Connection Between Pet Dehydration and Kidney Failure
Dehydration and kidney failure in pets are closely related, as kidney function plays a significant role in maintaining proper hydration levels. Understanding the connection between these two conditions is important for recognizing the signs, preventing complications, and providing appropriate care for your pet.
Issues with the kidneys can happen for several reasons, but dehydration is common. Below, our Clinton Hill Animal Clinic team in Brooklyn, NY, explains how dehydration can lead to kidney failure and how to prevent or treat this condition.
How Does Dehydration Cause Kidney Failure?
These organs flush the body with toxins to help our pets stay healthy. However, our pets need proper hydration for the kidneys to operate accordingly. Provide enough water to maintain healthy circulation and kidney function. When this doesn’t happen, the toxins can build up and clog the kidneys. This clogging causes damage to the organ, eventually leading to kidney failure.
How to Prevent Dehydration in Pets
The most important thing to do is to keep a fresh water supply available to your pet throughout the day. Even if you feed on a strict schedule, water should always be available.
During the hot months, you should be extra cautious. Replenish your pet's water more often. Avoid walks and exercise during the hottest hours of the day. This preventive measure helps prevent both heatstroke and dehydration. Additionally, take water with you at any time of the year when you go on walks or head to the dog park.
Remember, heatstroke and dehydration don’t just occur in hot weather. These conditions can happen anytime your pet can’t sweat enough to regulate body temperature. Therefore, if you keep your home warm in the winter, you should still keep fresh water flowing and watch for trouble.
Treating Pet Dehydration
Treating pet dehydration involves restoring and maintaining the body's fluid and electrolyte balance. Providing a fresh bowl of water is enough. In more severe cases, your pet might need IV fluids. It’s best to call your vet if you even suspect there might be trouble to receive the proper guidance.
Contact Our Brooklyn Veterinarian Team
By maintaining proper hydration through regular access to water and being attentive to signs of dehydration or kidney issues, you can support your pet's overall health and well-being, potentially preventing complications related to kidney failure. Although, no matter the time of year, if you notice your pet isn’t acting themselves, call our team at Clinton Hill Animal Clinic in Brooklyn, NY, at (718) 623-3999.