Written by: Alexa Waltz

 The diagnosis of canine diabetes can be overwhelming and scary for pet parents. Daily shots? Expensive insulin? Blood glucose testing??? It sounds like a lot, but thankfully pet owners learn quickly what it takes to keep their diabetic dog healthy and happy! You’ll be relieved to know that once some of the details are ironed out, the management of diabetes in dogs can become fairly routine. It does involve a devoted and observant pet parent, as diabetes will always be a serious but manageable health condition for your dog.

The ABCs of Treating Diabetes in Dogs

Did you know that managing diabetes in humans closely resembles our approach to diabetic dogs? Since dogs typically have insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, similar to Type 1 (“juvenile”) diabetes in people, there are many crossovers! Check our other blog post to become familiar with the symptoms of diabetes in dogs . The main differences with diabetes management in people versus dogs are that we do not have to strive for perfection with blood glucose regulation as we do in people, and dogs tend to not develop the other chronic conditions associated with diabetes since people live much longer!

Just as a quick review, when an animal becomes diabetic, the pancreas is no longer able to sense glucose levels in the blood nor secrete insulin. Without insulin, the glucose floating around in the bloodstream is unable to enter and provide energy for cells in the body. Body organs begin to starve due to a lack of usable energy despite the rising glucose levels in the blood. How do you fix that? It’s simple — supply the insulin for them! 

We, as the pet parent, need to step in and take over for that damaged pancreas in order to supply the insulin needed for cells to access that glucose. We also need to monitor the glucose level for highs and lows during a given day since these fluctuations can reach some dangerous thresholds. It is a delicate balance between insulin delivery, food consumption, and exercise to maintain your dog’s glucose in a healthy range 24/7.

Insulin Therapy

Unfortunately, diabetes in dogs is a lifelong disease. Researchers have been studying canine diabetes for decades, and although advancements in treatments and monitoring have fine-tuned some of the clunkier points of living with diabetes, we still do not have a “cure” or a replacement for the pancreas. We are left managing our diabetic dogs with daily insulin injections, typically given twice a day at mealtime. Insulin must be delivered by injections under the skin, and there are no effective diabetes medications that can be given by mouth in our canine patients. By giving injections, the active insulin molecules can find their way into the bloodstream, circulate around the body, and do their job to maintain your dog’s health.

When a dog is initially diagnosed with diabetes, they may be very sick and require several days of hospitalization, especially if they have diabetic ketoacidosis. These dogs need some close monitoring, intravenous fluids (IV), special insulin, and blood glucose monitoring for some time before we can think about starting daily home care. 

However, some dogs are much more fortunate and are not as sick when they are first diagnosed. Dogs that are eating, drinking, and have a reasonable amount of energy may do just fine without hospitalization. Instead, they are healthy enough to start with a maintenance dose of insulin twice daily at home! When your dog is healthy enough to receive treatment at home, your vet will start with a standard dose of insulin that is effective for most dogs and see how it is tolerated by your buddy. Two weeks later, your vet will recheck your dog’s symptoms and consider some glucose monitoring in the clinic (see discussion later). It may take about 6 weeks before the perfect balance of insulin and glucose is reached so being patient, consistent, and observant is essential!

We are so fortunate to have several different safe and effective insulin options available for dogs! Each type of insulin has a slightly different duration of action (how long the insulin lasts) and time to effect (how quickly the insulin kicks in to lower blood sugar levels). The type of insulin that may be best for your dog is determined by financial limitations, desired ease of administration (syringe vs injection pen), and how well your dog’s body responds to it. The most common brands of insulin for dogs are Vetsulin, Novolin-N, Humulin- N, Glargine/Lantus, Detemir/Levemir, and Prozinc. Most of these options are twice-daily dosing using special insulin syringes or a convenient injection pen. Once your dog starts their twice daily insulin dosing, you may see a decrease in their original symptoms immediately, although it could take up to 6 weeks for their bodies to adjust to the insulin injections you are providing.

AskVet Tip: Need some additional coaching for giving those insulin shots or handling the insulin bottles and syringes? Luckily there are lots of accessible resources available to put your fears at ease! Before you and your dog are sent home, your vet will provide a tutorial on how to handle the insulin, syringes, and give injections. If you are overwhelmed and need more support at home, YouTube can come to the rescue! Many veterinarians have made educational videos for pet owners on how to give insulin, basics of handling and storing insulin bottles, as well as some details about blood glucose testing. Your vet staff is happy to go over things as often as you need to as well, so give them a call!

Diet

Changing your dog’s diet to a high fiber/low carbohydrate dog food is another approach that may stabilize daily glucose levels and insulin needs. A high fiber diet will slow glucose absorption in the intestines allowing for a steadier level of glucose available over a longer period of time. Your vet may recommend prescription diets like Royal Canin Glycobalance, and Hill’s Metabolic or W/D. Even if you do not choose to change your diabetic dog’s diet, it is essential to pick a dog food and feed a consistent volume twice a day without much variation or excessive treats – both which may spike blood glucose levels. It is recommended to give insulin while your pup is eating or soon after, and consistency in the timing of injections is key!

AskVet Tip: Although you do need to keep your diabetic dog’s diet as steady as possible, it does not mean you need to sacrifice treats forever! A daily small midday snack that is less than 10% of the total daily caloric intake may be tolerated by your pup! Some healthy options include apples, carrots, green beans, sweet potato, small lean chicken and protein pieces. Be sure to discuss your dog’s diet and treats with your vet.

Exercise

Another pillar of good diabetes management for dogs is keeping up with moderate and regular daily activity and maintaining your pup in an overall good body condition. Overexertion could result in very low blood glucose levels (due to the extra energy needed during exercise), so try to keep the activity level as regular as possible and monitor your dog closely on days that he has completed more activity than usual. Consult with your veterinarian for any special changes needed should an increase in exercise be desired (hikes, beach days, agility classes, etc). Along with a regular diet, consistent exercise will help keep their glucose and insulin balance steady and more predictable! 

Treat Concurrent Diseases

Since diabetes mostly affects senior dogs, there is a good chance they are experiencing some other health issues too. Through additional lab testing, your vet will check for evidence of Cushing’s disease, low thyroid, kidney disease, periodontal disease, pancreatitis, and urinary tract infections, just to be sure none of these common conditions are interfering with glucose control. The presence of several medical conditions at the same time will definitely complicate diabetes management and likely require close monitoring for all medications needed to stabilize each health condition as best as possible.

AskVet Tip: A severe health condition called “diabetic ketoacidosis” is a life-threatening condition that sometimes occurs in dogs just before they are formally diagnosed with diabetes. This condition develops due to the presence of the acidic byproducts of fat breakdown for energy due to the lack of insulin and accessible glucose. This condition will require several days of hospitalization, IV fluids and electrolyte corrections, and emergency care before they can be stabilized and started on maintenance insulin. Once they are eating, drinking, and feeling good again, they can start regular diabetes management and be sent home with you!

Monitoring Diabetes

When your dog is diagnosed with diabetes, next comes the commitment from the pet parent to closely monitor her response to insulin for the length of her life. Unlike in human diabetes control, we do not strive for perfection with dogs! We try to maintain a blood glucose within a reasonable range, and most of all try to eliminate the symptoms you were seeing when your dog was first diagnosed.

Goal #1: Reduce the Symptoms

The easiest and most reliable way to gauge the overall glucose control in your diabetic dog is observing the return of water consumption and urination to a normal level! They should also have a steady appetite, feel good, and have some energy. A well-controlled diabetic dog will gain weight and muscle mass in the weeks/months following the introduction of insulin.

AskVet Tip: A great way to monitor dogs at home is to keep a journal for urination, water consumption, appetite, insulin, and weight (when possible). This will help you detect big and little changes in your pup and provide an easy way for you and your vet to monitor how your diabetes management is going at home!

Even after your pup seems well-regulated, always be on the lookout for changes in urination and drinking habits. Changes from the norm may indicate that your pup needs an adjustment to the insulin dosage or possibly the development of another problem (such as a urinary tract infection). A recheck with your vet is appropriate if you notice any sudden increase in your diabetic dog’s thirst and urination.

Glucose Curves at the Vet Clinic

The “glucose curve” is a traditional method of blood glucose testing that your veterinarian may recommend in order to see a day-long snapshot of the response to your dog’s current dose of insulin. The glucose curve uses serial blood samples taken from your dog every two hours to see how high your dog’s glucose levels go before the insulin takes effect and starts lowering it, how low the glucose goes when responding to the dose of insulin, and how long the insulin dose works to lower blood sugar levels. Random individual “spot” glucose checks throughout the day have some value, but are not good indicators of overall glucose control. Glucose levels are always in flux depending on the time of day, the insulin activity, digestion of food, and physical activity. Fine-tuning insulin dosing is best determined by glucose monitoring and observing physical signs that your dog is showing. It is common for your vet to start your pup at one insulin dose and then increase or decrease it a few weeks later after glucose levels are measured. 

AskVet Tip: What does the actual glucose curve entail? After feeding your dog her usual morning meal and giving the usual insulin dose, you will drop her off at your vet clinic for the day. They will collect a tiny blood sample at drop-off and every two hours to measure glucose levels on a glucometer for a 8 hour period of time. The highs and lows may be within a healthy range or may call for the insulin dose to be altered. Any changes in the dose of insulin should be followed two weeks later by glucose monitoring just to recheck those highs and lows.

Continuous Glucose Monitoring Devices

More recently, veterinarians adapted the “continuous glucose monitoring” (CGM) devices from the human world to the animal! Using implantable devices like the Abbott “Freestyle Libre” and Medtronic “iPro2” gives pet parents an option to skip the glucose curve in the vet clinic and monitor glucose levels over a period of days, in the comfort of their own homes. This eliminates the labor-intensive glucose curve, decreases stress for your dog, and gives a great picture of the daily variation of glucose control in real life. Using an app and smartphone, pet parents can see real-time blood glucose levels, and share the results to be analyzed by the veterinarian.

What is the process involved for using this monitor? Typically, your vet will write a prescription for you to pick up a device at a human pharmacy at the cost of around $50-$80. Bring the device in for an appointment with your dog. Your vet will shave a small area of fur from your dog’s chest or back area and implant the sensor probe into the skin as securely as possible. The device will take glucose measurements every minute and record them into a rolling log, available to your veterinarian via the cloud. The device app enables you to scan the sensor, and both you and your vet can access glucose readings as long as the sensor is in place!  

Although this has proven as a wonderfully accurate and convenient way to measure blood glucose over a period of time there are some downfalls of the CGMs … one of these is that they are made for human skin and not haired skin! They sometimes do not stick as well or last long on animal skin due to body movements and anatomical features. Vets desire to get at least 1-2 days of readings before it falls off! This can be avoided with some glue applied to the device, dressing your dog in a  t-shirt or sweater to help the sensor stay in place, and also by keeping movement and activities controlled in the hopes that it does not dislodge prematurely! If the CGM device is a good option for your dog, your vet will likely want to use this method for checking glucose control instead of the glucose curve.

Home Glucose Testing

At-home spot checks for glucose testing can be a useful tool so it is good for pet parents to have the ability to check glucose at home! Veterinarians recommend the purchase of an Alpha-Trak2 monitor and test strips for dogs and cats, along with some small lancets (needles) and a spring-loaded device to puncture the skin for a blood sample. It is recommended to take a small blood sample at about 4 hours after the insulin dose, and again at 8 hours, to see what the lowest and highest glucose levels may reach. Also, if your dog is showing signs of hypoglycemia (see discussion below) you can use this device to decide if your dog is dangerously low and needs a snack or some sugar. At home, we do not want the glucose reading to ever go much below 100, as that could lead to hypoglycemia. If you are getting extremely low readings or high readings (400-500+) at home, a recheck with your vet is recommended.

AskVet Tip: How do you get a blood sample at home?!?!?! YouTube to the rescue! There are many videos made by veterinarians and vet techs showing how to painlessly get a nice bleb of blood and run it on your glucometer at home. Some great sites to collect blood on dogs are the ear flap, paw pad, or even on the gums inside the mouth. Use the spring-loaded lancet device and hold it flat against the skin, and press the button for a quick poke. Gently squeeze around the area and a small bleb of blood will form, perfect for the glucose strip!

Home Urine Test Strips (Ketones and Glucose)

Another at-home screening test that pet parents may want to use are urine glucose and ketone test strips. These can help owners monitor levels of glucose and ketones in the urine and may provide some information about overall diabetes control. These have some value, but since the blood glucose levels do fluctuate throughout the day it can be difficult to provide detailed information with just these test strips. The presence of ketones, or an increase in glucose detected could indicate an insulin dosing issue and should be followed up with a visit to the vet.

Routine Follow Up Care

Like we discussed earlier, taking care of your diabetic dog is a long-term commitment – both for their daily care as well as a financial commitment for treatment and follow-ups. It is important that any insulin dose change is followed by a two week recheck, and most veterinarians will also recommend general follow-up appointments every 6-12 months thereafter. At these appointments, your dog will be assessed for weight gain or loss, appetite, the control of symptoms like drinking and urinating, and some baseline blood and urine testing will be performed. A fructosamine test may be helpful too, in that it gives a sense of the average blood glucose over the previous couple of weeks. Urine cultures (growing bacteria from a urine sample) are also an important aspect of monitoring diabetics … bacteria love to grow in urine with glucose present! It is also important to keep teeth clean as well as monitor vision for the formation of diabetic cataracts within the lenses.

Complications of Diabetes in Dogs

Unfortunately, even the most excellent glucose control and insulin dosing does not guarantee that your dog will be free of complications nor struggle with their diabetes from time to time. Always keep an eye on their appetite, urine habits, water consumption, mood, and activity level for subtle changes needing to be checked out. Any diabetic dog that is vomiting, not eating or having diarrhea should be more urgently seen by their vet. Insulin dosing is highly dependent on food intake and digestion! For insulin-dependent dogs, efforts to remedy health issues should be taken as soon as possible, so call your vet right away.

The following are some common medical conditions related to diabetes:

– Hypoglycemia, blood sugar too low You may observe your dog walking wobbly, acting depressed or tired, vomiting, not responding to you like normal, or they may have a seizure if their blood sugar falls too low (usually due to lack of eating or the insulin dose being too high). This is an emergency! Immediately apply honey, karo corn syrup, maple syrup, or sugar water on their gums (do not make them drink anything as they may not be able to swallow). Seek veterinary care immediately.

– Cataracts The lens is located inside the eyeball and high glucose levels will cause cataracts to form and your dog’s vision to be impaired. This can be very painful and will need some treatment and monitoring as well.

– Urinary Tract Infections Bacteria love to grow in urine with glucose in it! Urinary tract infections are uncomfortable and can also lead to bladder stone formation. Routine urine tests and cultures are recommended to be sure to avoid these issues.

– Polyneuropathy Some diabetic dogs may develop weakness and difficulty walking

– Kidney Failure Prolonged hyperglycemia (high glucose in the blood) can damage the fragile nephrons in the kidney leading to chronic kidney failure.

– Difficult Regulation/Hyperglycemia Some dogs are very difficult to regulate with insulin and may continue to have hyperglycemia. Changing dosing and trying different types of insulins can help some dogs find what works best for them. Dogs with multiple disease conditions will have a more difficult time regulating their glucose.

– Ketoacidosis Dogs with undiagnosed diabetes, known diabetics with poor glucose control, or ineffective insulin delivery may experience diabetic ketoacidosis. Ketoacidosis occurs when the tissues are starving for glucose, but insulin is not available to facilitate getting it into cells. The body begins to break down fat as the ketone bodies can be used as an alternative fuel source. Unfortunately, over time the metabolites are harmful to the body and the dog will get very very sick. They will need immediate treatment and hospitalization with IV fluids to reverse dehydration and insulin to get glucose into the cells.

Prognosis

Dogs respond to diabetes and treatment in their own special way. Some are not very sick at the outset and quickly become managed with insulin and diet. Others are very sick when they are first diagnosed, and unfortunately, some are very difficult to control with insulin too. Your dog’s journey with diabetes will be her own and as her pet parent, just do your best to feed a constant diet, give insulin consistently, keep a journal for daily habits, maintain the necessary follow-up appointments, and consult with your vet when you notice anything concerning. Your dog can live a good quality and long life even with diabetes!

For questions and further discussion on diabetes in dogs, your AskVet veterinarians are here to help! If you have any questions about your dog’s medical condition or are wondering whether your dog’s symptoms are an urgent issue, then all you have to do is AskVet. We are here 24/7 to help you and your dog!

 

Written by:

Alexa Waltz, DVM

Dr. Waltz was raised near the beaches of Southern California but has spent her adult life living all over the beautiful United States while serving in the military and as a military spouse. She left California for the first time to pursue a career as a veterinarian at Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine and graduated as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2006. She was accepted into the US Army Health Professionals Scholarship Program during vet school and upon graduation spent her military years as a veterinarian in San Diego working for the US Marine Corps and US Navy Military Working Dog programs as well as caring for pets of service members. After her military service, she became a civilian veterinarian and continued as a small animal general practitioner at clinics in California, Rhode Island, Colorado, and Maryland. Dr Waltz loves to see her “in person” patients just as much as communicating with and assisting pet parents virtually on AskVet. Dr Waltz is also a Mom to 3 humans, 2 guinea pigs, and 1 Australian Shepherd and in her spare time she loves traveling, adventures, exercising, and doing just about anything out in nature!

Written by: Alexa Waltz

The kidneys are extremely important players in the game of keeping the bodies of humans and animals healthy. Like humans, dogs are born with two kidneys that are primarily responsible for excreting wastes and toxins from the bloodstream and maintaining fluid and electrolyte balances within the body. Kidney disease goes by many other names like “renal failure”, “renal insufficiency”, “kidney damage”, “kidney insufficiency”, “kidney injury”, and “kidney failure”. All of these names imply that the kidneys are struggling to carry out their normal functions to some degree. Kidney disease can also be further described as “acute” (happening suddenly or quickly) or “chronic” (happening slowly over time).

So many questions revolve around the diagnosis of kidney failure in dogs, and it can be very scary and confusing for pet parents. How can I tell if my dog has kidney disease? What would cause my dog’s kidneys to fail? How does kidney disease affect the long-term health of my dog? Recognizing what the kidneys do for the body is key to understanding, diagnosing, and treating kidney disease.   

What Do the Kidneys Do?

Everyone knows at least one important thing about the kidneys: they make urine! The kidneys are made up of millions of little tiny cellular units called nephrons. As blood flows through the kidneys, each nephron is designed to regulate what stays in and what is filtered out of the blood and into the urine – be it waste products from metabolism, toxins, electrolytes, and water. The healthy nephron uses a system of highly specialized cellular channels, pumps, gates, gradients, sensors, receptors, and hormones to filter unnecessary materials from the blood without losing what is valuable – it is really an incredible process! For example, during times of dehydration in dogs, healthy kidneys will conserve water in the bloodstream and produce very concentrated urine (a dark yellow color) and in times of hydration, they will excrete that excess fluid and make a very dilute urine (a light yellow/clear color).

However, the kidneys do much more than just make pee! In fact, the healthy function of other organs hinges on the kidneys keeping everything balanced. Here is a brief summary of how the kidneys are incredible workhorses for the body:

–   Maintain blood pressure

–   Filter wastes and toxins

–   Conserve or excrete water

–   Regulate blood electrolyte and mineral levels (especially sodium, potassium, phosphorus, and calcium)

–   Synthesize erythropoietin to stimulate red blood cell production

–   Conserve important blood proteins

–   Maintain blood pH balance

How Do Kidneys Become Damaged?

Being the fragile filter of the body, unfortunately, the kidneys are in a highly vulnerable position and can be damaged by a variety of different types of medical problems. Here is a list of the most common causes of acute (sudden) and chronic (slowly over time) kidney failure:

–   Ingesting Toxins (grapes, antifreeze, over-the-counter human NSAIDS like Ibuprofen)

–  Infections and Inflammation (Lyme disease, leptospirosis, pancreatitis)

–   Dehydration, Heatstroke

–   Aging (kidneys “wear out” over time)

–   High blood pressure

–   Kidney stones

–   Diabetes (Link: diabetes)

–  Periodontal disease (Link: periodontal disease)

–   Genetic and developmental abnormalities

–   Cancer

The kidneys have significant reserve and are excellent at compensating, even as some nephrons wear out or become damaged and nonfunctional. In fact, changes in your dog’s lab work won’t be apparent until at least 2/3 of those millions of nephrons become compromised! Unfortunately, when damaged beyond repair, the kidney is an organ that does not regenerate itself. This is why it’s essential to start treatment for kidney disease and investigate the underlying cause of kidney damage as soon as a problem is detected.

Acute Renal Failure happens very quickly – usually over a matter of hours to days — with the sudden loss of kidney function. Infections, toxin ingestion, and severe dehydration/heat stroke are often causes of acute renal failure. With appropriate emergency treatment, acute kidney failure may be reversible! Aggressive treatment may help the kidneys regain some or all of their function again depending on the cause and the treatment received. Without treatment, acute renal failure can be fatal.  

Chronic Renal Disease, or chronic renal failure, is a more gradual process taking place over months and years. This means that over a long period of time at least ⅔ of the kidney’s nephrons have become damaged beyond repair. The kidney loses the ability to filter waste products, concentrate the urine, regulate blood pressure, balance electrolytes and minerals, and stimulate the production of red blood cells. They may also be leaking protein into the urine because those specialized filters just do not work anymore. Kidney function greatly affects other organs too, like the heart, GI tract, and eyes, so depending on the actions taken to support the failing kidneys, dogs can have a variety of concurrent issues arise. 

How Can We Tell if the Kidneys Are Damaged?

Physical Symptoms

Refilling that water bowl more than normal? If your dog is drinking more and in turn having to pee more, this is a commonly recognized symptom of chronic kidney disease. Increased thirst and urination closely resemble the symptoms of diabetes as well, which is another serious health condition. Along with changes in water consumption and urination, keep an eye out for weight loss, decreased appetite, low energy, weakness, vomiting, and diarrhea too.

AskVet Tip: Acute kidney failure can cause your dog to feel very sick and also suddenly decrease its urine production. This happens because the kidney tissue has been so severely injured that the kidneys have basically “closed up shop” and are not working at all! This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation that needs immediate emergency care. Chronic end-stage kidney failure, when the kidneys have very little functional capacity left, may be accompanied by bad/sweet breath and vomiting blood or black flecks of digested blood. This is due to the buildup of harmful toxins in the bloodstream that cause ulcers in the mouth, stomach, and intestines. Your dog also may have lost a significant amount of weight and may not be eating much at all.

Blood and Urine Testing, Imaging, and Blood Pressure Readings

Sometimes kidney insufficiency is detected on lab work well before any of the above physical signs develop, and early detection is a great thing! This is one of the many reasons that a blood test and urine test are recommended routinely for dogs and cats even if they are not showing signs of being sick – to catch diseases early in their progression! This way, we can initiate some protective treatment early to preserve kidney function for as long as possible.

If you suspect your dog may be showing signs of kidney disease, your vet will perform a physical exam first, looking for signs of dehydration, checking bladder size, heart and respiratory rate, etc. Next, they will likely recommend a urinalysis (urine test) and blood testing as this is the best way to check on how her internal organs are functioning. The urine tests will show if there is infection or inflammation present, if the kidneys are concentrating the urine appropriately, and if there is any other evidence of kidney damage in the urine sample. The blood tests will have several kidney function markers (BUN, Creatinine, SDMA) that become elevated when nephrons are damaged and not filtering correctly. Protein levels, blood electrolytes like sodium and potassium, and mineral levels of calcium and phosphorus are also important in determining the degree of kidney damage. Anemia, or low red blood cell count, is an important observation too. Additional testing to further examine aspects of the blood or urine may also be recommended for your dog depending on the screening test results. X-rays and ultrasound of the kidneys and abdominal organs also help to examine the kidney size and appearance, check for stones in the urinary tract, visualize tumors, and scan for abnormalities in other organs. 

Lastly, measuring a dog’s blood pressure is also very important. Kidney disease can cause high blood pressure AND high blood pressure can further damage the kidneys! It is essential to obtain as much information as possible in order to tailor your dog’s treatments to preserve kidney function. 

AskVet Tip: Kidney disease is graded on a scale from 1-4, 1 being mild and 4 being severe disease. The results of diagnostic testing help to put the puzzle pieces together and determine the stage of kidney disease. At that time, the doctor and pet parent discuss the prognosis, treatments, and long-term expectations together. 

What About Long-Term Health?

The diagnosis of kidney disease does not necessarily mean doom and gloom for your dog! Your dog’s journey with kidney disease highly depends on the stage, initial cause, degree of damage, progression, and treatments. If the issue is detected very early and protective measures are put in place, it is possible for dogs to stabilize and live for many years without showing outward signs of having an issue.

It is important that dogs diagnosed with kidney disease follow up with their veterinarian every 6-12 months as recommended. This allows their vet to keep a close eye on any progression of kidney damage, and to determine when to tweak your dog’s therapy or add further treatments. It is very possible for dogs with kidney disease to live happy and comfortable lives!

Our AskVet Veterinarians are available to discuss all of your pet’s needs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whether you have an immediate need or are looking to improve your pet’s overall wellbeing, just sign into your account, and one of our friendly and knowledgeable veterinary experts will attend to your needs, no appointment required!

 

Written by:

Alexa Waltz, DVM

Dr. Waltz was raised near the beaches of Southern California but has spent her adult life living all over the beautiful United States while serving in the military and as a military spouse. She left California for the first time to pursue a career as a veterinarian at Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine and graduated as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2006. She was accepted into the US Army Health Professionals Scholarship Program during vet school and upon graduation spent her military years as a veterinarian in San Diego working for the US Marine Corps and US Navy Military Working Dog programs as well as caring for pets of service members. After her military service, she became a civilian veterinarian and continued as a small animal general practitioner at clinics in California, Rhode Island, Colorado, and Maryland. Dr Waltz loves to see her “in person” patients just as much as communicating with and assisting pet parents virtually on AskVet. Dr Waltz is also a Mom to 3 humans, 2 guinea pigs, and 1 Australian Shepherd and in her spare time she loves traveling, adventures, exercising, and doing just about anything out in nature!

 

 

If your pet is experiencing symptoms like separation anxiety, arthritis pain, vomiting, or allergies, you may be wondering about “alternative” treatments for your pet. The most effective and well-studied holistic therapy for pets is acupuncture – which can improve your pet’s quality of life and overall health!

Many pet owners have questions about acupuncture. What is it? How does it work? Is there any scientific benefit to acupuncture? What is involved in a typical acupuncture session?

Read on for answers to all of these questions.

History of Acupuncture

Acupuncture is one of five parts of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The practice of acupuncture on people and horses began approximately 3,000 years ago in China. Treating pet dogs and cats with acupuncture began approximately 100 years ago – which is still much longer than we have been using many of our Western therapies!

Interest in acupuncture (both human and veterinary) in the United States grew significantly in the 1970s, spurring the National Institute of Health (NIH) to sponsor research into the benefits of human acupuncture. Ultimately, the NIH released a consensus statement highlighting the promising future of acupuncture use in human medicine.

What Is Acupuncture?

Simply put, acupuncture is the insertion of tiny, thin needles into specific points on the body called “acupoints.” These acupoints are related to each other and connected by Meridians or Channels, which are located under the skin. These points are thought to be areas that, when punctured, relieve stress or pain.

Several methods are used to stimulate these points:

• Dry needle: This is the use of needle insertion alone, which is the most common form of stimulation.
• Electroacupuncture: This is when the needle is attached to an electrical lead that provides a mild current to further stimulate the meridians.
• Aquapuncture: This is the injection of a liquid (usually vitamin B12) under the skin into the point.
• Moxibustion: This is when you burn the herb Artemesia above the needles to warm them, which provides additional healing properties described in TCM.

Alternative Therapies: How To Get Started

Similar to Conventional Medicine, the success of any Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) treatment plan lies in the correct diagnosis. While your family veterinarian may have diagnosed your pet with “arthritis” or “intervertebral disc disease,” a TCVM diagnosis will be based on a more complex classification that includes any outward symptoms.

A TCVM vet might gather information from the animal’s habits, pulse, tongue color, pressure points, and many more physical changes in order to determine a diagnosis. This is called the Bian Zheng or pattern diagnosis. This may explain why one patient responds to conventional treatment while another pet with the exact same symptoms and disease does not!

Based on assessment of your pet’s diagnosis, your TCVM veterinarian then selects “points” for treatment. Some points have local effects – for example, in treating pain related to a torn cruciate ligament in the knee, the acupuncturist may select a specific point named ST35, which is located at the knee next to the tendon of the knee cap. Other points are distant from the site of disease and are selected based on relation to the Meridian that the problem lies along or a relationship with the organ system involved.

Some acupuncture points have specific actions and can be used as symptomatic treatments as well. For example, the acupoint GV14 located where the neck meets the torso on the top of the back is useful for reducing fever.

A nearby acupoint is used to help stop coughing. One of the most studied points is PC6, located on the inner forelimb above the wrist, which is very effective at preventing nausea. (You may be familiar with the wristbands that help with motion sickness in people!)

How Does Acupuncture Work?

The short answer is: there is no short answer! In general, when we discuss how TCVM works, there are two explanations: Western and Eastern.

Eastern

The Eastern explanation is rooted in several principles. The most basic principle is something that may sound familiar: Yin and Yang. Yin and Yang represent the naturally occurring dichotomy in nature. Hot and Cold, Man and Woman, Day and Night, Excess and Deficiency are some examples you may be familiar with, but there are infinitely more!

Each half of a dichotomy is the polar opposite of the other, but one half cannot exist without its opposite. We only know what cold is because we’ve experienced hot, for example! Likewise, there is no night without day. What’s more: nothing is ever 100% Yin or 100% Yang.

Under this philosophy, the interactions and flow between Yin and Yang create harmony and health. Disease then occurs during periods of disharmony.

Another basic principle is the Five Treasures Theory. The Five Treasures are Jing (or congenital essence — basically DNA), Shen (the mind/spirit/psyche), Body Fluid (tears, urine, sweat, saliva, intestinal fluid, etc.), Blood, and lastly, Qi.

You can think of Qi as the electrochemical communications throughout the cells of your body. Qi is what gives life to our bodies, and where there is no Qi, there is no life. No, we’re not discussing philosophy — Qi directly refers to that intangible bioelectric force that animates living beings.

Qi flows through the Meridians in TCVM. Disease or pain occurs when Qi cannot flow properly. Think of when you have a pinched nerve: Your leg becomes painful, tingly, and you can’t move it as well. Alleviating this pinching can then allow your body to restore itself to a state of health. Something similar happens when the flow of Qi is restored.

Western

In Western Medicine, we tend to rely on a process called evidence-based medicine that seeks to prove theories through research. Fortunately, there have been numerous studies proving the effects of acupuncture.

Through this scientific research, we are learning that there are many complex biological mechanisms of action to explain the beneficial effects we see from acupuncture. Acupuncture stimulates a series of interactions between the nervous, immune, and endocrine systems.

It has been proven to :

• Increase blood flow
• Reduce inflammation
• Strengthen the immune system
• Improve muscle relaxation
• Stimulate nerves
• Release stem cells
• Stimulate endogenous opioids (natural painkillers)
• Release serotonin (the “feel good” hormone)

Because of this research, Western science has validated the use of acupuncture as a beneficial treatment for many different types of medical conditions.

What Can Acupuncture Do for Pets?

Treatment with acupuncture can be performed for virtually any disease! The most well-supported and well-known uses of acupuncture are for pain management and pain relief.

This alternative therapy can help to regulate nervous systems and the musculoskeletal system. Acupuncture can be used to treat skin conditions such as acral lick granulomas, reduce anxieties and other behavioral problems, relieve pain from hip dysplasia, gastrointestinal tract disorders like IBD and vomiting, kidney disease, and cancer.

Additionally, acupuncture can be done concurrently with the conventional therapies for all of these diseases so our pets can benefit from both Western and Eastern Medicine to live longer, healthier, and happier lives.

Conditions That Could Benefit From Acupuncture

There are some conditions that are used more frequently than others when it comes to pet acupuncture. If your dog suffers from the following, they might be a good candidate to try acupuncture treatment:

• Arthritis: Acupuncture helps your dog’s body to release endorphins which can alleviate pain from arthritis. Depending on how well this pain relieving technique works for your dog, your DVM might take them off some pain medications.
• Cancer: Acupuncture stimulates blood flow and naturally improves the body’s ability to heal itself. This can help alleviate pain from cancer treatment or medications used to treat unwanted symptoms.
• Degenerative Joint Disease: If your pet is beginning to struggle with joint mobility, acupuncture might help to support flexibility and decrease tension to help them move better.
• Trauma: If your dog is suffering from pain caused by some sort of trauma, acupuncture can be used to pinpoint the spots that hurt and try to help alleviate chronic pain.
• Metabolic Diseases: Acupuncture is known to help regulate the endocrine system and relieve oxidative stress. This can help to increase blood circulation and help eliminate toxins inside the body.

Before you decide to move forward with acupuncture for your pet, you should always consult with their licensed veterinarian to discuss the benefits and any potential side effects (though there aren’t really any).

Is Acupuncture Safe?

Acupuncture is considered very safe! There are virtually no side effects when acupuncture is performed by a trained professional. The needles are extremely thin (typically smaller than the needles used to give vaccines), sterile, and single-use only for your pet’s comfort and safety.

Some animals notice the prick as the needle is inserted, but most do not mind the process. In fact, quite a few even fall asleep during an acupuncture session! Some animals experience fatigue the day of or the day after their acupuncture treatment, but otherwise, no significant side effects have been detected after years of study.

Do All Veterinarians Perform Acupuncture?

Veterinarians can become trained and certified in acupuncture through several schools, including Chi University, CuraCore, the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS), and the Canine Rehabilitation Institute (CRI). The classes can take anywhere from months to years to complete. In addition to acupuncture, some veterinarians become certified in herbal medicine, Tui-Na, and Chinese food therapy to help their patients heal.

If you think your pet may benefit from animal acupuncture therapy, discuss this with your family veterinarian! Since not all veterinarians are trained in veterinary acupuncture treatment, your family veterinarian may refer you to a local practitioner who offers this treatment.

You can also look up practitioners on the websites of the individual acupuncture schools:

Chi University: https://www.tcvm.net/

CuraCore: https://curacore.org/vet/find-a-practitioner/

IVAS: https://www.ivas.org/vets/

CRI: https://www.caninerehabinstitute.com/Find_A_Therapist.html

What To Expect From the Procedure

Before you can be treated with acupuncture, your veterinarian will discuss your treatment options before recommending you to a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist with training in TCVM. Any information that is beneficial to understanding your pet’s issue will be sent over to the acupuncturist before the consultation, and during the consultation, any concerns should be voiced.

At the consultation, your dog might undergo blood work, lab testing, and x-rays to determine where the issue is. Once the acupuncturist has determined what the issue is and where the best points to be punctured are, you can go forward with the treatment. These sessions will last anywhere between 20 minutes and one hour.

While your dog might notice the prick of the needle as it’s being inserted, afterward, it can be fairly relaxing. Some animals even fall asleep during the procedure, which is totally okay. It should be a relaxing and comforting experience.

After the procedure is over, your dog might be a little sore and tired. You will want to allow them to rest up and drink plenty of water for the next day. Every dog is different and will be treated specifically based on their needs.

Some dogs might need several treatments a week or just a few a month to help keep them feeling healthy and happy. This is something that your acupuncturist will be able to discuss with you before starting the treatment.

Get to the Point With AskVet

No one expects you to be an expert when it comes to acupuncture, let alone for your pet (unless you literally are one). It can be scary to think about sticking needles into your beloved pup, but it’s painless and does a lot of good for your pet’s health and wellness.

Acupuncture is often where people end up when other pain medications and treatment methods aren’t relieving their pet as much as they hoped for. It’s not a “last ditch effort,” but it might not be the first thing you think of. In fact, you might want to bring it up with your vet at your next check-up.

If you have more questions about pet acupuncture, consider signing up with AskVet. Here, pet parents have 24/7 access to Certified Pet Lifestyle Coaches™, who can provide you with answers to any questions you might have – related to acupuncture or not. With this kind of access, you don’t have to worry when you have a question in the middle of the night.

AskVet’s goal is to provide you with quality care and answers so that you don’t have to spend any more time worrying about your pet than you already have. Plus, we don’t just have answers for cats and dogs — we include care for all (ranging from hamsters to snakes). Join for just $9.99/month and feel a sense of ease the next time you need some reassurance.

 

Sources:

An Historical Review and Perspective on the Impact of Acupuncture on U.S. Medicine and Society | NCBI

About – Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine | Chi University

Effect Of Acupuncture On Pain And Quality Of Life In Canine Neurological And Musculoskeletal Diseases | NCBI

 

 

Receiving the news that your dog has kidney disease can be scary and confusing for pet parents. Kidney disease occurs on a spectrum – some cases are an emergency, and your dog may be feeling very sick, vomiting, and acting lethargic.

In other cases, you just may note that the water bowl is empty more often than normal, and your dog is having to urinate frequently. And to complicate things more, kidney disease may be asymptomatic early in its course, only to be discovered via annual blood and urine testing. Every dog’s journey with kidney disease will be highly dependent on the cause, severity, progression, and treatments.

Managing kidney disease hinges on understanding all of the ways that the kidney supports the body. Kidneys are made up of millions of tiny cellular units called nephrons. These little nephrons are the true workhorses of the kidney and perform many essential functions for the body.

There are a variety of medical problems that cause nephrons to become damaged and result in kidney failure in dogs. Unfortunately, once healthy kidneys are permanently damaged, they cannot regenerate healthy tissue.

The kidneys are so good at compensating for damaged nephrons that by the time we start to see evidence of kidney damage on your dog’s lab work, at least 2/3 of the kidney’s functional capacity is already diminished! At that time, it is important that treatment is initiated to preserve as much kidney function as possible.

Let’s talk more about what the kidneys do.

What Do Dog’s Kidneys Do?

The kidneys are responsible for many functions that are crucial to overall health. One such function is removing excess waste, fluids, and toxins. This keeps the body healthy by preventing buildup.

When the kidneys can no longer filter out these substances, it is a sign that they aren’t working properly. Kidneys also control blood pressure and pH levels, help produce red blood cells and support bone health.

So what are the signs of this vital organ failing?

What Are the Clinical Signs of Chronic Kidney Disease?

Some of the most common symptoms include weight loss, decreased appetite, vomiting, increased or decreased urination, and thirst. You might also notice your dog’s gums becoming pale or that their breath has a chemical scent. Additionally, they might have trouble walking or staying balanced.

This wide range of symptoms will likely worsen as the disease progresses.

What Causes Kidney Failure in Dogs?

Now that you know the signs, you might be wondering how your furbaby became ill. Several things can cause kidney failure, ranging from damage to specific parts of the kidneys to ingesting household products that may contain dangerous toxins.

Let’s dive in:

Kidney Damage

There are many ways in which the kidneys could become damaged. Here are a few possible infections and other issues that may have caused your dog’s kidney failure:

• Glomerular Disease: This disease occurs when the part of the kidney responsible for the filtration of waste products, called the glomerulus, becomes inflamed. The inflammation damages surrounding tissues within the kidney, which leads to the development of chronic kidney disease.

In the early stages, your dog may not exhibit symptoms, but it is vital to seek treatment as soon as possible to slow the progression of this illness.

• Nephrolithiasis: Nephrolithiasis is a term used to describe kidney stones. Kidney stones may not be painful initially but can become painful if they result in a blockage or infection.
• Blockage: If kidney stones become fragmented, they can move into the ureter along with urine as it reaches the bladder. The fragments could cause a blockage if they become stuck within the ureter, making it difficult for urine to leave the bladder. Consequently, the kidneys become enlarged and damaged.
• Leptospirosis: This is a treatable bacterial infection that can cause acute kidney injury but may also contribute to chronic kidney disease. Prompt management of this infection is best to ensure a favorable outcome.

Household Products and Toxins

Some products you use in your home can be hazardous for dogs.

A few common household items that may contribute to kidney failure include:

Grapes and Raisins

Grapes and raisins are both poisonous as they stay in the stomach for an extended period of time and aren’t processed correctly within your dog’s gastrointestinal tract.

The exact amount needed to inhibit kidney function is unknown, but you should avoid giving these fruits to your dog altogether to minimize the risk.

Antifreeze

Antifreeze can be found in products such as paint, motor oil, hydraulic brake fluid, and radiator coolant, more commonly referred to as automotive antifreeze.

Cardiac Medications

Some heart medications include beta blockers and calcium channel blockers, both of which are used in human and veterinary medicine to effectively treat high blood pressure and cardiac disease. Poisoning due to these medications can lead to a low heart rate and acute kidney injury.

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Medications

It is not safe to give your dog over-the-counter medication meant for humans without first receiving guidance from your veterinarian upon consultation since many human medications are harmful to animals. This includes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as Advil and Motrin. These can cause intestinal ulcers and acute kidney injury.

Vitamin D3

Vitamin D3 is extremely harmful to dogs, and they could rapidly develop an acute kidney injury if this vitamin is ingested. Vitamin D3 can raise calcium and phosphorus levels, otherwise referred to as hypercalcemia and hyperphosphatemia. Consequently, the body’s soft tissues within the heart, kidneys, and GI tract will harden.

Several items in your home contain vitamin D3, including rat poison, prescription vitamins, multivitamins, and omega fatty acid supplements.

Chronic Kidney Disease and Age

The age at which dogs could develop chronic kidney disease varies based on age and size.

Large dogs might show early signs of CKD as young as seven years of age because they tend to have a shorter life span than smaller breeds. In contrast, small dogs live longer and may not show signs of CKD until they are around ten to 14 years of age.

How Is CKD Diagnosed?

To diagnose CKD, your vet may conduct several tests, including three different blood tests, as well as urine testing, radiography, ultrasonography, and testing for infectious diseases.

Here’s what you can expect:

• Radiography: This test uses X-rays to examine your dog for tumors or kidney stones. It might also help detect other health problems.

• Ultrasonography: Ultrasounds are safer than radiographs because they use sound waves instead of radiation. However, both tests are essential: ultrasounds take images of the body’s tissue differently than radiographs.

• Blood Urea Nitrogen: The BUN test is a blood test that is usually incorporated into blood panels. Elevated results are only shown on this test when kidney function has decreased by 60 to 70 percent, making it highly effective at uncovering kidney problems.

• Blood Creatinine: Similar to the BUN test, the blood creatinine test will only show elevated results at 60 to 70 percent decreased kidney function. Creatinine is an amino acid in muscle protein. Both tests are influenced by factors unrelated to kidney function, such as exercise, diet, and muscle mass. For this reason, these tests can provide an accurate diagnosis after the disease has progressed, but a final blood test is needed to diagnose CKD in its early stages.

• SDMA Test: Symmetric dimethylarginine tests for an amino acid called arginine. SDMA levels elevate well before BUN and creatinine, helping detect kidney failure early on. Your dog could be tested for phosphorus and calcium levels in their blood.

• Urinalysis: Testing urine can provide information about the status of the kidneys that may not have been apparent in blood testing. This includes the detection of protein loss within urine, the presence of bladder stones, bleeding, and inflammation.

What’s the Outlook? The Future for Dogs With Kidney Disease

CKD is progressive, but proper treatment can allow dogs to live for months to even years with the diagnosis while still having a good quality of life. Starting treatment as soon as possible can help them live longer.

Geriatric Degeneration

As your dog ages, they could develop health issues, including CKD. We’ll discuss a few of them and their symptoms below.

Degenerative Joint Disease

This disease is also known as Osteoarthritis. Dogs can develop arthritis in old age, just like humans. Typically, this affects the function of any weight-bearing joints such as the knees and hips, which erodes the body’s cartilage over time. Osteoarthritis is progressive, but treatment can help ease your dog’s pain while slowing progression.

Dementia

Older dogs may begin to show signs of cognitive dysfunction, including dementia. You’ll want to see your veterinarian for an official diagnosis if you notice your dog doing things like pacing, having accidents, appearing confused or lost, or withdrawing from the family. Dementia cannot be cured, but your vet can prescribe medications or supplements that might make these symptoms more manageable.

Blindness

Dogs can lose their vision as they get older, and while there is no way to reverse it, their other senses can help them adapt. It is best not to rearrange your furniture so that they won’t be confused about their surroundings at home and keep them on a leash when you take them outside.

Diabetes

Canine diabetes is a frequent concern in elderly dogs and can present itself in one of two ways. The first and most common is insulin-deficient diabetes. This occurs when the pancreas is not functioning properly, preventing the body from producing enough insulin.

The second form is insulin-resistant diabetes, during which insulin is produced but is not used properly within the body. Diabetes can lead to abnormal blood chemistry, resulting in damage to organs, including the kidneys. If your dog has diabetes, they may experience weight loss, increased appetite and urination, and increased thirst.

Symptoms of End-Stage Renal Disease in Dogs

When your dog enters the end stages of kidney failure, their symptoms may worsen. Some of these could be similar to ones they experienced in prior stages of CKD, while others were not present before the final stages.

Review a few of them below:

• Uremia: When waste productsbuild up in the body, this gives your dog’s breath a strong ammonia scent

• Mouth Ulcers: Uremia could cause painful ulcers in your dog’s mouth.

• Dull and shedding coat: Your dog might begin to shed more than usual, and their coat may appear unkempt.

• Bloodshot eyes: During the final stages, the eyes may seem bloodshot.

• Loss of body fat and muscle mass: The weight loss brought on by kidney failure can cause them to appear emaciated as they lose both muscle mass and body fat.

• Dehydration: Although kidney failure causes increased thirst, it also causes frequent urination, leaving your dog constantly dehydrated.

• Dry and pale gums: The gums could become pale and extremely dry due to the lack of fluids in your dog’s body.

• Fatigue and lethargy: Your dog’s energy levels may decrease, causing them to sleep more and become less active.

• Slow heart rate and trouble breathing: During prior stages, the heart rate may increase, but it becomes slower in the final stages. However, blood pressure could become elevated. Difficulty breathing could also arise.

• Anemia: Anemia is the lack of healthy red blood cells in the body, resulting in reduced oxygen flow to the organs.

• Tremors and shaking: Your dog might experience shaking, tremors, and loss of balance.

• Seizures: Recurrent seizures are a major indication that your dog is in the final stages of kidney failure.

• Depression and disorientation: Your dog may seem confused and lose interest in things they usually enjoy.

Acute or Chronic?

Acute Kidney Failure (acute renal failure) occurs when there is a sudden injury to the kidney tissue due to causes like toxin ingestion or infections like Lyme or Leptospirosis. This damage occurs quickly over minutes, hours, and days. Acute Kidney Failure is an emergency needing immediate treatment.

If the damage happens more slowly over time due to unknown reasons and old age, it is referred to as Chronic Kidney Failure (chronic renal failure). Treatment for this type of kidney disease involves long-term management to prevent progression and further loss of those important nephrons.

End-stage chronic kidney failure occurs when the damage is in such an advanced state that other body systems are also affected, and the condition of the dog is very poor overall.

Treatment of acute and chronic kidney failure are similar yet different since one happens on a much faster timeline than the other! How do we tell the difference between acute and chronic?

Using information from the pet parent about recent changes in your dog that you have observed at home, physical exam findings, blood and urine test results, blood pressure readings, and other diagnostic options like x-ray and abdominal ultrasound, your veterinarian can distinguish which type of kidney issue your dog is experiencing.

When a kidney injury is diagnosed, the goals of treatment are to address the original cause of the damage, restore as much kidney function as possible, and slow the damage and further loss of function. Some treatments also directly target the buildup of certain wastes in the bloodstream, aid in hydration, and maintain electrolyte balances.

How Is Acute Kidney Failure Treated?

The kidneys are very fragile and can be rapidly and severely injured by infections, toxins (grapes, raisins, antifreeze), and severe dehydration (heat stroke and shock). Without treatment, acute kidney failure is life-threatening. If the kidneys experience this sudden injury, the sooner treatment is received, the better the outcome!

Severely ill dogs can be expected to be hospitalized for several days. In some cases, acute kidney failure can be reversed; the kidneys can be jump-started again to resume their responsibilities.

In other cases, treatment is ineffective or not initiated in time, and the kidneys will suffer a degree of permanent damage.

Possible Treatment Plans for Acute Kidney Failure in Dogs

If your dog is diagnosed with acute kidney failure, here are some treatments that may be offered:

• Treatment for the primary disease causing the acute kidney failure (such as antibiotics for an infection of the kidneys)
• Intravenous (IV) Fluids: used to restore electrolytes and hydration and help the kidneys continue to flush out the wastes and toxins from the bloodstream.
• Urinary Catheterization: measuring the urine output is key in monitoring how the kidneys are rebounding and responding to treatment.
• Medications: Antibiotics, anti-nausea medications, gastro protectants, appetite stimulants, blood pressure medications, cardiac support, and pain medications if your dog is painful
• Temporary Feeding Tube: Many dogs feel lousy and do not want to eat. A feeding tube can help deliver nutrition directly to their stomach until they are ready to eat on their own.
• Monitoring: Bodyweight, urine output, electrocardiogram, blood pressure, temperature, and urine and blood testing will assist your veterinarian in closely monitoring your dog’s status.

Are There Renal Replacement Therapies for Dogs?

AskVet Tip: Unfortunately, treatments called “renal replacement therapies” (aka dialysis and kidney transplants) are not widely available options to treat kidney failure in animals. Some veterinary hospitals do have dialysis capabilities, but at this time, it is not routinely used and is very expensive.

For more information, refer to your veterinarian for dialysis options at referral centers and large veterinary hospitals in your area.

Acute kidney failure is a very serious and potentially fatal condition. Prognosis often depends on the initial cause of the kidney injury and how quickly appropriate treatment is begun.

Some dogs will beat the odds and have an excellent response to treatment, resuming their regular healthy lives! Unfortunately, other dogs will suffer permanent damage to the kidneys and live with some level of chronic renal failure, requiring ongoing care for the rest of their lives.

Treatment Options for Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic kidney disease has a much slower progression and often takes place over months and years rather than hours and days. Since chronic kidney disease occurs from mild to severe, the International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) created a standard set of guidelines for treating chronic kidney disease based on the classified stage.

What Are the Four Stages of IRIS?

The IRIS has 4 stages – stage one being very mild disease and stage 4 being severe end-stage disease. IRIS staging is based on a complete assessment of kidney function, which includes blood and urine test results and blood pressure measurement. (You may hear your veterinarian discuss blood values such as creatinine, BUN, SDMA, and urine protein creatinine ratio!)

With mild kidney disease, only a few treatments may be needed to aid the nephron with filtration, maintain hydration, lower blood pressure, and balance electrolytes.

With advanced kidney disease, the filtering power of the nephron is greatly diminished, causing wastes and toxins to build up in the bloodstream affecting the function of other organs around the body.

Possible Treatments for IRIS

The following are some commonly recommended treatments for dogs with IRIS Stages 1-4 kidney disease in order to improve or maintain kidney function and quality of life for as long as possible:

• Treat any primary disease-causing or complicating condition (such as high blood pressure)
• “Renal diet”: Prescription diets with decreased protein and restricted phosphorus and sodium content to help support struggling kidneys and reduce the amount of work they have to do (Hill’s K/D and K/D Early Support, Purina Pro Plan NF and NF Early Care, Royal Canin Renal Support and Early Renal Support)
• Supplements: Phosphorus binders (Epikatin, Aluminum Hydroxide), vitamin D supplements (calcitriol), potassiumsupplements, probiotics (Azodyl), omega-3 fatty acid supplements (fish oil)
• Medications: Blood pressure medications (enalapril, telmisartan, amlodipine), anti-nausea medications (cerenia, ondansetron), appetite stimulants (mirtazapine, entyce), antacids (omeprazole, famotidine)
• Intravenous or Subcutaneous Fluids: Maintain hydration and correct electrolyte imbalances. IV fluids can be given in the hospital and fluids under the skin (subcutaneous, or “SQ” fluids) can be given at home.
• Erythropoietin: Injectable erythropoietin may become necessary if the red cell count becomes too low.
• Feeding tube: Sick dogs sometimes do not want to eat, so a feeding tube can provide nutrition directly into the stomach for a period of time until he starts to feel better

How Can Kidney Failure Be Prevented?

The best thing you can do to reduce the chances of canine kidney failure is to schedule regular vet visits. This makes it less likely that they will develop any conditions you would be unaware of. When they are examined by your vet often, routine tests such as blood work and urine tests may detect early signs of kidney disease and other illnesses.

Your dog’s diet is another aspect of preventing kidney disease is keeping your dog on a healthy diet. Adding probiotics can support good bacteria that are already in their system. Feeding your dog high-quality food with protein as the main ingredient can help support kidney function.

Providing your dog with clean drinking water will also lessen the bacteria they consume. If your dog is susceptible to kidney problems or other issues, your vet might recommend specific foods to support kidney health.

You should always talk to your vet when navigating a CKD diagnosis, as they can assist you in coming up with a treatment plan that best suits your dog.

Goals of Treatment

The goals of treatment are to address any disease responsible for damaging the kidneys in the first place, support the remaining kidney function, and address any fluid, electrolyte, and mineral imbalances that arise due to the compromised kidneys.

Pet parents can take an active role in helping their pups by closely adhering to treatment plans and following up with the recommended recheck appointments and blood/urine tests.

The response to treatment can vary widely between dogs – some kidney function can improve with the above treatments allowing dogs to live an active and happy life for many years.

Other dogs may progress quickly and develop debilitating issues resulting in a poorer quality of life. Keeping your dog feeling good for as long as possible is the outcome we all strive for!

Our AskVetCertified Pet Lifestyle Coaches™ (CPLC) are available to discuss all of your pet’s needs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whether you have an immediate need or are looking to improve your pet’s overall wellbeing, just sign into your account, and one of our friendly and knowledgeable veterinary experts will attend to your needs; no reservation required!

Join AskVet to discuss any lingering questions you may have and formulate a lifestyle plan totally tailored to any pet in your household.

 

Sources:

Kidney Failure in Dogs – Signs & Symptom | Rossmoyne Animal Emergency Trauma Center | Mechanicsburg.

Kidney Failure in Dogs | Kirrawee Vet Hospital | NSW

Renal Failure in Dogs: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment | Flat Rock Emergency Vet

Hypercalcemia in Dogs and Cats – Endocrine System | Merck Veterinary Manual

Hyperphosphatemia in Animals – Metabolic Disorders | Merck Veterinary Manual

 

Written by:

Alexa Waltz, DVM

Dr. Waltz was raised near the beaches of Southern California but has spent her adult life living all over the beautiful United States while serving in the military and as a military spouse. She left California for the first time to pursue a career as a veterinarian at Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine and graduated as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2006. She was accepted into the US Army Health Professionals Scholarship Program during vet school and upon graduation spent her military years as a veterinarian in San Diego working for the US Marine Corps and US Navy Military Working Dog programs as well as caring for pets of service members. After her military service, she became a civilian veterinarian and continued as a small animal general practitioner at clinics in California, Rhode Island, Colorado, and Maryland. Dr Waltz loves to see her “in person” patients just as much as communicating with and assisting pet parents virtually on AskVet. Dr Waltz is also a Mom to 3 humans, 2 guinea pigs, and 1 Australian Shepherd and in her spare time she loves traveling, adventures, exercising, and doing just about anything out in nature!

Vomiting is not fun for anyone involved! The worry, the mess, the unknown – it is no mystery why vomiting in dogs is often accompanied by pet-parent-panic. Deciphering the cause of your dog’s vomiting can be tricky as there are seemingly infinite causes of vomiting in dogs. These can range from eating too fast, car-ride-induced motion sickness, and tummy upset from pizza stealing — to more serious issues like liver disease, kidney failure, intestinal inflammation, and viral and bacterial infections. … and the list goes on and on!

How do you know if your dog’s vomiting is serious and needs veterinary intervention? Here, we’ll take a practical approach towards vomiting in dogs and explore which situations may indicate that your dog needs veterinary care.

Vomiting or Regurgitation?

First things first – we need to make sure your dog is indeed vomiting and not regurgitating as both actions can result in a puddle of goo on the floor! Vomiting is when your dog performs a “heave, heave, heave … BLEHHH!!!” and forcibly expels contents from the stomach and intestines. On the other hand, regurgitation is more like a passive and quiet “burp” – there is no dramatic heaving process, but a large amount of undigested food is returned to the floor. 

Why does it matter? Distinguishing vomiting from regurgitation can give hints for different conditions, so it is important to know which is affecting your dog. Causes of regurgitating food is a subject for another day, but if you suspect your pup may be regurgitating, a visit to the veterinarian is recommended!

Is Your Vomiting Dog Acting Normal or Lethargic?

Not all vomiting is created equal! Here we will describe some of the common scenes you may encounter in your home and break down when vomiting may be no big deal versus a more serious situation that needs veterinary support.

The “Puke and Rally”

Sometimes dogs just vomit randomly, and that is okay! Single occurrence, transient vomiting is just something that dogs will do from time to time, and it is often no cause for panic. Many times, the exact cause is not even determined — and sometimes a dog will even consume the evidence by gobbling it back up right away (EW!). A dog who vomited once but is otherwise feeling fine, eating and drinking normally, having normal urine and bowel movements, and otherwise carrying on with his day like normal sounds like he is doing just fine! Keep an eye on this guy though, as repeated vomiting or a change in appetite and attitude may indicate that there is more going on.  

What might be some causes of the “puke and rally” in dogs? Being the curious scavengers that they are, dogs are not shy about putting things in their mouths and swallowing them! Dietary indiscretion can affect both old and young dogs (especially the curious youngsters!) due to the sampling of plants, seeds, dirt, bugs, toxins, human food, and more. All of these bear the potential to cause a transient upset stomach. Also be aware that changing dog treats and food brands, varieties, or even opening a new food bag can also cause an upset stomach in some dogs.

AskVet Tip: Dogs can be very sensitive to diet changes! When changing your dog’s diet to a new brand, variety, or even opening a new bag of food, a slow transition is recommended to help your dog’s stomach and digestive tract adjust to the new food. A gradual transition over 1-2 weeks, adding the new diet to the old, can help alleviate some of the possible tummy upset that can occur from introducing a new food. It is recommended to introduce the new diet by offering 25% more every 2 days, and simultaneously phasing out the old.

Puppies will sometimes eat their food very fast (often not even taking the time to chew it up!) and engorge themselves, causing a prompt return of their undigested food to the floor shortly afterward! Slowing down their eating habits using food puzzles and timed feeders can help delay the consumption, aiding in proper digestion.

Puppies and young dogs are also often victims of motion sickness, frequently vomiting in the car every time they are out for a ride. Your veterinarian can recommend some medications to help this issue, and thankfully puppies do tend to grow out of motion sickness as they age and mature!

Repeated Vomiting, But Still Feelin’ Fine

Unfortunately, there are times when dogs will vomit more than just once, which is more concerning and requires some close monitoring at home. Dogs that have vomited a few times, but remain active and happy, have an appetite, are drinking water (and holding it down), and continue to pee and poop normally may recover on their own in a short period. However, if that vomiting continues or other conditions change, keep a close watch as they may need some follow-up care and diagnostic testing at the veterinary clinic.

What are some causes of multi-episode vomiting, but remaining pretty normal otherwise? Again, dietary indiscretion (eating random stuff, people food, toxins, new diets, etc) might kick off more serious stomach and intestinal upset that lingers and does not rectify itself quickly. Dietary Intolerances and food allergies can also cause multiple episodes of vomiting, too, since the food is causing repeat daily irritation. An intestinal parasite could be the culprit too, and sometimes you even see some wriggly worms in the vomit, indicating that your pup needs some testing and treatment. Some medications can irritate the stomach and intestinal lining too, causing some vomiting after administering it.  

A condition called bilious vomiting can cause some puppies and senior dogs to experience occasional vomiting of yellowish liquid due to their stomach being empty for a prolonged period of time during the hours in between meals. This long period with no food allows stomach acid to build up and make your dog nauseous! If your dog suffers from this condition, you may see vomiting first thing in the morning before breakfast, or sometimes in the  late-afternoon, hours after the last meal. Dogs with bilious vomiting typically do not have any other symptoms of illness, have a good appetite, and are otherwise feeling fine. 

Prolonged vomiting is always something to closely monitor as it could represent the tip of the iceberg to come. If a vomiting dog changes from feeling fine to acting more quiet or even lethargic and also develops additional signs like diarrhea or passing up a meal, this could be an indication that things are worsening instead of improving. These pups need an appointment with their veterinarian for some testing, support, and treatment.

AskVet Tip: If you have the knowledge or suspicion that your dog has ingested a bone, string, toy, ball, sock, corn cob, plants, potentially toxic materials, or has overdosed on medication (hers or someone else’s), please consult with your AskVet Veterinarian immediately so they can triage the severity of the exposure and direct any necessary action. With these ingestions, the sooner treatment is received the better the outcome! 

Repeated Vomiting, With Lethargy

This is the most worrisome group. Dogs who are vomiting and lethargic, not wanting to eat or drink, with or without diarrhea, need urgent veterinary care and support. To narrow down causes and assess the severity of your pup’s condition, the veterinarian will likely run some blood and urine tests, and also may recommend an abdominal x-ray or ultrasound. Some other specialized tests may be warranted too, in order to determine the underlying cause and tailor the treatments. Vomiting with lethargy could be the symptoms of many many issues and health conditions, all needing some testing in order to discriminate between causes. The list below is not exhaustive but includes some of the more common causes of prolonged vomiting with lethargy and decreased appetite…  

-Stomach or intestinal foreign body obstruction (swallowing a bone, toy, sock, string, corn cob, etc that can become stuck in the stomach and/or intestines and cause a blockage)

-Parvovirus (young and unvaccinated dogs)

-Pancreatitis (usually preceded by eating something abnormal)

-Medications (some can cause stomach and intestinal ulceration, alter the bacteria, or cause inflammation and adverse reactions)

-Enteritis/Colitis (inflammation of the intestines and colon)

-GDV/Bloat (stomach filling with air and twisting)

-Kidney and Liver Failure (acute and chronic)

-Heat Stroke, Dehydration (usually preceded by heat exposure, activity)

-Bacterial and Viral infections (intestinal upset)

-Addison’s Disease (Adrenal glands not producing enough hormone)

-Pyometra (uterine infection)

-Cancer (rule out the other stuff first!)

When To Worry 

Dogs do tend to vomit quite a bit! Thankfully it is typically more of a one-and-done situation and does not need any follow-up care. If your pup does have an episode though, keep a close eye on him that day, just in case things progress or you detect other signs. 

The dog that is feeling sick, not eating, and continuing to vomit is very concerning and meets the criteria for seeking veterinary care urgently. Keep in mind too that some dogs are very stoic (Labradors and Boxers specifically) and may discreetly hide their pain, maybe even tricking you with bursts of energy. If you suspect something may be wrong, consulting with your AskVet veterinarian, calling your family veterinarian for an urgent appointment, or seeking emergency care are all appropriate actions. Treatments for vomiting in dogs are based on the cause and level of severity, so once your veterinarian gathers information and narrows down a diagnosis, they will advise the best treatment plan to get your pup feeling better again!

 

Have you ever wanted to perform your own physical exam on your dog? Examining your pup at home can help you discover what is physically normal, in turn making it easier to detect when something may be abnormal. Since dogs don’t communicate with words, we humans need to look for physical signs and changes that give us hints that something may not be quite right.

To prepare for a physical examination, find a quiet part of the day and grab a few treats for positive reinforcement. Many dogs like the attention and treats, but if at any point during the exam they become jittery or irritated, stop the exam before anyone gets upset or injured. Some dogs love their exams and others use their body language to tell you that they do not appreciate it! Your veterinarian can always pick up where you left off, as they are seasoned in the swift and pointed physical exam, especially with tense and stressed dogs. 

The Body Condition Score

Since they are so cute, it is easy to over-feed dogs causing weight gain! Keeping dogs thin for the length of their lives results in better long-term mobility and overall health, so always keep an eye out for weight gain. This handy Body Condition Score (BCS) Chart can show where to look to assess how your pup measures up.

Did you know it is possible to weigh your dog at home? Periodically placing your pooch on your home scale is a great way to keep track of their weight. Keeping your dog in an Ideal Weight Range for the length of their life is very healthy for them (your vet can help with designating an IWR for your pup).

AskVet Tip: To weigh dogs on a home scale, first weigh yourself alone and then again holding your dog; then subtract for their weight. Sometimes large dogs will cooperate and sit nicely directly on the scale too! No luck? Most veterinary hospitals will allow you to bring your big dog in for a weight check on their scale — just call ahead to see when it’s a good time!

Movin’ It! 

How is your dog moving around the house? A healthy dog will be alert and respond when you call them. They will walk or jog freely around the house with long strides and not a care in the world! They will stand up and lay down easily and move around willingly as they please — including jumping on and off furniture (if they’re allowed!). Healthy dogs will generally eat and drink the same amount daily, and their bathroom habits usually follow the same patterns too.

Assessing Breathing and Heart Rate

Don’t have access to a stethoscope? No worries, you can still count respirations and feel for your dog’s pulse and heart rate!

Respiratory Rate

The respiratory rate is best taken while the dog is relaxed and even better if asleep! Grab a timer, set it for 1 minute, and count the number of times you see your resting pup’s chest rise and fall (or count for 30 seconds and multiple by 2!). Typically, dogs will have a resting respiratory rate of less than 30 breaths per minute and their breathing will be passive, smooth, soundless, and easy.

Throughout the day, it is normal to see pups panting while engaging in activities and during warm weather. This is how they release body heat, keep up with the oxygen demand, and regulate their temperature. Typically, they should return to a nice slow breathing rate shortly after concluding an activity and the addition of rest, shade, and water.

Heart Rate

There are a couple of ways to feel your dog’s heart rate. With your dog standing still and relaxed, place your fingers on either side of the lowest 1/3 of the chest, just behind the front legs. Apply gentle pressure with your fingers between the ribs and you likely will feel the heartbeat. Set your timer for 1 minute and count the rhythmic beats. The normal heart rate/pulse for a dog is between 70 and 140 beats per minute. Smaller dogs will have faster heart rates and larger dogs will be on the slower end!

AskVet Tip: Another way to take a heart rate is to feel for the femoral pulse. While your dog is quietly laying down or standing, place your fingers up in the highest point where the groin/inner thigh area meets the body. Gently press against the inner thigh so you feel the large femoral artery pulsing along with the heartbeat, set your timer, and count the beats.

Full Body Massage Time!

This is the part that dogs usually love because it is like a full-body massage! Always monitor their body language though, as they may have sensitive or painful areas. As you go through the massage, always remember that animal bodies are normally symmetrical. If you are not sure if a bulge or area of thinning hair is normal, check the opposite side and see if it looks or feels the same!

Starting at the head, run your fingers down the underside of the jaw and neck, feeling for any swelling or lumps. Next, use your hands to apply light pressure starting up by the ears and slowly running your hands down the back of the neck, over the shoulders, along the back and sides, ending at the tail. The body contours should feel symmetrical, and the coat should be healthy, full, and growing evenly. Gently place pressure on either side of the abdomen, and your dog should remain relaxed as you press on his soft belly (some dogs are sensitive and may tense up, but should not react with pain).

Moving our attention to the legs, large dogs have calluses on their elbows of all shapes and sizes, but they should be fairly symmetrical. Run your hands down each of the legs, feeling for swelling, symmetrical muscle development, lumps, and skin abnormalities. The toenails should be kept trimmed and the skin between the toes and pads should be a uniform healthy color. The presence of dewclaws (extra toes on the front and sometimes back legs) are normal and occasionally the loosy-goosy ones can get hung up and cause issues. Some dogs even have “double-dews,” typically on the hind legs. 

Lastly, don’t forget to check that tail area! For breeds with a cute nubbin or curly tail, be sure to check that those tail skin folds are free of any odor and debris. Also, while you are back there, check the skin and hair around your dog’s rear end. There are 2 little glands lurking just below the skin on either side of the anus, called “anal glands”, that sometimes cause painful issues.

The Private Parts!

For male dogs, the penis should be stored inside the pocket of skin called the prepuce, usually only coming out when they urinate or during some arousing activities (especially for dogs that are not neutered… the penis can swell and get very large!). A small amount of yellowish discharge from the prepuce is normal. The skin on the scrotum should be fairly smooth with a uniform color, and each testicle (if present) being a similar size. For females, the vulvar area should look like folds of regular healthy skin, absent any redness or discharge. The anus area should be a uniform color of pink or pigmented with grey or black.

AskVet Tip: All dogs, male and female, have 2 rows of nipples going down their abdomen (for a total of about 8 usually)! They should be fairly uniform in size and color. Sometimes the mammary glands are large and developed in females that have carried litters of puppies, other times very very small.

Checking Those Big Beautiful Eyes

In a well-lit area, gaze into your pup’s face and check for symmetry of the eyelids, corneas (the clear surface of the eyeball), and pupils (the black circles at the center of the eyes). Both eyes should look similar to each other, with the eyelids wide open, eyeballs facing the same direction, and pupils a symmetrical size. In a dark room, the pupils will be very large, and in bright light, the pupils should be smaller. On the eyeball itself, the cornea (clear part) should be nice and smooth, clear, and shiny like a clean window. Dogs also have an additional eyelid, called the “third eyelid”, or nictitating membrane, that is usually tucked and hidden away in the corner of the eye next to the nose. Wiping the occasional eye crusty can be normal too! Some small breed dogs will have tearing called epiphora. Eye problems can be very painful and endanger vision, so immediate examination is recommended if the eyes appear abnormal.

Say Ahhhh!

Staying in the head region, shift your focus down to the nose and mouth. Starting with the nose, it should look moist, smooth, and symmetrical, and the skin should be a uniform color (usually black or brown). An occasional small amount of clear discharge out of the nostrils is normal, but if you notice any milky yellow, green, or white discharge from the nostrils, schedule a vet visit.

Next, flip up the lips and check the color of the inside of the lips and the gums. All of the surfaces you see should be bubblegum pink and a bit slimy with saliva. Some dogs have black pigment on their gums, which is usually normal if it is flat and does not change in appearance.

To check the “capillary refill time”, find a pink area of the gums and gently press with your thumb to blanch the area to white. Lift your finger and the pink color should return in 1-2 seconds. This is an indication of your dog’s hydration level. If it takes longer than two seconds for the color to come back to your pup’s gums, then contacting your AskVet or family veterinarian is advisable.

And finally, how are those chompers looking? Take a nice sniff near the mouth and check for stinky breath! Teeth problems and gingivitis/periodontal disease (infection of the gums and structures around the tooth) are extremely common issues in dogs. Healthy adult teeth should have nice white crowns, be firmly seated in the jaw bone, and the gum line should be a healthy pink color at the base of each tooth. With a healthy bite, both layers of teeth should fit together like a puzzle.

CAUTION: Not all dogs are fond of the oral exam! If your dog does not appreciate you messing with their mouth, just leave that part to the pros. Do not put your fingers between the upper and lower rows of teeth as you will get bitten! Lifting the lips and looking at the outside of the teeth and gums will suffice for your at-home oral exam.

Can You Hear Me?

Next, shift your attention up towards your pups’ ears, and start by feeling the ear flap itself. Both erect and droopy ear flaps should be nice and thin consisting of skin, fur, and cartilage. Check the underside of the ear flaps and look for smooth skin that is cool to the touch, white or light tan in color, with varying amounts of hair. There should be no smell present in healthy ears. The ear canal itself dives deep into the skull forming an “L” shape and measures 1-2 inches long, so there is quite a lot of ear that you cannot see! The deep end of that ear canal contains a very delicate eardrum that is subject to issues too. Leave examining your pup’s ear canal to the pros — it’s impossible to assess deep into a dog’s ears at home.

Thermometer Time!

Veterinarians will often save the most uncomfortable part of the physical examination for last since the rectal temperature tends to irritate some of our patients! If you wish to take a rectal temperature at home, we highly recommend having a helper to hold your pup still for this procedure as it is often a 2-person job! Using an instant digital thermometer, lubricate the end with some water-based lubricant or a small amount of petroleum jelly. Raise your dog’s tail and gently insert the thermometer about 1-2 inches inside the anus, and then wait for the beep. It is important that the helper watches how your pup feels about this process and discontinue immediately if they are showing signs of grouchiness or aggression! The normal rectal temperature of a dog is 101-102.5°F. Unfortunately, even though it is undesirable, the rectal thermometer is the most accurate way to take a dog’s temperature (skin and ear thermometers are not accurate).

AskVet Tip: Be sure to clean the thermometer after use, and label it “DOG” so that it is not confused with the human thermometers!!!

Practice Makes Easier!

Can you believe your veterinarian is able to size up your dog so quickly as they are chatting with you during an exam? Veterinarians are so well-practiced and efficient with the physical exam, most pet owners don’t even notice that they are busy making important observations while talking with you and gathering information.

With more practice, the physical exam will become easier for you, too! The best way to get good at recognizing normal from abnormal is to repeat this exam periodically so you become familiar with the process and observations. If your dog starts out jittery but tolerant, use lots of treats and positive reinforcement when they stand nicely for you. With practice, your dog will likely become more and more willing to participate in your exam. You know your dog best, and early detection of problems makes them much easier to remedy!

As always, if any questions arise after performing your at-home physical exams, our AskVet veterinarians are available to check your findings as well and provide further information and advice about what you may be seeing. If anything is alarming, following up with your family veterinarian or an emergency veterinarian is always appropriate, too!

 

Written by:

Alexa Waltz, DVM

Dr. Waltz was raised near the beaches of Southern California but has spent her adult life living all over the beautiful United States while serving in the military and as a military spouse. She left California for the first time to pursue a career as a veterinarian at Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine and graduated as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2006. She was accepted into the US Army Health Professionals Scholarship Program during vet school and upon graduation spent her military years as a veterinarian in San Diego working for the US Marine Corps and US Navy Military Working Dog programs as well as caring for pets of service members. After her military service, she became a civilian veterinarian and continued as a small animal general practitioner at clinics in California, Rhode Island, Colorado, and Maryland. Dr Waltz loves to see her “in person” patients just as much as communicating with and assisting pet parents virtually on AskVet. Dr Waltz is also a Mom to 3 humans, 2 guinea pigs, and 1 Australian Shepherd and in her spare time she loves traveling, adventures, exercising, and doing just about anything out in nature!

 

Written by: Alexa Waltz

 Congratulations on the new addition to the family in the form of a cuddly fuzzball puppy! Also, kudos for researching what he needs from the get-go to live a long and healthy life! Whether you’re a first-time puppy parent or not, you are willing to do anything to keep your canine companion happy and healthy, from ensuring they’re vaccinated to creating a pet emergency fund. Keeping puppies healthy and ensuring that we, as pet parents, pave the way for a healthy adult life starts when they are very young through puppy care.

Keeping up with a dog vaccination schedule can ensure your dog is staying the healthiest, whether it’s with core puppy vaccinations or non core vaccines. Vaccinating can make deadly diseases preventable diseases. Here’s a breakdown of some dog and puppy vaccines and when they occur on a vaccination schedule for the best pet health possible.  

What Vaccines Do Dogs Need?

Your puppy’s first trip to the vet should occur around 8 weeks of age, or when you first bring them home. This visit will include a full physical examination and also likely involve a discussion on when to start an important part of preventive care: vaccinations. This initial vet visit is followed by a series of additional appointments spaced out by several weeks, until the vaccine series is complete and your pup is ready to face the big wide world!  

For dogs, vaccines have been available for decades to combat some very common life-threatening diseases that affect dogs all around the country and even around the world! Dog vaccines are available to protect against other contagious diseases that are localized to certain geographic areas and which affect dogs with specific lifestyles. Your veterinarian will discuss what vaccines are recommended for your individual precious puppy based. 

For these reasons, vaccines are grouped into “core vaccines” and “non-core vaccines” according to the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). Core vaccines are vaccines recommended for ALL dogs, since the diseases they prevent are ubiquitous in our communities and environment. Non-core vaccines may be recommended by your veterinarian based on which diseases are endemic to your area, and the activities and lifestyle you plan on having with your pup. 

It is important that vaccines are given at a certain time in a puppy’s life, and that the actual vaccine itself is handled and administered correctly, too. It is safest to defer to your family veterinarian for the best advice on what your pup needs and when she needs it! Here’s a list of core dog vaccinations and non core dog vaccinations: 

Core Vaccines for Puppies

Rabies

Since Rabies is a virus that can be transferred from animals to people (aka, “zoonotic”), it is required by law to vaccinate all dogs, cats and ferrets against the disease, and booster as appropriate. Rabies is a deadly virus that is spread by saliva and ultimately affects the central nervous system. The age at which puppies are required to receive the Rabies vaccine is determined by each state, typically being twelve to sixteen weeks of age. Only one vaccine is needed for a puppy to create the appropriate immune response. A Rabies booster vaccination is recommended one year from the date of the first puppy vaccine, and typically every three years through adulthood.

Parvovirus

An infection with Parvovirus (aka “Parvo”) is so common that it tops the list of possible diagnoses for any young puppy with diarrhea and vomiting. Unfortunately, Parvovirus is very stable for long periods of time in the environment (dirt and surfaces of public places where dogs defecate). It spreads from dog to dog in the fecal/oral manner, meaning a dog consumes the virus orally to become infected. Parvo can be fatal and there is no specific cure, but fortunately many dogs do survive with proper hydration and medical treatment to support them through the disease process. Thankfully though, dog vaccination for Parvo is very effective against preventing infection and it is recommended to give puppies the first vaccine around 8 weeks of age. The vaccine is repeated every 2-4 weeks until the puppy has reached 16-18 weeks old, a concept that we will explain in detail later. To maintain healthy immunity through adulthood, Parvo boosters are given one year after the puppy series was completed, and again every three years thereafter.

Distemper Virus

Distemper is another viral disease that is severely debilitating and can be fatal in dogs. Distemper is spread by the secretions of infected dogs subsequently inhaled or ingested by other dogs. The virus will affect the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous system, and even cause some changes in the skin and teeth. Dogs can survive a Distemper infection, but may have some permanent neurologic and physical changes. Fortunately, just like the Parvo vaccine, the Distemper vaccine is highly effective at preventing this disease. The Distemper and Parvo vaccines are usually part of the same “multivalent” vaccine (more on this later), and are given at the same time. Vaccination for distemper starts around 8 weeks of age and is repeated every 2-4 weeks until the pup has reached 16-18 weeks old. Distemper boosters are also given again one year later, and every three years thereafter.

Adenovirus

Protection against Canine Adenovirus 1 and 2 are also included in most vaccines that also protect against Parvo and Distemper. These adenoviruses cause Infectious Canine Hepatitis and Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease (aka “kennel cough”). Dogs suffering from adenovirus infection usually are experiencing respiratory symptoms as well as intestinal and liver disease. This vaccine is often also combined in a vaccine vial with Parvo and Distemper vaccines, and therefore given at the same schedule starting around 8 weeks of age and repeated every 2-4 weeks until the pup has reached 16-18 weeks old. Boosters are also given one year later, and again every three years. 

AskVet Tip: Vaccines against multiple infectious agents that are contained in the same injection are called “multivalent” vaccines, and you may be more familiar with the initials designating distemper/parvovirus/adenovirus vaccination–DAPP, Da2PP, and DHPP are common notations for this combination vaccine!

Parainfluenza Virus

This virus is another component that can be responsible for Canine Respiratory Disease Complex, or “kennel cough”. By vaccinating your pup against Adenovirus, Parainfluenza, and Bordetella Bronchiseptica, he is protected against the most common airborne respiratory infections that infect dogs! The Parainfluenza vaccine is actually considered “non-core” but is usually combined with the Distemper/Parvo/Adenovirus multivalent vaccine, or the Bordetella vaccine, and therefore received on the same schedule.

Non-Core Vaccines for Puppies

Bordetella Bronchiseptica

The Bordetella vaccine is especially recommended for dogs with a packed social calendar, frequenting dog parks and beaches, and especially those that attend daycare and boarding. Bordetella Bronchiseptica is a bacteria that can be another key player in the Canine Respiratory Disease Complex mentioned earlier (“kennel cough”). This vaccine comes in several forms and can be administered orally, intranasally, or injected under the skin. For puppies, it is usually given some time between 6 and 16 weeks of age. The oral and intranasal vaccines only need one single dose, but if the injectable vaccine is given, a second dose is needed 2-4 weeks later. This vaccine is recommended for annual boosters if the risk of exposure continues. In some geographic areas with a high rate of Bordetella in the local dog population, your veterinarian may recommend boosters every six months–depending on your dog’s lifestyle.

Leptospirosis

Vaccination for Leptospirosis, a serious bacterial infection that affects the liver and kidneys, is highly recommended in certain areas of the country, and for dogs who travel. Traditionally, Lepto has been found in rural, wooded areas, and natural water sources, but it has also been found in urban environments (like New York City!) due to wild animal and rodent populations. 

Lepto is spread to dogs through the ingestion of material and water contaminated with urine from an infected animal. The bacteria itself can also penetrate skin cuts and wounds when swimming in contaminated water. Leptospirosis can be spread from an infected dog to humans in the household, so this vaccine is given in dogs who spend time in at-risk areas to protect both the pup AND their people! The Leptospirosis vaccine is given to puppies twice at 2-4 week intervals and boostered annually. It can be combined with the final two Distemper/Parvo vaccines or given by itself as a single vaccine.  

Lyme

Lyme disease is caused by an infection with the Borrelia Burgdorferi bacteria. Just like in humans, the bacteria enters the bloodstream through a tick bite. Vaccination for Lyme may be recommended in areas where the Blacklegged Tick (aka, “Deer Tick”) is found, as it is only this type of tick that transmits Lyme disease. These regions consist of the northeastern, mid-Atlantic, north-central US, and the Pacific Coast. Lyme can cause a myriad of symptoms in dogs ranging from no signs at all, to a fever and decreased appetite, limping, and even severe kidney disease. Since ticks are so sneaky, monthly tick prevention products, routine tick checks after outdoor playtime, and vaccination are ways to prevent Lyme infection. The Lyme vaccine is given twice at 2-4 week intervals and boostered annually for dogs that are at risk.

Canine Influenza

Canine Influenza viruses are relatively new and outbreaks are becoming more frequent in areas around the United States. The Influenza virus is spread through exposure to sneezing, coughing and the nasal discharge of sick dogs as well as contact with contaminated food and water bowls. Your family veterinarian is familiar with the local prevalence of Canine Flu and can advise on the necessity of the vaccine in your area. Often, dogs that are social, attend daycare and dog shows, or are kenneled at boarding facilities may benefit from this vaccine. The Canine Flu vaccine is given twice at 2-4 week intervals and boostered annually. Puppies as young as 8 weeks of age can start to receive the Influenza vaccine. 

Puppy Series of Vaccines

Veterinarians get this question a lot: why do puppies need so many shots? Hopefully the above explanations clarified why the vaccines themselves are so important, and now to explain the reason they get so many shots again and again when they are sweet little tiny babies!

When a puppy is born and nurses on his Mama, she shares her immunity by passing antibodies in the early colostrum milk. The puppies ingest this antibody-rich colostrum and absorb the immunity through their intestine. These antibodies from Mom will work to temporarily protect them against all the diseases that she carries immunity to! If Mama was vaccinated, healthy, and well-nourished during her pregnancy, her puppies will likely inherit great immunity from her, protecting them during those first few months of life. If Mom was under-nourished, sick, unvaccinated, or the puppies nursed poorly (or not at all!), they will not have this immunity to protect them. It is very difficult to measure the amount of immunity that each pup received from Mom and it can even vary between littermates, so it is impossible to really quantify their level of protection!

Why is this such a big deal? When puppies receive this temporary antibody protection from Mom, unfortunately it does not last forever! Eventually puppies will need to create their own immunity by receiving a vaccine (the preferred and safest route!), or by getting infected with a virus (DANGER!)!

Here’s the kicker, though: the immunity gained from Mom can actually interfere with a vaccine doing its job! The trick is to time the vaccine administration perfectly in time with the decrease in Mom’s antibodies so the puppy’s own immune system will then take on the job of making antibodies that last. However, loss of Mom’s antibodies can take place anytime between a span 6-16 weeks of age! 

So, to bring it all together: in order to catch all puppies’ immune systems when they are ready to create long term immunity – but before they may meet any dangerous infections in their environment – it is best to start vaccinating around 8 weeks of age, and repeating with a vaccine dose every 2-4 weeks thereafter until they are about 16-18 weeks old. This will ensure that the pup’s own strong immunity is stimulated as Mom’s antibodies wane. Once their own immune system takes over and is stimulated by vaccinations, they will be protected from dangerous viruses like Parvo and Distemper.

Adult Dog Booster Vaccines

Since we established that puppies create lots of immunity early on due to the puppy vaccine series, why the need to give boosters? Over time, immunity will decrease, and the ability to mount a strong immune response will decline, creating a potentially dangerous situation should your dog meet one of these diseases in his environment. Some vaccines produce great immunity for years (like the Rabies and Parvo/Distemper vaccines) and some last for only one year. Vaccines are studied for the longevity of their protection, and boosters are timed so that the ideal level of protective immunity is always present, should the dog meet a disease in his environment. Just like people need a tetanus and whooping cough booster every now and again, dogs need a boost too!

AskVet Tip: If you have opened your heart to an adult dog in need of a loving home (thank you, that is wonderful!), defer to your family veterinarian for what vaccines and boosters he may need. Some (most!) adopted dogs may not come with a complete set of vaccine and health records, and it is quite possible they did not receive their vaccines as recommended. Your vet will advise on the important vaccines needed, and second doses needed a few weeks later, and then also when boo

Vaccine Wrap-Up

Hopefully, the importance and reasoning behind all of those vaccines has become a bit more clear! Dog vaccination can be a confusing yet routine and IMPORTANT part of disease prevention. Effective vaccine programs will ensure that puppies and adult dogs alike do not have to suffer from the contagious diseases that they are being protected from, and that is a wonderful thing! 

As always, it’s important to observe any vaccine reactions in dogs to ensure they are treated immediately if any vaccine reactions occur. If you still have concerns, please consult an AskVet veterinarian or your family veterinarian to find a program that works for you and your pup!

Our AskVet Veterinarians are available to discuss all of your pet’s needs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whether you have an immediate need or are looking to improve your pet’s overall wellbeing, just sign into your account and one of our friendly and knowledgeable veterinary experts will attend to your needs, no appointment required!