Introduction:
There's no need to complicate this subject with a long introduction. We vets all pretty much agree on this subject:
As pets become old, the kidneys slowly lose their ability to work well. Young healthy kidneys contain approximately 1 million individual kidney tubules, each able to process and excrete urea, eliminate excess electrolytes and concentrate the urine. With age, many of these tubules are damaged, clogged up, scarred, and become non working and go into retirement. The pet's own immune system will often attack damaged tubules and replace them with a type of scar tissue.
Protein molecules, which are too large to be excreted through a young and healthy kidney begin to pass through the less healthy kidneys of older pets.
It becomes harder and harder for the kidneys to process and eliminate urea. This is one of the most important functions of the kidney.
Another function of the kidneys is to product a hormone (erythropoietin) that stimulates the bone marrow to produce red blood cells. As the kidneys age, this function is compromised as well leading to anemia.
Kidney disease tends to be a slow degenerative process that owners and veterinarians alike miss in the early stages of the disease because there are no obvious symptoms and we don't have simple, accurate, or inexpensive urine or blood tests that detect the disease in the early stages.
There are often no symptoms of illness until the kidneys are down to about 25% of normal function.
As the disease progresses the observant owner will often notice that the pet is drinking and urinating more. This happens as a result of the kidneys attempting to flush out urea and lose their ability to concentrate the urine. We have test kits that detect excessive amounts of protein in the urine at this stage of the disease and routine blood tests that may or may not confirm the disease at this mid stage of the disease.
As the disease gets worse, pets start acting sluggish, have poor appetites, often are nauseated, and just don't feel well. Because they are losing protein through the urine, the body takes the protein it needs from the pets muscles, so in the advanced stages of the disease you will notice weight loss and muscle loss; the cheek bones and spine will stick out. Your pet will have good days and bad days. Routine blood tests will easily confirm the disease during the advanced stages of kidney disease. The tests are important because your pet will have similar symptoms for other protein wasting diseases such as cancer, hyperthyroidism, bone marrow diseases, and liver disease.
Kidney disease IS THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF DEATH IN OLD CATS AND DOGS
In the United States, kidney disease is the number 2 cause of death in old humans.
Treatment:
In human medicine, kidney transplants and dialysis are commonly available, but not for pets.
For pets, the most important part of managing kidney disease is through therapeutic diets specially designed for kidney disease patients.
Note: it's a common misunderstanding; diseases of the bladder or lower urinary tract diseases (bladder stones, bladder infections, etc) are treated differently than Kidney problems. Therapeutic diets are an important part of treating lower urinary tract diseases too, but they are different.
There are several excellent therapeutic kidney diets available. The one we keep in stock is Hill's K/D Diet for Dogs or Cats. It's available in both dry and canned.
Low in sodium to prevent fluid retention and prevent renal hypertension, have reduced phosphorus to slow the progression of kidney disease.
Increased Omega-3 Fatty Acids to improve blood flow to the kidneys.
Proteins chosen to minimize urea production, buffering to prevent metabolic acidosis, and increased B vitamins and potassium to compensate for urinary losses associated with kidney disease. Added soluble fiber designed to bind and lower serum urea nitrogen.
Studies indicate that kidney disease patients live about 30% longer and with fewer symptoms when fed prescription diets made for treating kidney disease.
Supplements that should be considered for patients with kidney disease:
Omega fatty acids: all of the special diets discussed on this page already have added omega fatty acids. They help with blood flow to the kidneys and may help reduce inflammation and aid in healing. Adding more may or may not be helpful. I vote for more. We have these supplements for both cats and dogs at the clinic. Or you can get an excellent new product on line from VetriScience that combines omega fatty acids with vitamins and herbs designed specifically for renal disease. This product is called RenalEssentials and it's listed lower on this page.
Phosphate binders: Phosphorous levels rise with kidney disease which initiates a destructive cycle further reducing kidney functions. All of the recommended renal diets have reduced phosphates to help prevent this problem. But, by adding medications that further reduce serum phosphorus has been shown to inprove quality and quanity of life in kidney patients. Phosphate binders come in tablets that your vet may prescribe if blood tests indicate your pet has high phosphorus levels.
New on the market is Epakitin which has helped a lot of my patients and has the advantage of tasting good... an important plus especially for cats.
Phosphate binders are especially important for pets that refuse low phosphate renal diets.
Renal Essentials: a product for cats and dogs made by the VetriScience people.
Active Ingredients Per 2 Tablets:
Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) . . . . . . . .180 mg
Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) . . . . . . . . 120 mg
Astragalus Root Powder . . . . . . . . . . .60 mg
Lecithin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 mg
Rehmannia (Root) Extract. . . . . . . . . . 50 mg
L-Arginine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 mg
Nettle (Urtica dioica) Seed Extract. . . . .50 mg
Cordyceps sinensis Extract . . . . . . . . .50 mg
N,N-Dimethylglycine HCl. . . . . . . . . . .25 mg
Potassium (Gluconate). . . . . . . . . . .8.25 mg
Pyridoxal 5-Phosphate (Vitamin B6) . . . . . 8 mg
Inositol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 mg
Thiamine (Vitamin B1) . . . . . . . . . . . .4 mg
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) . . . . . . . . . . .4 mg
Choline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 mg
Folic Acid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0.15 mg
Methylcobalamin (Vitamin B12). . . . . . 0.050 mg
This formula is excellent for patients with kidney disease. Those first 2 active ingredients are omega fatty acids.
You can order Renal Essentials less expensively on line than I can stock it at the clinic. You can order it directly from the company that makes it at VeterScience. You will need my veterinary user name which is fox and the password whichs is pets75 This company was one of the original companies researching and making glucosamine for arthritis and makes some great products.
Duralactin: This product combines omega fatty acids with vitamins and pain medications.
On Other Pages
This page is about the diets and supplements we use to make patients with kidney disease feel better and live longer.
Kidney diet is also an excellent choice for geriatric patients in general.
On Other pages we discuss the special diets and supplements use to treat:
Please visit our other Pages on this Site:
Revolution Frontline Plus Comfortis Vectra3D Promeris CapStar
Program 6 Month Injection for Cats Sentinel KnockOut House
KnockOut Premise Advantage Multi PrevenTic Collars
Revolution Advantage Multi TriHeart Plus
ProHeart 6 month injection
Inteceptor Sentinel
Panacur ProFender Pyrantel-50mg Revolution Advantage Multi
Inteceptor Sentinel
TriHeart Plus
And The Very Best Products Available For:
ZymoxHC FoxNest Ear Cleaner Mometamax Acrexx MalOtic
Phytosphingosine Hydroxyzine Tris8 Duralactin OFA's
Exotic Diets
Phytosphingosine FoxNest Medicated Shampoo Relief OFA's Zymox
FoxNest OatMeal Shampoo Hydroxyzine The Furminator Exotic Diets Hylyt Shampoo Genesis Spray BioGroom Natural Scented Shampoos MaloKet
Zymox VBG Cream Nolvasan Malotic DermaGel Bag Balm
Fly Repellent Vet Wrap
Biotene MaxiGuard Oral Gel Greenies TD OraVet Kits Gum Vaccine
ProPectalin DigestRite DiaRobe CatLax DiaBac Pancrazyme
GastriCalm K-Pectin
Duralactin Dasaquin SynoviFlex ChondroFlex for Cats Rimadyl Adequan
Tramadol AntiOxUltra
Special Diets Duralactin AntiOxUltra OFA's
Reconcile/Prozac DAP Collars & Plug-Ins Elimiodor Forbid
OFA's AntiOx SAM-e CranVet MultiVitamins PetTinic Milk Replacer
Bottles & Nipples Slentrol Reducing Diet LeanTreats
Prescription Therapy Diets
Urine Off The Equilizer Eliminodor Pet Candles ThioTrol Skunk
The Furminator Shed Guard OFA's Phytosphingosine
AllerPet for Humans MicroChips Pet Insurance Pet Candles Bag Balm
Dog Appeasing Pheromone Feliway Spray PetGuard
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