Detecting kidney disease in dogs

Everyone if familiar with the benefits of early detection and this certainly applies to dogs and cats as well.

The most common signs of kidney disease are fairly well known.  However, there are some “subtle” signs that can be an indication of kidney disease in dogs and they are easy to keep an eye out for.

One is dehydration.  Dehydration can be a symptom of acute kidney disease. Periodically just gently pull up the skin on your dog’s stomach.  The skin should spring right back into place.  If it does not, that is often a sign that your dog may be dehydrated.  While this does not necessarily imply an illness with the kidneys, it is an easy thing for a caregiver to keep an eye on.

Another sign is if your dog seems to be walking with an arched back. Notice if the back legs appear to be stiff when they walk as well.  This can be an indication that your animal is in pain, and should be checked out by a veterinarian right away.

Paying attention to these more subtle clues are important in catching this potentially serious illness at an early stage.