A common disease affecting older pets is Chronic renal
failure (CRF).
Clinical signs that can be associated with kidney disease
are:
Subtle changes of increased thirst and increased
urination may be the first signs of a problem.
The kidneys have 3 basic functions:
1)
remove waste
2)
regulate in’s and out’s of the body (electrolytes, water, minerals,
etc)
3)
hormone production (i.e. erythropoietin for red blood cell
formation and 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol for bone and
parathyroid)
As these 3 kidney functions are lost, the pet may
become dehydrated (despite drinking lots of water), anemic (pale
gums, weakness) and develop gastrointestinal problems
(nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, soft stool, foul mouth
odor). However, we prefer to diagnose a kidney problem long
before your pet develops such severe clinical signs.
Kidney disease patients can survive for many months or
years, and with a good quality of life if the problem is
diagnosed and treated early.
Early kidney disease can be detected with
an
Annual blood screen and
Urinalysis.
THE POWER OF
GOLD!
Analyzing the urine is an easy way to determine if early
urinary tract problems are present. Abnormal findings may
include:
Dilute urine- suggesting
loss of kidney cell function
Protein loss- suggesting leaky
vessels or tubules
White Blood Cells- suggesting infection or
inflammation
Crystals or Excess mineral content-
suggesting inappropriate diet or infection
A urine analysis is highly recommended in older
pets since they are more susceptible to developing
urinary tract infections. Such an infection can migrate to the
kidneys and subsequently cause damage to the cells of the
kidney called nephrons (see case
report).
Patient Case report:
Pet Name: Maui Williams
Date of Birth:
May 1988.
Female spayed Domestic Shorthair cat who resides in a
household with 5 other cats and a fairly observant pet owner (Dr.
Williams).
November, 2001
History: Maui starts showing a rough hair coat and
occasional vomiting after eating.
The vomiting generally occurred within a few hours after
eating and about once every 2 or 3 days.
She eats well, is active and otherwise acts normal.
Due to the rough hair coat Dr. Williams brings her to work
and checks her urine.
LOTS of white blood cells, bacteria and overall nasty
looking bladder infection despite her normal activity and
appetite.
Urine culture had a positive growth for E.Coli
bacteria.
Her bloodwork and blood pressure were normal.
She was started on an antibiotic and kept on the medicine
until her urine rechecks showed a normal urine.
2002- Annual exam work-up of urine analysis, bloodwork and
physical were all within normal limits.
2003- No problems noted by owner.
Annual exam blood screening shows a small increase in
kidney values (BUN & Creatinine). Urinalysis was within normal
limits except a slightly dilute urine.
FYI: To find an elevation in the bloodwork of BUN and
Creatinine in a well hydrated pet suggests 75% of the kidney
function may be gone.
Despite this statistic, many patients can live for several
years with renal insufficiency.
Maui was placed on a prescription food that is
specially formulated to slow the progression of kidney disease (K/D
diet).
This short story is to emphasize the fact that even the
most observant pet owner (Dr. Williams) may overlook a
problem.
Pets can be very good at hiding pain or
discomfort until they REALLY have a severe problem.
If you notice something is off with your pet, more often
than not you are correct. If
your pet is slowing down, consider a check-up with your vet to
rule-out an underlying disease that can be treated.
Please keep in
mind that Old age is not a
disease. Appropriate medical care can extend the
years and the quality of life for your pet.
At the next office visit
with your pet, consider the Power of
Gold!
