Itโs easy to disregard the kidneys. In fact, you may assume that
once youโve house trained your cat or dog you never have to
think about them at all. The kidneys, though, have several very
important functions including regulating minerals in the body,
stimulating bone marrow to produce red blood cells, helping
regulate blood pressure, and, of course, filtering and
excreting waste. Because they play such a central role in the
body, diseases that affect the kidneys can have a significant
impact on your petโs overall health. Thus, all pet owners
should know the facts about kidney disease.
Unfortunately, kidney disease is fairly common in dogs and
cats. Bacterial infections of the kidneys can usually be
successfully treated with antibiotics, but kidney failure (also
known as renal failure) cannot be cured.
Cats and dogs may suffer acute kidney failure in which kidney
functions begin to shut down quickly. Exposure to toxins or
poisons, shock, dehydration, congestive heart failure, and
other sudden events may cause acute renal failure. Pets usually
require emergency treatment for this condition, but even with
prompt attention the prognosis is usually poor.
The most common type of renal failure in pets is chronic. Itโs
often a disease of older dogs or cats. However, it can also
occur in young pets as a result of long-standing infections,
tumors, cysts, viral diseases, or other conditions that damage
the parts of the kidneys that filter waste.
If your pet seems to have pain around the kidneys and passes
urine that contains pus or blood, most likely the problem is a
bacterial infection. In cases of kidney failure (chronic or
acute), the first symptoms are usually increased thirst and
more frequent urination. By the time you see these problems,
the damage is usually irreversible. With advanced renal
failure, cats and dogs may suffer from a variety of symptoms,
including eating or digestive problems (refusing to eat,
vomiting, diarrhea); behavioral changes (lack of energy,
depression); and physical signs (dry coat, discoloration of the
tongue).
In the case of a bacterial infection in the kidneys, antibiotic
treatments should offer a full cure.
With kidney failure, there is no cure. However, several
treatment options can help extend the life of your cat or
dog while trying to relieve symptoms, such as Benazepril. The first step is to provide
plenty of water for your pet. Next, your veterinarian might
recommend switching your pet to a low-protein diet in order to
reduce the amount of waste the kidneys need to process. Other
treatments that can relieve symptoms include: increasing your
petโs intake of water soluble vitamins and potassium, giving
your pet sodium chloride tablets, trying to lower parathyroid
hormone levels in your petโs body with low doses of vitamin D,
and (if necessary) offering medication to treat bladder stones.
Some pet owners have sought out kidney dialysis and kidney
transplants for their pets. However, these are very expensive
treatment options and still include some risks.
More on Kidney Disease
4 Principles of Nutrition for
Treating Kidney Disease
Prescription Diets For Dogs With Kidney Disease
Dogs with kidney
disease require a special diet to slow the
progression of the disease and to prevent other health
problems associated with kidney disease. Because diseased
kidneys must work much harder to filter out toxins, and this
throws off their normal hormone balance, dogs can get high
blood pressure, phosphorus buildup in the blood, and/or
B-vitamin deficiency. Diet is an important component
of treatment and a
prescription diet, such as Hill's k/d, can keep the disease from
getting worse and encourage the proper balance of vitamins
and minerals.
Switching to a prescription kidney food should occur gradually over
one to two weeks. And you should always follow the directions
of your veterinarian. Vets usually recommend the best diet
based on your dog's stage of kidney failure, but there are some
common features of most kidney-friendly diet foods:
Lots of Water
Dogs with kidney disease need much more water because their
kidneys are more active trying to eliminate toxins. Kidney
diet foods may come in either a canned or dry version.
- Canned food is preferred, because it has significantly
higher moisture content
- Especially when using dry food, it will be important to
provide plenty of clean, fresh water for your dog. You can
even soak your dog's dry food in water to encourage water
intake.
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Kidney Disease
Diet Nutrients (Compared to Regular Food)
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Why
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Protein
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Less (kidney diets are 13-18% protein)
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Reduces protein buildup
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Fat
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More (kidney diets are 16-20% fat)
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Easier to digest than protein for energy
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Carbohydrates
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More (first ingredient)
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Easier to digest than protein for energy
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Phosphorus
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Less
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Slows disease progression
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Sodium
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Less
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Reduces blood pressure
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Omega 3 Fatty Acids
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More
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Reduces blood pressure and inflammation in kidneys
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Vitamins and Extra Antioxidants
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More
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Controls cell damage and improves immune system
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Reduced Protein
Protein in kidney disease diets is a matter of some
controversy: reduced protein in advanced kidney disease can
keep protein from building up, but when the disease is in its
early stages, some protein can still be processed and it is
an essential part of the diet. If protein is too high your
dog can build up byproducts of protein that the kidney would
usually filter out. Buildup of the metabolite called urea is
problematic when very high. It's part of what makes a dog
feel sick when suffering from kidney disease.
Prescription diets have decreased levels of protein, so you
should work with your vet to determine the best food with the
right amount of protein based on your dog's stage of illness.
At all stages, it's very important to feed your dog high
quality protein to rebuild unhealthy cells.
Increased Fat and Carbohydrates
Even with less protein, dogs will still need fat and
carbohydrates for energy. Fat and carbohydrates are easier to
digest, so you will see higher amounts in kidney disease
foods than in regular dog food. Fat in the diet usually
increases the palatability of the food too, making your dog
keen to eat enough so they won't lose weight.
Reduced Phosphorus
When kidneys are less effective, they can allow phosphorus to
build up in the blood. Phosphorous buildup can
lead to decreased kidney function and increased symptoms of
kidney failure. Most phosphorus comes from protein and kidney
diets usually have a reduced level of phosphorus to combat
this buildup.
Reduced Sodium
When kidneys are struggling, some of the hormonal balance
related to kidney blood pressure will be off. This leads to
mild to modest hypertension, which can lead to high blood
pressure. And too much sodium is not good for high blood
pressure. Prescription foods have lower levels of sodium, but
they are not sodium-free. Dogs still need sodium in their
diets for healthy nervous system function and to prevent
dehydration.
Increased Water-Soluble Vitamins and Other Antioxidants
Because dogs with kidney disease drink more water and
eliminate more often, they also are eliminating important vitamins, like vitamins B and
C. Luckily, prescription diets try to counter this with
increased amounts of these commonly deficient vitamins.
Antioxidants are also good for controlling cell damage and
improving immune system health.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Long-chain omega-3 fatty
acids, such as those found in fish oils, are also effective at
reducing blood pressure and kidney inflammation. They can
improve blood flow and improve general kidney health. While
these should be included in prescription kidney food, they
may not be present in high enough amounts, so your vet may
recommend a supplement.
More on Kidney Disease
The Dog Symptom
Checker
When Might I Need
Prescription Dog Food?
How Are Pet Prescription Cards
Different From Insurance?
This information is for informational purposes only and
is not meant as a substitute for the professional advice of, or
diagnosis or treatment by, your veterinarian with respect to
your pet. It has, however, been verified by a licensed
veterinarian for accuracy.
