The kidneys play an important role in your pet's health by filtering out wastes in the blood through urine. As kidneys fail, they can't adequately clear the blood of toxins, which build up and slowly poison your pet's body.
What To Look For
If your pet exhibits any of these symptoms, talk to your veterinarian immediately:
- Increased thirst and urination
- Inappetence and weight loss
- Bad breath
- Fatigue and decreased desire to exercise
Diagnosis
If diagnosed with CKD, your veterinarian may recommend changing your pet's diet. Low protein, low phosphorus, and low sodium diets have been proven to be helpful in lessening the stress on the kidneys. Your vet may also recommend intravenous or subcutaneous fluids to rehydrate and stabilize your pet. Other medications for various symptoms, including high blood pressure, nausea, diarrhea and anemia may be prescribed.
Treatment
If diagnosed with CKD, your veterinarian may recommend changing your pet's diet. Low protein, low phosphorus, and low sodium diets have been proven to be helpful in lessening the stress on the kidneys. Your vet may also recommend intravenous or subcutaneous fluids to rehydrate and stabilize your pet. Other medications for various symptoms, including high blood pressure, nausea, diarrhea and anemia may be prescribed.
Further Care
After the diagnosis of CKD is made, the disease will eventually progress. With the treatments listed above, your pet can have a good quality of life and a potentially extended lifespan. It is important to adhere to the recommendations of your veterinarian, as well as to bring your pet back for routine re-checks. This may be every few weeks, if the disease is severe enough, to every six months or one year, if the disease is caught early. Adjustments in medication and treatments will be made accordingly, depending on the results of the re-checks.
