The kidneys of a Shih Tzu remove the waste from the blood and maintain a proper balance of minerals and fluid just like they do for all animals. But when the kidneys start to fail, they put the life of your Shih Tzu in danger. Kidney failure in Shih Tzus, particularly very small adult Shih Tzus is more common than you might think. Not detecting the condition in the early stages may lead to kidney or renal disease.
Importance of Early Detection
One of the most difficult aspects of treating a kidney condition is that it often does not show any early signs of trouble. In fact, most of the symptoms do not show up until after three-quarters of kidney function has been lost. The earlier you can detect issues with your Shih Tzu, the more effective the treatment will be.
This means that you will need to practice kidney disease prevention with your Shih Tzu to help avoid such conditionings from developing if possible. If detected early enough, then most kidney disease can be treated effectively so your Shih Tzu will live a long, healthy life.
What Causes Kidney Disease?
There are three basic reasons why kidney disease occurs in Shih Tzus. Two of the reasons provide you little in the way of prevention, age, and breed. The older your Shih Tzu gets, the more likely they are to develop kidney disease. Plus, the small size of the Shih Tzu lends itself to having a better chance of developing issues with their kidneys.
However, the third reason is something that is preventable which is the food that they consume. You’ll want to avoid dog food that is loaded with sodium, phosphorus, and proteins known to damage the kidneys. By feeding them right, you at least can reduce one possible cause of kidney disease.
Signs of Kidney Disease
The most obvious sign is an increase in water intake. If you see your dog is more thirsty than usual and for no apparent reason, this may be a sign that they have kidney disease. But that is not the only indication of trouble.
- Loss of Appetite
- Unexplained Weight Loss
- Mouth Sores
- Bad Breath
- Increased urination
- Vomiting & Diarrhea in severe cases
These are the symptoms associated with kidney disease. You should take your Shih Tzu to the vet if you see any of these signs. Keep in mind that there are two types of disease, acute and chronic.
Acute kidney disease may be brought along by a specific source such as injury, dehydration, drug interaction, shock, poison, and other conditions. Such conditions can be identified and eliminated or reduced in effect with the right treatment and food.
Chronic means that kidney disease is mostly due to the age and breed of the dog. In this case, you will need to treat the condition with the food that does not damage the kidneys to keep them as healthy as possible.
You will need to consult with your vet about providing the right type of food for your Shih Tzu to help prevent kidney failure from occurring or treating the condition if it arises.
