Chronic kidney disease (CKD), like other forms of kidney disease in dogs, typically progresses very slowly. In fact, most owners will miss the first subtle changes occurring at home when their pet first starts developing CKD. Most of the time, by the time your vet diagnoses CKD, a considerable amount of your dogs kidney function has been lost.
CKD is often considered a silent or slowly progressive disease because early signs can be subtle and easy to overlook. Early recognition of these first changes makes a big difference in the management of the disease for years to come. Although once kidney damage occurs, it is generally irreversible, early diagnosis does allow the owner to manage the disease much more effectively and improve its overall impact on your dogs quality of life.
What Happens in Kidney Disease?
Kidneys filter waste from the bloodstream, regulate fluid balance in the body, and help maintain proper levels of electrolytes. As kidneys begin to fail, waste products that were previously excreted via urine continue to accumulate.
The accumulation of these wastes in the case of CKD happens gradually. At first, the body adapts and thus outwardly symptomatic pets may still look relatively healthy even though internally, damage to their kidneys continues.
Early Signs of Kidney Disease in Dogs
Increased Thirst and Subtle Changes in Drinking
One of the earliest symptoms of CKD is polydipsia. Polydipsia is an excessive thirst; as a result, owners often find their dog needs more water than ever before.
These early changes occur so gradually that most owners do not realize that something is amiss initially. Furthermore, they could easily confuse this change with an environmental factor such as warmer temperatures or increased physical activity.
Increased drinking is often associated with an increase in frequency of trips to the outdoors to urinate. Many owners report that their dogs start having more frequent accidents inside the house, even if their dogs have been well trained.
Changes in Urination Patterns
Because of the dilution of urine caused by decreased kidney function, the volume of each individual void increases. As a result, homeowners may observe larger amounts of urine after each voiding episode or require greater numbers of short trips outside.
Some dogs may need to urinate more frequently at night or may struggle to hold urine for long periods. These symptoms may be initially misdiagnosed as age related issues, delaying recognition of kidney disease.
Appetite Fluctuations and Weight Loss
Dogs with early CKD (chronic kidney disease) may gradually lose their appetite. They may become somewhat finicky about eating, or simply eat less.
Initially, because these fluctuations are minor and often go unnoticed by owners, they will see gradual weight loss due to decreased consumption. Owners will notice that the dogs weight has slowly declined over an extended period. Even if the dog is still maintaining its body condition, this decline in weight will be noticed over time.
Lethargy and Reduced Activity
As the body accumulates waste products from failing kidneys, increased fatigue or lethargy can occur. This manifests as either excessive sleeping, reduced desire to go for walks, or reduced ability to complete daily routine activities. Because lethargy can have multiple causes (e.g., pain, injury, arthritis), it may not be directly related to kidney dysfunction.
Mild Digestive Changes
In some cases, dogs with early kidney disease may experience digestive issues, including intermittent episodes of diarrhea, soft stool or vomiting. Due to the fact that these problems do not consistently manifest themselves, they may be ignored or attributed to other causes.
Bad Breath and Oral Changes
There are fewer apparent signs of chronic kidney disease than you would expect. Bad breath may develop and is often described as ammonia like or unusually metallic. There are a variety of early oral symptoms associated with chronic kidney disease that may include persistent drooling, chewing difficulty due to sensitivity to hard foods, etc.
Early Symptoms Can Be Easy to Miss
The early symptoms of kidney disease in dogs are generally mild and develop gradually. The first few of these symptoms will likely resemble what we expect with age (increasing thirst, etc.) so they can be missed.
Because these signs develop gradually, owners may mistake them for normal aging rather than illness. Therefore, this behavioral adaptation delays the veterinarian from recognizing that there is something wrong with your dog until the condition has progressed even further.
Early Identification Improves Management
While chronic kidney disease cannot be reversed or cured, early detection by veterinarians does improve the quality of life for dogs. Better diet choices, adequate water intake, and regular monitoring of kidney values can slow down the progression of the disease and keep your dog comfortable.
Typically, veterinary assessment through blood tests or urine testing is necessary to identify whether your dogs clinical signs are indicative of chronic kidney disease. Clinical signs alone do not provide enough information to confirm the diagnosis.
Conclusion
Chronic kidney disease in dogs develops slowly, and the first signs you see, including an increase in drinking and urinating, decreased appetite or weight loss and a decrease in activity level, can be hard to notice, as well as subtle changes in digestion and bad breath. Recognizing these early warning signs of chronic kidney disease, renal failure, and decreasing kidney function allows you to evaluate and manage your dogs condition on time. While chronic kidney disease is a progressive disease, being aware of the signs early on can greatly enhance your dogs comfort and stability.
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