Could Your Dog
or Cat Be at Risk for Kidney Disease?
by: Bev Allen
Catching an
Illness at an Early Stage Is Your Best
Strategy
Just like
people, animals are susceptible to illness
and stress. And, just like people, there is
a lot you can do to keep them healthy.
Julie noticed
her dog, Zac, was drinking more water. Not
just once, but several days in a row. She
knew that excess thirst can be a sign of
illness, so she took Zac to her veterinarian
for tests. Blood and urine tests showed that
Zac was in the early stages of acute kidney
disease. But Zac was lucky. Because his
problem was caught early, Julie’s
veterinarian was able to treat the disease
successfully and Zac made a complete
recovery.
What Is Kidney
Disease?
Briefly,
kidneys filter and remove waste material
from the blood stream. They also regulate
the volume and composition of your pet’s
body fluids.
There are two
types of kidney disease:
Acute – a
sudden loss of kidney functioning which is
sometimes reversible, and
Chronic – a
loss of kidney function that occurs
gradually over time. Chronic kidney disease
is often progressive, but, depending on the
underlying cause and with careful
management, animals often live comfortable
lives for many years.
The causes of
kidney disease can include inherited
defects, infections, toxic substances and
simply aging. Although the cause of kidney
disease can be difficult to determine, with
careful testing by your veterinarian, the
disease can often be managed. Most
treatments are aimed at decreasing the
workload of the kidneys, reducing the
severity of symptoms, and slowing the
progression of the disease.
What Are Its
Symptoms?
If kidney
disease has undermined the kidney’s ability
to perform properly, waste materials
accumulate in the blood. Signs that could
indicate a potential kidney problem include:
• Loss of
appetite
• Increased thirst
• Frequent urination or increased volume
• Poor hair coat
• Depression and/or vomiting
What You Can
Do To Prevent Kidney Disease?
While kidney
disease is most often found in older dogs
and cats, even young animals can be
affected. And while the disease is not
always preventable, there ARE things you can
do to help minimize the chances of your dog
or cat developing the disease, such as:
• Feeding the
best quality dog or cat food you can
• Providing continual access to clean, fresh
water
• Eliminating toxic materials from the home
• Maintaining a low stress lifestyle
• Regular veterinary care to detect potential
problems as soon as possible
You are your
animal’s daily detective and advocate. You
are your animal’s best chance for receiving
medical treatment when the problem is still
at an early stage and treatment is most
successful. It is always better to prevent a
disease, or to treat it early, than to have
to treat it after it has become advanced.
