KIDNEY DISEASE
General Information:
Normal kidneys filter the blood, removing wastes
and excreting them in the urine. Kidneys damaged by infection
or inflammation lose some of this filtering ability, and waste
products accumulate in the bloodstream. Continued re-circulation
of this material results in illness. About three-fourths of kidney
tissue must be damaged before signs of illness appear. For this
reason, kidney disease is often considered chronic (present a
long time) even though the affected pet may not have shown signs
of disease for very long.
Acute kidney disease
is
a general term referring to kidney disease of sudden onset. About
three-fourths of the total kidney tissue must be damaged before
signs of illness appear. Kidney disease is often life-threatening,
as the body cannot eliminate waste products or maintain the balance
of fluid and elements vital to life. Causes of acute kidney disease
include:
The resulting damage to the kidneys may not be reversible in all cases.
Common signs of illness may include:
Chronic kidney disease
is a term used when kidney function has been impaired for a long
period of time. This condition is often referred to as uremic
syndrome. Uremia is a term that means the circulating toxins not
cleared by the kidneys are causing the signs of chronic kidney
disease, including:
Continued illness results in collapse, seizures, coma and death.
Though chronic kidney disease is not curable, it
is often controllable. Many pets can live reasonably normal lives
when properly managed in a cooperative effort between owner and
our office.
Treatment Information:
Kidney disease is very serious and hospitalization
is usually required. Laboratory tests are necessary for diagnosis
and evaluation of the response to treatment.
1. Intravenous fluids:
Initial treatment involves flushing the animal's
blood with intravenous fluids to improve urine production (therefore
ridding the body of the harmful toxins)and restore normal electrolyte
and fluid. Usually this is done in the hospital. When the values
of the kidney function tests are more normal, treatment can continue
at home.
2. Diet:
A food low in protein and salt and high in non-protein
calories is the diet of choice.
At All Creatures, in most cases we recommend the use of Hill's
Prescription diet k/d. This should be the only food given to your
pet during the course of treatment (No snacks or treats).
3. Water:
Provide ready access to clean, fresh water at all
times.
Give all medication as directed. Call your veterinarian's
office if you cannot give the medication.
We hope that you will find this information helpful in your quest
for better pet care. If you have any questions or comments, please call your
veterinarian's office, or feel free to
e-mail us.
David E. Hammett, DVM
and the Staff of All Creatures Veterinary Clinic, PC
