We're discussing 12 aspects of kidney disease in dogs, and let's look first at kidney function:
What the kidneys do
Dogs’ kidneys perform so many important functions that each dog has two kidneys rather than just one. In fact, one entire kidney and a portion of the second kidney can be nonfunctioning and our dogs would still be ok. Only when a dog has lost 2/3 of its kidney function do we see signs of kidney failure.
Kidneys work with other organs and the endocrine system to control
• electrolytes like sodium, potassium, calcium, and phosphorus.
• acid-base balance (the body’s pH) by regulating HCO3 (bicarbonate)
• how much fluid is in the body and in the blood
• blood pressure
• red blood cells and prevent anemia
• waste products, such as urea
In our next posting, let's consider how dogs with kidney disease feel.
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