Thyroid & Cancer

Question
I apologize for bothering you again.  Is kidney disease a treatable condition?  Basically, since the topic of cancer came up, I've been concerned about losing my dog.  I was just wondering how is kidney disease treated, if that's what it is.
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Followup To
Question -
My dog has no appetite, drinks constantly and has constant urination.  Is this a sign of thyroid problems?  I have been told it may be cancer, may be thyroid but no conclusive answers yet.  What are the symptoms of cancer in dogs?  What are the symptoms of thyroid problems in dogs?  Are they similar?  If blood work is done and they vet is specifically looking to see if a dog has cancer, shouldn't he be able to tell if its cancer without doing tons of other tests?
Answer -
I would suspect kidney disease....I would recommend that your vet check a chemistry screen with electrolytes and a CBC as a starting point.

Thyroid disease usually lends to an overweight animal that is sluggish and with a normal appetite and normal urination.  

There is not a blood test for cancer but x-rays can be taken to look for a tumor in the chest or abdomen.  Signs of cancer can vary depending on the type of cancer and its location but many times animals will have normal or increased appetites with cancer and no change in urination.  

Answer
I think you first need to get a diagnosis and that requires some blood testing and then worry about treatment of whatever the problem may be.  So the best bet is getting your dog to the vet for an exam and testing before s/he deteriorates and becomes too weak.

Kidney disease is a manageable condition--there is no cure--and symptomatic care is provided to make the work load on the kidneys easier and the pet more comfortable.  Usually low protein diets such as Hill's prescription K/D are used in addition to supplements such as B Vitamins to help increase appetite and treat secondary anemia.  Some animals will require antibiotics if it is found that there is a kidney infection and some animals benefit from IV fluid therapy as well.