Kidney Failure
Your pet has been diagnosed with kidney disease. This is a common condition in older pets, and depending on how ill your pet is and what you are able to do at home with your pet, there are lots of treatment options.
Kidney failure occurs when the kidneys can no longer filter out the toxins the body produces. Pets drink and urinate more to compensate but eventually they cannot, and they then begin to get sick, or uremic. Their BUN, or urea value, goes up in the blood as does the creatinine, and phosphorus. They become anemic and lose protein in the urine. That is part of why they lose weight, but also their appetite goes down due to an increase in gastric acid production. The goal of treating kidney failure is to get the pet eating and feeling better. We cannot fix the kidneys, but some pets do well for long periods of time. First, if your pet is very sick we can put them on IV fluids for 2 – 3 days to try to bring down the BUN and Creatinine in the blood. Many pets can begin treatment at home or on an outpatient basis. We can teach you to give fluids at home if you wish.
Diet is an important part of this treatment. Pets need a low protein, low phosphorous diet. Hills, IVD, and Purina all make a prescription diet you can try to see if your pet will eat them. If they will not eat this food, then high quality canned food is best. Our goal is to get your pet to eat, and sometimes we have to let the pet decide what that will be.
Some pets get Pepsid AC once a day to control gastric acid increases that go along with kidney failure. Some pets need Potassium supplements or Phosphorous binding medications. Some pets do well on a drug called Calcitriol. It increases the filtration process in the kidneys and can extend their life. We have to keep in mind that giving medicine to pets is never easy and we have to balance treatment with quality of life. We will monitor blood and urine tests periodically and make changes in treatment as things change. If needed, we can give appetite stimulants or vitamins. It is also important to monitor your pet’s blood pressure. Hypertension is common in animals with kidney disease and your pet may need to be on medication to prevent hypertension.
So, to summarize:
1)Diet is important. If your pet will eat the special kidney diet, that will help.
Diet is important. If your pet will eat the special kidney diet, that will help.2.)Calcitriol will increase the Kidney’s function and will be added when needed.
Calcitriol will increase the Kidney’s function and will be added when needed.3.)Fluids may be given at home, or on an outpatient basis if your pet is stable.
Fluids may be given at home, or on an outpatient basis if your pet is stable.4.)If Potassium is low, we will add Tumil K, once daily.
If Potassium is low, we will add Tumil K, once daily.5.)If Phosphorus levels are too high, we will ad Amphogel twice daily.
If Phosphorus levels are too high, we will ad Amphogel twice daily. (Or Aluminum Hydroxide powder twice daily)
6.)If anemia is bad, Vitamin/Iron supplements can be given.
If anemia is bad, Vitamin/Iron supplements can be given.7.)Cyproheptadine can be used two times a day to stimulate appetite.
Cyproheptadine can be used two times a day to stimulate appetite.8.)Blood pressure should be monitored periodically to check for hypertension.
Blood pressure should be monitored periodically to check for hypertension.Each pet is different and we want to do what is best for each and every one. In some cases, less is better. Again, quality of life is our goal, and we will work with you to achieve what is best for your pet.
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