Kidney failure in
dogs and cats
has many different potential causes. Though preventing kidney failure
may not be possible in all cases, there are a few things that you can do
to help avoid the preventable cases.
Keep Your Dog or Cat Away From Poisons that Can Cause Kidney Failure
There is a long list of poisons that can affect your dog or cat's kidneys and cause
renal failure. These are some of the most commonly encountered.
- Antifreeze (ethylene glycol)
is a common cause of acute renal failure and even a small amount of
antifreeze can be toxic, especially for a small dog or a cat. Some pets
are attracted to antifreeze because it has a sweet taste.
- Grapes and raisins are another potential cause of renal failure in dogs. Avoid feeding your pet raisins and grapes.
- Lilies (in the species Lilium)
are extremely toxic for cats and can cause kidney failure. Lilies are
grown in many gardens and are frequent additions to bouquets of flowers,
especially around the holidays. Keep these flowers and plants away out
of your cat's reach.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, such as aspirin,
ibuprofen and naproxen, can cause kidney failure when given at high
dosages also, especially in cats. When giving your pet medications,
follow your veterinarians directions carefully and do not administer
"human medications" to your pet without your veterinarian's advice.
Keeping your pet away from these poisons and others can help avoid kidney failure (and other problems) for your dog or cat.
Avoid Infectious Diseases that Can Cause Kidney Failure in Dogs and Cats
There are a number of infectious diseases that can cause kidney
failure in both dogs and cats. These are some of the most common.
- Leptospirosis in dogs can cause both kidney and liver failure.
Leptospirosis is spread through contact with infected body fluids,
primarily urine. Vaccinations for leptospirosis are available. However,
they may not protect your dog from all strains of leptospirosis.
- Lyme disease
is another potential cause of kidney failure in dogs. Lyme disease is a
tick-borne disease. Controlling ticks is the best way to prevent Lyme
disease. Vaccination is available but is controversial.
- Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP)
can cause kidney failure as well as many other problems in infected
cats. Vaccination against FIP is controversial and not generally
recommended. An abnormal immune response appears to play a part in the
development of symptoms of FIP and some cats may be genetically
predisposed.
Feed Your Dog or Cat a High Quality Diet to Avoid Kidney Failure
Feeding your dog or cat a high quality, well-balanced diet will help
keep your pet's kidneys functioning properly and help avoid health
issues, including kidney failure.
Your pet's diet should include a protein source that can be digested
and metabolized easily. The amount of protein in the diet is important
also and may need to be adjusted depending on your pet's life stage and
individual health.
Your pet also needs a constant supply of clean, fresh drinking water.
Cats can be encouraged to drink more water, if necessary, by providing
drinking fountains, leaving faucets dripping and adding water to the
food.
Regular Examinations Can Help Avoid Canine and Feline Kidney Failure
Regular veterinary examinations can help detect early changes in your
dog or cat's kidneys which may occur prior to kidney failure.
Examination should include a thorough physical examination, a routine
blood screen which includes a complete blood count and blood chemistry
profile, and a urinalysis.
Abnormalities in the examination may prompt your veterinarian to
recommend changes that can help delay the onset of kidney failure. One
change your veterinarian may recommend is a change in diet to a protein
restricted, salt restricted and phosphorus restricted food to slow the
prgress of kidney damage.