The kidneys have many functions. They remove waste products from the blood stream, regulate the levels of certain essential minerals such potassium and sodium, conserve water, and produce urine.

By definition, chronic renal failure (CRF), or chronic kidney disease (CKD) is the inability of the kidneys to efficiently filter the blood of waste products, not the inability to produce urine. Ironically, most dogs in kidney failure produce large quantities of urine, but toxic waste is not being effectively eliminated.

Comprehensive blood tests and urinalysis can be used to help diagnose kidney insufficiency, alongside other medical investigations.

Dante was very sadly diagnosed at a very young age, just 7 months old, with renal failure. He has done remarkably well, and is a little under 2.5 years old now! He comes in every few weeks to see our Medic Dr Kaye Gugich, and is placed on intravenous fluid therapy for 24 hours. This allows his kidneys to be flushed through, and help remove the toxic waste that hasn’t be excreted and therefore built up. He is on several medications to continue supporting his kidneys alongside the intravenous fluid therapy.

We enjoy our Dante visits – such a handsome boy!