Kidney Disease in Dogs & Cats

Kidney Disease in Dogs

The kidneys, the frequently forgotten but life-sustaining organs, remove waste from the bloodstream and regulate fluids in the body. If the kidneys are not able to do their job, the result could be life threatening for your dog.

If your dog experiences any of the following signs, he could be suffering from kidney disease:

• Loss of appetite
• Increased thirst
• Frequent urination or no urination
• Vomiting
• Poor coat appearance
• Depression

If your dog is diagnosed with kidney disease, your veterinarian may describe it as either acute or chronic.

Acute, or sudden, kidney disorders can be caused by:

• Blood loss
• Shock
• Surgical stress
• Trauma
• Severe dehydration
• Poisons
• Drugs
• Obstructed urine flow
• Infection

Chronic, or long-term, kidney disease can result from the above factors, plus: Breed and hereditary tendencies, in coordination with nutritional factors and immune system defects.

Unfortunately, the signs of kidney disease usually do not appear until more than two-thirds of kidney function has been lost. Once chronic kidney failure develops, it cannot be reversed.

Kidney Disease in Cats

The kidneys, the frequently forgotten but life-sustaining organs, remove waste from the bloodstream and regulate fluids in the body. If the kidneys are not able to do their job, the result could be life threatening for your cat.

If your cat experiences any of the following signs, he could be suffering from kidney disease:

• Loss of appetite
• Increased thirst
• Frequent urination or no urination
• Vomiting
• Poor coat appearance
• Depression

If your cat is diagnosed with kidney disease, your veterinarian may describe it as either acute or chronic.

Acute, or sudden, kidney disorders can be caused by:

• Blood loss
• Shock
• Surgical stress
• Trauma
• Severe dehydration
• Poisons
• Drugs
• Obstructed urine flow
• Infection

Chronic, or long-term, kidney disease can result from the above factors, plus breed and hereditary tendencies, in coordination with nutritional factors and immune system defects.

Unfortunately, the signs of kidney disease usually do not appear until more than two-thirds of kidney function has been lost. Once chronic kidney failure develops, it cannot be reversed. In this case, you can slow the disease progression by feeding your cat a specially formulated, veterinarian-recommended food to assist in managing the disease.

With acute kidney disorders, once the disease progression is stopped, many cats recover completely. Again, therapeutic food plays a crucial role in reducing build-up of waste products normally removed by kidneys and slowing or reversing damage to the kidneys. The best thing you can do for your cat is to provide him the best nutrition for his recovery through a food with limited amounts of protein and phosphorus.

For an accurate diagnosis and treatment options, always consult your veterinarian.