Canine CKD: Staging, Slowing, and Quality of Life
Canine CKD is far more insidious than its feline counterpart — dogs rarely show clinical signs until 75% of nephron mass is lost, and by then, the window for intervention is narrow. This course covers IRIS staging in depth, the critical differences between canine and feline CKD management, evidence-based phosphorus and proteinuria control, and the integrative adjuncts with the strongest clinical rationale. We follow Murphy, a 10-year-old Labrador Retriever, from first elevated SDMA through end-of-life planning. Earn RACE CE credit (approval pending; hours assigned at approval).
Learning Objectives
- 1Recall the four IRIS stages of canine CKD and the creatinine, SDMA, and UPC thresholds that define each stage and substage
- 2Explain the key clinical differences between canine and feline CKD — including the later-onset proteinuria, greater hypertension risk, and different nutritional targets
- 3Analyze a canine CKD patient's diagnostic profile to identify the most impactful intervention priorities: phosphorus control, proteinuria management, blood pressure, hydration, or appetite support
- 4Apply evidence-based protocols for phosphorus restriction, telmisartan dosing, subcutaneous fluid therapy, and appetite stimulation in a canine CKD patient at each IRIS stage
- 5Evaluate the evidence for integrative adjuncts in canine CKD — including omega-3 fatty acids, probiotics, acupuncture, and omega-3-enriched diets — and determine when each is clinically appropriate
Course Syllabus
- 16 minMeet Murphy: When 'Just Drinking More' Is the Whole StoryPreview
Opening case: Murphy, a 10-year-old intact male Labrador Retriever, presenting for routine wellness with mild PU/PD. His owner says he seems fine — but his labs tell a different story.
- 212 minIRIS Staging in Dogs: Not a Copy-Paste from the Feline Protocol
The critical differences between canine and feline CKD staging, SDMA as the early biomarker, UPC substaging, blood pressure substaging, and why the canine kidney fails so quietly
- 314 minThe Big Three: Phosphorus, Proteinuria, and Blood Pressure
Evidence-based intervention targets, first-line therapies, dosing protocols for telmisartan and ACE inhibitors, when to add phosphate binders, and the blood pressure monitoring protocol that actually works in practice
- 412 minHydration, Nutrition, and Quality of Life
Subcutaneous fluid therapy in dogs, renal diet selection and limitations, protein restriction controversy, potassium supplementation, appetite stimulants, anemia management, and the B-vitamin repletion protocol
- 58 minIntegrative Adjuncts: What Helps, What Doesn't, and What We Don't Know Yet
Omega-3 dosing and evidence, probiotics and the uremic toxin problem, acupuncture points for renal support, Chinese herbal formulas with renal applications, and the gut-kidney axis in dogs
- 63 minEnd-Stage Planning and Murphy's Outcome
Quality-of-life assessment tools, when to shift from management to comfort, the conversation owners need before the crisis, and Murphy's 18-month follow-up
Final Assessment
10 questions · Passing score: 70%
Complete all course modules to unlock the assessment. Upon passing, your CE certificate will be generated automatically.