Dog Health Alert: Combat Kidney Disease Now

Author: Frank McGinty

My friend was grief stricken. Her body heaved with sobs, and in
between she kept repeating: "He was so young. I never thought I'd
lose him so soon." No, she hadn't lost a son or brother, but she had
lost a friend. "It's like losing a member of your family," she cried.

She was referring to the death of Jack, her beloved Golden Retriever
puppy, who had contracted a condition known as Juvenile Renal Disease.

Regrettably, this and other kidney conditions are common threats to
your dog's health, and as we've seen, the effects can be devastating.

The good news, however, is that with the correct type of dog care,
much can be done to prevent and even cure kidney disease.

So what exactly do the kidneys do, and what causes them to become
infected?

First things first!

The job of the kidneys is two-fold: they balance
a whole variety of chemicals in your dog's blood AND they filter out
waste material through the urine.

When there are just too many toxic substances in the body, the dog's
kidneys can become infected. (We can define a toxin as a substance
which is in the wrong place, or which is performing the wrong
function.)

Common symptoms of kidney infection are drinking copious amounts of
water, and frequent passing of dilute urine (that is, clear urine with no
smell). This can lead to vomiting, loss of appetite, weight loss and
a wasting of the muscles.

Many toxic substances are to be found in the plastics that dogs love
to chew on, in unclean water and even in certain chemicals that are
used in the processing of dog food. The resulting kidney disease can
be debilitating at best and fatal at worst.

Conventional treatments don't always work, and in any case they tend
to be hugely expensive. Wouldn't it be better to avoid the onset of
these conditions, and even to help your dog combat them (under a vet's supervision, of course) if they do strike?

So what can I do?

The safest bet is to go down the path of natural dog care.

Make sure that all the toys you allow your dog to play with are toxin
free and chew -proof. There are many stores and online retailers who
can help you choose the safest products.

Train your dog not to chew on litter and other discarded materials
when you are out and about.

Give your dog only pure water to drink. Puddles, canals and lakes can
be devastating! These days you just don't know what toxins are lurking therein.

In some areas even the tap water is suspect. So-called
'softened water' can be harmful and some areas have a high sodium
content in their drinking water. Better to make it easier on your
dog's kidneys by filtering all water before filling his bowl.

Many vets tell us that exercise is a key ingredient in the fight
against kidney infection. Most people seem to be under the impression
(as I was!) that exercise is only to keep a dog fit and to combat
weight gain.. Apparently it also has a crucial role in helping
stimulate the kidneys to do their job.

Finally, there is nothing to beat natural dog food, not only in the fight
against kidney infections, but also against a whole host of other ailments.
Many pre-packaged dog foods contain less than nutritious ingredients
as well as a range of preservatives and other chemicals - many of which are
toxic.

Natural dog food stores and online retailers will help you make
the right choice here. You can even buy ingredients and herbs that
are good for your dog and cook them yourself, but if that is too
daunting a prospect there are a range of suitable alternatives. These
will contain the nutrients, amino acids and vitamins your dog needs.

Kidney disease, then, need not be the fatal condition it once was. We
now know so much more about its causes and how to prevent it, and even
how to boost a dog's immune system so that she herself can shake off any
infection.

Let's hope you and I and our dogs never have to suffer the same tragic experience as my friend and her dog!



About The Author:

Interested in learning more about natural care for your dog? Visit
Frank McGinty's site for some excellent news:
http://www.familysoftshop.com/dogcare

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