Can chronic kidney failure medications cause cancer in older, small dogs?

I'm very sorry to hear about the loss of your dog. Unfortunately, chronic renal failure is a common problem in elderly dogs, and is often in the late stages already by time it's diagnosed. The situation was likely complicated by the fact that your girl also had CHF, because the treatment for renal failure (lots of fluids) is essentially the opposite of what dogs with heart disease need to control their symptoms. So we are often stuck between a rock and a hard place, when it comes to trying to treat dogs who have both of these problems. It sounds like your girl had a wonderful life, to have made it to 17 years old. It doesn't sound like there's anything at all you could have done differently - these are both just bad diseases, that are unfortunately common in older pets. Again, I'm very sorry for your loss.

Hello. At Molly's great age, the presence of kidney failure & mammary tumors, I agree with your veterinarian that it is best to keep her as comfortable as possible from here on out. I do not think her kidney issues are from infection, although a urinalysis may be more helpful here. The high BUN & creatinine plus her anemia indicates end stage renal failure. The swelling of the mammary gland may just be edema associated with her kidney disease, or the spread of her mammary cancer. It is impossible to tell just from a picture. 14 years is a very long life for a large breed dog like Molly. You have obviously loved & cared for her all her life. Please stay in touch with your veterinarian & follow all recommendations about pain control, & keeping her comfortable. I hope for whatever time she has, it is quiet & comfortable for everyone. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I’m so sorry for your loss! Depending on the stage of kidney failure, symptoms can include nausea, lethargy, and sometimes pain. However, with appropriate hydration and care, the condition is not necessarily painful or uncomfortable. Seizures are typically not painful, but can be disorienting to a dog. You definitely did the right thing by taking your dog to the emergency room. I apologize again for your loss and hope this helps!

So sorry that Lola is having this problem. IV fluids are usually helpful in cases of kidney disease. The best thing would be to have an abdominal ultrasound done to evaluate her kidneys and determine if she does have kidney cancer. There are other possible causes of a high red blood cell count and bloody diarrhea, like a disease called HGE (hemorrhagic gastroenteritis) so, without more information, it is difficult to know she has kidney cancer. If your vet can not do an abdominal ultrasound then you could take her to an internal medicine specialist and have one done. Hope she feels better soon!

I am so very sorry for your loss of Lucy. Tramadol is generally a very safe drug and does not have the risk for liver or kidney damage the way some other medications do. Unfortunately, it sounds like Lucy's kidneys may have just started failing coincidentally after she had been on Tramadol for 3 weeks. I have attached more information on Tramadol below. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1815 I hope that helps with your questions.

Addison's is a very strange and difficult disease to fully comprehend in terms of its cause and effects on the body. I dont know exactly what your dog is being treated with, but the mainstay of treatment is replacement of steroids, both mineralcorticoid and glucocortocoid. Certainly with steroids there can be negative effects on the body such as weight gain, polyuria and sometimes med induced cushing's disease. However, steroid level is usually we regulated and momitored at check ups. I dont think that the levels of medication used could lead to such a sudden onset of organ failure. The bad effects of steroids are usually gradual and cause the cushings disease as opposed to organ failure. If Sadie is in orhan failure it is unlikely due to her meds. Cushing's can cause massive elevations in liver enzymes and a pot belly but not so much fluid build up. The other thing to consider is that she may have had an issue from birth effecting her in more ways than just an adrenal problem. And finally, without the medication for addison's it is unlikely that she would have made it to the age she has. Many dogs go into addisonian crises and die. It is unfortunate and sad that this is happening to Sadie, but you have done all you can for her, and likely given her much more life than she would have had otherwise.

In rare cases, it can cause kidney damage, but it won't lead to the kidney becoming extremely enlarged. I'm sorry this is happening with Odin! In a dog his age, cancer is always a possibility. I hope this helps.