Chronic kidney disease is common in older dogs and develops silently: by the time the blood test is abnormal, a substantial part of kidney function is already gone. That sounds bleak and is not: many dogs live comfortably for years with a well-managed plan, and the management is largely practical.
What sends people to the vet
Drinking noticeably more and urinating more, sometimes with accidents indoors in a dog that has been clean for a decade. Then weight loss, a reduced appetite, dull coat, bad breath, occasional vomiting and lower energy.
None of those is specific to kidneys, which is why the answer is blood and urine tests rather than a guess. Ask for a urine sample to be included: it tells the vet things blood alone does not, including whether protein is being lost.
If your dog has started emptying the water bowl, do not restrict water to reduce the puddles. A dog with kidney disease needs that water, and restricting it is dangerous.
The diet, which is the main treatment
Therapeutic kidney diets are the intervention with the best evidence behind them, and they work by adjusting phosphorus, protein quality and other factors rather than by simply being gentle. A dog that eats the diet consistently does better than one on a normal diet with supplements added.
The practical problem is that these dogs are often fussy, so getting it eaten is the real skill. What helps: switching gradually over two or three weeks rather than overnight, warming the food slightly to release the smell, offering several small meals, trying more than one brand or texture, and keeping treats within what the vet permits.
Do not add supplements, bone broths or home-made mixtures without asking. Several common additions are high in phosphorus and undo the diet.
The rest of the plan
- Water everywhere: several bowls, on each floor, plus one where the dog sleeps
- More toilet opportunities, including a late one. Accidents are a symptom, not disobedience
- Blood pressure checks, because hypertension is common with kidney disease and treatable
- Protein loss in the urine monitored, since it has its own treatment
- Regular rechecks, which are how the stage and the plan are adjusted
- Care with medication: anti-inflammatories and some other drugs need reviewing, and never give human painkillers
- Weight monitored monthly, because gradual loss is easy to miss day to day
Questions worth asking
What stage is my dog at, and what does that mean for the next year. Which diet, and what do I do if it will not eat it. Do we need blood pressure and urine protein checked. How often should we recheck. What are the signs of a crisis, and what do I do at the weekend. And, if relevant, what would fluids at home involve.
Some owners are taught to give subcutaneous fluids at home in later stages. It is less daunting than it sounds and it should be a decision made with your vet rather than something you read about and improvise.
Living with it day to day
Keep walks short and frequent rather than long, since these dogs tire and need to urinate more often. Expect to be woken at night sometimes; a puppy pad near the door removes the drama of an accident. Track appetite and drinking in a simple log, because trends matter far more than any single day.
Quality of life is the measure that decides the plan over time: eating, drinking, comfort, interest in people and in the walk, and the proportion of good days to bad ones over a fortnight. Write it down rather than trusting an impression, and take the record to every appointment.
Anyone who looks after your dog needs the diet rule stated plainly, no other food at all, and the instruction to report refusal to eat, vomiting or a change in drinking the same day. For these dogs a missed meal is information, not a quirk.
General information for dog owners in Luxembourg, not veterinary or legal advice. For your own dog, ask your vet, a qualified behaviourist or your commune. How this journal is written and checked.
Away from your dog all day?
PAWLY provides individual dog walks, home visits and overnight care in your own home, across Luxembourg City. Same walker every time, written report after every visit.
Keep reading
All Health articles
Grooming and coat care through the Luxembourg year
Mats are not cosmetic. They pull on skin, trap damp and hide what is underneath.
Worming: a schedule, not a reaction
Many flea products do not treat worms at all. Check what yours actually covers.
Dog first aid: the six emergencies and what to do first
Nobody researches an out-of-hours vet while carrying a collapsed dog down three flights of stairs.
