Supporting quality of life in dogs with chronic kidney disease through evidence-based management.
Chronic kidney disease causes progressive welfare impairment through accumulating uraemia and its consequences. Early-stage CKD may cause minimal welfare impairment, but as the disease progresses, the toxic effects of retained waste products cause nausea, vomiting, reduced appetite, lethargy, and eventually uraemic encephalopathy. The chronic malaise of advanced CKD significantly reduces quality of life.
Specific welfare challenges include uraemic gastritis causing chronic nausea and vomiting, anaemia of chronic disease causing fatigue and exercise intolerance, hypertension causing blindness from retinal detachment, and proteinuria accelerating disease progression. Each complication adds to welfare burden and requires targeted management.
Renal diets (phosphate restricted, moderate protein quality, alkalinising) significantly slow disease progression and reduce uraemic signs in many dogs. Phosphate binders, anti-nausea medications, anti-hypertensive drugs, and erythropoietin for anaemia address specific complications. Subcutaneous fluid administration at home can provide significant welfare benefit in advanced stages.