances used by the dog; shock, taking poisonous, chemical drugs in the treatment of other diseases of the animal. The acute stage of kidney failure in dogs is not as dangerous as chronic, after all, it is possible to completely cure the dog in the acute stage, while in the chronic form, the disease "renal failure" is no longer curable.

The acute form of renal failure is divided by veterinarians into the following stages:

The stage of compensation, which takes up to ninety percent of the time of development of this disease. At this stage, the dog does not manifest itself in any way, as usual, frolics, sleeps and eats well. But ... if an observant owner smelled an unpleasant smell of urine, noticed, if an opportunity presented itself, an unusual consistency and color of urine, passed it for analysis to a veterinary clinic, the doctor will very quickly identify the disease.
The disease has not yet manifested. Significant morphological and functional disorders gradually increase in the tissues of the kidney, although one should not be afraid of a sad outcome. Having passed the dog's urine for analysis to a veterinary clinic, you can find out that the dog has kidney failure, but without a biochemical analysis of the animal's blood, the veterinarian will not be able to tell the owner about the stage. An additional diagnostic ultrasound examination by a highly qualified veterinarian will not be superfluous.
Decompensation. The dog is in a very bad condition, and the owner himself notices this. The dog is still drinking and eating, but is less active and joyful than before. Urinalysis is mandatory.
Terminal (most dangerous) stage. The kidneys are failing, and the day is not far off when it is already possible to say goodbye to the dog, as it is overcome by a renal coma.

I would like to note that a veterinarian can make a diagnosis of "acute renal failure" without any problems if modern advanced diagnostic equipment is installed in his clinic. If you love your pet, never think about money and time while watching your pet friend misbehave for a couple of days. Take him to the veterinarian and make timely diagnostics and tests to save his life.

Treatment of the disease

Treatment for kidney failure in dogs includes :

intensive infusion therapy with sorbilact, special solutions, rheosobilact, with the help of Ringer-Lock, a plasma-substituting liquid made on the basis of salt;
the use of dopamine, lespenephril, mannitol and lasix;
enterosorption therapy. The dog should be given Canephron, Belosorb-P and Heptral;
diet low in protein;
homeopathic therapy: give Solidago compositum C

Prevention of kidney failure

Prevention of this disease is based, first of all, on providing the animal with proper nutrition. If the dog still has an excellent appetite and eats well, we recommend supplementing his diet with diet food and a protein diet.

An excellent modern remedy for the treatment of renal failure in animals, the renal diet is the basis of advanced medical treatment for pets at any stage of the disease. This renal diet helps to prevent or even significantly reduce uremia during the acute stage, restore electrolyte balance, and prevent the chronic form from developing rapidly. In recent studies, it was found that the kidney diet (food) that is added to the daily diet of dogs significantly prevents the risk of kidney disease in dogs.

The kidneys maintain a stable volume of intercellular fluid, its ionic composition and osmotic pressure, providing optimal conditions for the vital activity of the human and animal organism.

They take part in the regulation of acid-base balance, excretion of products of nitrogen metabolism, metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, secretion of biologically active substances, hematopoiesis. The kidneys have rather wide limits of functional adaptation, since they are able to significantly change the qualitative composition of urine, its volume and pH.

Kidney function is based on two main principles:

1) separation of a large amount of interstitial fluid from the rest of it by ultrafiltration in the renal glomeruli;
2) transport of water and substances diluted in it through the epithelial cells of the renal tubules.

This should be considered in the diagnosis and treatment kidney failure in dogs.

kidney failure- clinical and biological syndrome caused by the inability of the kidneys to perform physiological functions (excretory and endocrine). In clinical practice, there are three main syndromes that are determined by the methods of assessing renal failure.

Acute renal failure (ARF)- characterized by severe impairment of kidney function. The transitional state of the disease, a priori, has the opposite character, provided that the disease is in a critical stage of its development.

Chronic renal failure (CRF)- the end, as a rule, of most pathologies of the kidneys of a bilateral nature, when destruction of 3/4 of all nephrons is observed.

Nephrotic syndrome (NS)- a symptom of renal failure, accompanied by massive prolonged proteinuria, which is associated with hypoproteinemia and hypercholesterolemia. Clinically, it is manifested by edema.

In veterinary practice, the determining factors of kidney damage are destructive changes and the action of nephrotoxic substances, including chemotherapeutic drugs, aging processes, dehydration, hyperthermia, liver disease, hypokalemia and hypercalcemia.

Early symptoms of renal failure are polydipsia, polyuria and proteinuria, which is easy to detect in the analysis of urine - an increased specific gravity of urine (1.025-1.030) and the presence of a light sediment. All this should be taken into account in order to determine the stage of the disease and the possible application of adequate treatment, which, in turn, is expensive, requires a long time and effort.

In biochemical blood tests, the values of the level of α- and β-lipoproteins, the activity of the enzymes aspartate and alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase, cholinesterase and a-amylase should be carefully analyzed. An increase in the activity of the aforementioned enzymes against the background of a high value of the de Ritis index, rhealyu, and protein coefficient indicates the progression of renal failure with an increase in nephrotic syndrome. An important point in the diagnosis of kidney diseases is the determination in the blood of the parameters of acid-base balance, the concentration of inorganic phosphorus, potassium and calcium, as well as the parameters of nitrogen metabolism (creatinine, urea, residual nitrogen, urea nitrogen).

In our studies, high concentrations of α- and β-lipoproteins (>400 mg%), residual nitrogen (47.5 mg%), creatinine (>144.3 µmol/l) and urea (10 .7 mmol / l) against the background of oliguria and proteinuria.

When carrying out therapeutic measures for renal failure, one should take into account the main pathogenetic factors in the development of pathology - a decrease in the active area of the renal glomeruli and their obstruction, low renal blood flow, diffusion of the glomerular filtrate through the damaged wall of the renal tubule, cellular and interstitial edema.

Based on this, the main tactical principles in the treatment of dogs with renal insufficiency were:

Carrying out intensive infusion therapy with Ringer-Locke solutions, sorbilact, rheosobilact, saline;
- the use of diuretics: mannitol, dopamine, lespenephril, lasix;
- enterosorption therapy using Belosorb-P tablets;
- use as a detoxifying and hepatoprotective agent of the drug heptral and, as a possible renoprotector - the drug kanefron;
- homeopathic therapy with Solidagocompositum and 5 and Coenzyme compositum Ampullen;
- low-protein diet.

The period of intensive therapy continued until the stabilization of nitrogen metabolism and excretory function of the kidneys. An important point in the treatment of dogs with renal pathology is the use peritoneal dialysis.

The issue of post-therapeutic monitoring of biochemical parameters of blood serum and the activity of enzyme systems in order to prevent the development of irreversible changes in kidney tissues remains relevant.