Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the most common conditions of older dogs, causing progressive loss of kidney function that requires careful dietary management, hydration support, and quality-of-life monitoring to maximise welfare in affected animals.
CKD welfare management requires a balance between active treatment and quality-of-life preservation. Dogs with well-managed CKD can have good welfare for extended periods, but the disease is progressive and ultimately terminal. Nausea, reduced appetite, and weakness from uraemia are the primary welfare impacts in advanced stages. Renal diets reduce the phosphate and protein load on failing kidneys, slowing progression and reducing uraemic toxin accumulation. Owner-administered subcutaneous fluids provide hydration that dogs cannot maintain through drinking alone in advanced disease. Proactive quality-of-life assessment using validated scales helps owners and veterinarians make timely, humane decisions about end-of-life care.