AffectedAnimals:
Chronic renal failure may affect dogs of any breed, sex, and age. The mean age for chronic renal failure in dogs is seven years. Hereditary chronic renal failure is known to occur in the following breeds: basenji, beagle, bull terrier, Cairn terrier, chow, cocker spaniel, Doberman pinscher, German shepherd, Lhasa apso, miniature schnauzer, Norwegian elkhound, rottweiler, samoyed, Chinese shar pei, Shih tzu, soft-coated wheaten terrier, and standard poodle.

Overview:
Chronic renal failure, or CRF, is a serious disease usually seen in older dogs. The most commonly observed signs of this disease are polydipsia, or increased water intake, and polyuria, or frequent urination.

Chronic renal failure usually is caused by the normal aging process, due to the declining function of the kidneys with time. The most common signs of chronic renal failure, increased water intake and frequent urination, are attempts by the body to compensate for a loss of kidney function by flushing out waste products that have accumulated in the bloodstream.

Because chronic renal failure is progressive and irreversible, prognosis for dogs with this disease is poor. While treatment rarely improves the renal function of dogs with chronic renal failure, it may alleviate symptoms and make the dog more comfortable. Dogs with this disease may live for a period ranging from months to years.