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Your canine’s kidneys are primarily responsible for getting rid of toxic waste and ensuring a perfect balance of chemicals in the blood. If they no longer perform these functions, your canine companion may be down with chronic kidney disease.
What is Chronic Kidney Disease?
Chronic kidney disease or CKDis a condition that occurs when the kidneys no longer perform their unique functions. Kidney failures in dogs occur when the kidneys can’t remove toxic waste products from the blood. This leads to the build-up of toxins in the bloodstream, which may cause other dangerous issues.
Kidney disease in cats and dogs can come about as a result of a hereditary kidney condition, disease, diabetes, urinary tract obstruction, lymphoma, and a few prescription medicines.
The kidneys also help regulate blood sugar, blood pressure, blood pH, and other functions. This means that when there is kidney failure in dogs or kidney failure in cats, it affects most of the systems in the pet’s body.
Chronic kidney disease cannot be cured or reversed in most cases. This is why emphasis is typically on significantly slowing down the progression of the disease. Detecting kidney disease in dogs early is crucial to slowing the progression since this is a serious ailment that can be life-threatening.
Forms of Kidney Disease in Dogs
Kidney disease in dogs comes in two forms: acute kidney disease and chronic kidney disease. The former occurs suddenly, most times causing irreparable damage. Every dog breed is susceptible to this condition.
But chronic kidney disease is highly progressive as it develops slowly over time. It is usually common among older dogs.
Causes of Chronic Kidney Disease
Many things can cause kidney disease in dogs or kidney failure in cats. The ingestion of toxic substances such as ethylene glycol – an ingredient in antifreeze that can cause acute kidney failure in dogs.
Medical conditions such as fungal and bacterial infections as well as heart disease can also boost the risk of renal failure. Kidney function usually declines with age, so aging also plays a crucial role in developing this disease.
Signs of Kidney Disease in Dogs
Kidney disease in dogs triggers a wide variety of symptoms. Common signs of kidney disease in dogs include:
- Muscle weakness
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Discolored teeth
- Lethargy
- Vomiting
- Increased thirst
- Depression
- Seizures
If you begin to notice that your cat or dog drinks more water than usual or urinates much more frequently – with blood in the urine – your dog could be ill.
Top Common Treatment Protocol of Pets’ Chronic Disease
When it comes to the top treatment protocol for pets’ chronic disease, the first thing to be prescribed includes rehydrating the pet and changing the diet. The food that will be prescribed must be low in phosphorus, protein, and calcium.
However, the food must have higher sodium content as well as some omega fatty acids. A reputable vet will prescribe proper medication in order to lower or raise your pet’s blood pressure. The medication will also help to control diarrhea, vomiting, and anemia.
Stem Cell Treatment for Chronic Kidney Disease
Stem cell therapy has been proven to restore some of the kidney’s functions that have been lost. However, this will depend significantly on how severe the condition is before it was discovered and treatment administered.
Treatment includes intravenous injections or direct injection into the kidneys. If these fail, then your pet may have to undergo dialysis.
Conclusion
Chronic kidney disease is practically incurable. The top treatment protocol involves slowing down the progression of the disease.
Stem cell treatment purportedly works to restore some of the kidney’s functions. But in-depth research is still ongoing to determine the efficacy of this treatment pattern.
