Kidney failure, also called renal failure, is the failure of your dog’s kidneys to properly filter waste products from the blood and pass them from the body via the urine. Older dogs are generally at great risk for kidney failure.

Kidney failure is categorized as either acute (sudden and severe) or chronic (of a long duration). Acute kidney failure is very serious and deadly. Chronic kidney failure is also very serious, but it can be managed in varying degrees depending upon its severity and the general health of your dog.

Symptoms include infrequent urination or increased urination, straining to urinate, a decrease in urine volume, a change in drinking habits, general weakness, a lack of coordination, vomiting, a swollen/distended abdomen, a loss of appetite and breath that smells like ammonia. With chronic kidney failure, unlike with acute kidney failure, these symptoms can develop gradually over many months or years.