Print

Treatment

The majority of patients can be treated on an outpatient basis, but if your dog is showing signs of severe nitrogenous waste in the bloodstream (azotemia), high blood pressure (hypertension), or blocked vessels due to clotting (thromboembolic disease), it should be hospitalized. Your veterinarian may prescribe medication to stop the loss of protein into your dog's urine and to increase its blood pressure.

Living and Management

You will need to limit your dog's activity in order to prevent thromboembolic disease. A low-protein, low-sodium diet, such as a commercial kidney diet, should be fed to your dog. Your veterinarian will assist you in creating the best diet plan.

Your veterinarian will schedule follow-up appointments for your dog starting at one month after the initial treatment, and then again at three month intervals for the year following. At each visit, a chemical blood profile, a urinalysis, and an electrolyte panel will be performed. The chemical blood profile is useful for monitoring kidney function, and the urinalysis will indicate the amount of protein being lost into the urine. Your doctor will also take your dog's blood pressure and monitor its weight at each visit.

Glomerulonephritis and amyloidosis are progressive. If the underlying cause cannot be resolved, your dog will eventually lose all kidney function. The prognosis for end-stage kidney disease is poor.