Overview
A kidney infection in dogs – known medically as pyelonephritis – can be a serious issue for your dogtooth companion .
The kidney operate to murder toxin from the blood and excrete waste in the form of urine . When the kidney are infected , these authoritative affair can become compromised .
Identifying and treating a kidney infection quickly is essential to ensure a good result for your click .
What Is a Kidney Infection?
Kidney infections in hound are most normally triggered by bacteria . This most normally occurs due toa urinary tract infectionthat then ascend the ureters – the thermionic vacuum tube that link the kidney to the bladder – and into the kidney .
Kidney infections can total on on the spur of the moment ( incisive ) or be gradual and long lasting ( chronic ) . Left untreated , kidney infection can lead tokidney failureand sepsis .
WhatCausesKidney Infections in Dogs?
Kidney infections typically start as a bacterial contagion in the lower urinary tract – the bladder and urethra – which then ascend to the kidneys . E. coliis the most vulgar bacterium causing kidney infections , but other bacteria such asStaphylococcus , Streptococcus , andEnterococcusspp . have also been isolated from frump with kidney infection .
Dogs with urinary tract abnormalities or systemic disorderliness are at high risk of developing urinary parcel infection , and thus , kidney infections .
Factors that can predispose a andiron to kidney infection let in :
Congenital anatomical mental defectiveness
If your wienerwurst has one or more of these predisposing broker , it is specially crucial to keep an eye out for symptoms of urinary parcel of land infection and kidney contagion and seek treatment right away if these signs occur .
Dog Kidney InfectionSymptoms
symptom of kidney infections in dogs can alter wide depending on the case of bacteria present and whether the infection is acute or chronic .
Some dogs with kidney contagion are asymptomatic . Others have symptoms of a lower urinary parcel of land infection or can even be critically ominous and develop kidney failure and sepsis .
Symptoms of kidney infection in dogs can admit :
If your firedog exhibits any of these symptoms , see your veterinary surgeon right away . It is especially authoritative to keep an eye out for symptom of kidney infection if your dog has a story of recurrent urinary tract infection , inveterate kidney disease , bladder or kidney stones , or other inveterate conditions that may predispose them to kidney infection .
Diagnosing Kidney Infectionsin Dogs
To diagnose a kidney contagion , your veterinary may commend some or all of the be tests :
Physical Examination . Your veterinarian will perform a comprehensive top dog - to - tail physical testing on your dog . Abnormalities noted on strong-arm examination may include febricity , dehydration , abdominal painful sensation , and weighting loss .
uranalysis . Your veterinary surgeon will likely commend submitting a urine sample from your dog for analysis . This provide your vet to look for sign of infection such as bacterium and white blood cells in the pee .
origin employment . A complete roue count and biochemistry jury may be recommended to valuate your andiron ’s kidney role and to reign out other possible causes for your dog-iron ’s symptoms . In some face of kidney contagion , roue work is normal . In others , polarity of renal failure may be present .
Radiographs ( X - rays).Your veterinary may recommend abdominal skiagraph ( x - electron beam ) to visualize your dog ’s urinary tract and assess for changes such as enlarged kidney , stones , or an enlarged prostate .
Ultrasound . Ultrasound leave your veterinarian to value the size and soma of your blackguard ’s kidney , as well as the appearance of the layers of the kidney tissues . The change note on ultrasound can be symptomatic for kidney infection in many patient role .
polish . Collecting a sample distribution of urine immediately from the kidney and submit it to a lab for civilization is the gold standard for diagnose a kidney contagion in frump . This must be perform either using an ultrasound or by performing operation . The sample is then grow in the laboratory and the bacterial type identify and used for sensitivity examination .
Sensitivity Testing . Bacteria grown from the dog ’s finish sample distribution are tested using several different antibiotic types to decide which types of antibiotic drug the bacterium are susceptible to . This is used to channelise treatment choice and see to it the best outcomes for your bounder .
Dog Kidney InfectionTreatment
The treatment for a kidney infection in dogs is antibiotic . The antibiotic drug should ideally be chosen based on polish and sensitiveness results . Dogs with kidney contagion typically require antibiotic handling for 10 - 14 Clarence Shepard Day Jr. , but longer treatment may be recommended for some canines .
In summation to antibiotic drug , supportive care may be prescribe , particularly for dogs with piercing infection or those with nephritic failure . Supportive care may admit hospitalization for endovenous ( IV ) fluids , pain control , and antiemetic medications .
Many dogs with a kidney infection have other underlying aesculapian weather condition that predispose them to developing a kidney infection . These underlying condition must also be addressed .
Cost to Treat Kidney Infection in Dogs
The monetary value to do by kidney infection in dog can vary widely depending on the severity of the infection . For many dogs , antibiotics may be the only intervention necessary to accost this condition . Depending on the character of antibiotic require , the size of the dog , and the duration of discourse , favorite owners should ask to pay $ 50-$200 for this discourse .
In severe case requiring hospitalization insurance and supportive tutelage , pet owners should await to pay significantly more for discussion , with costs rapidly add together up over $ 2,000 .
How to PreventDog Kidney Infections
In general , kidney infections ca n’t be foreclose . But there are some step you may take to reduce your dog ’s risk of develop a kidney contagion , such as identifying and process urinary piece of ground infections early on , before they head to kidney infections .
It is also important to treat any underlying conditions your dog may have , such as diabetes mellitus or Cushing ’s disease , as these may predispose your dog to developing a kidney infection .
