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One of the more typical chronic illness seen in veterinary medicine is chronic renal failure. There are many possible triggers of chronic renal failure including bacterial/viral infections, toxin exposure (i.e. antifreeze, non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs, specific antibiotics), as well as autoimmune disease, where the pet’s immune system reacts against its own kidneys.
Symptoms of chronic renal failure include lethargy, appetite as well as weight loss, increased thirst as well as urination, dehydration, vomiting, in addition to increased foul odor of the breath. It is important to have a full medical workup including CBC/chemistry blood work, urine analysis as well as urine culture to differentiate chronic renal failure from other triggers of these typical symptoms. The discovering of elevations in blood BUN as well as creatinine, in addition to dilute urine with urinary casts seen on urine analysis is consistent with a diagnosis of chronic renal failure. other typical lab abnormalities include elevation in blood phosphorus, decrease in blood potassium, as well as anemia of chronic disease.
Treatment of chronic renal failure will requirement to address many of these metabolic abnormalities in order for the patient to feel better. If a patient is acutely sick with loss of appetite and/or vomiting, IV fluid therapy may be requirement at first in the veterinary hospital, together with systemic antibiotics, as well as medications to decrease nausea as well as vomiting. when patients are stabilized, it is commonly finest to continue fluid therapy at house in the type of subcutaneous treatment provided by the animal guardian a number of times a week. This will assist in decreasing dehydration, in addition to flushing kidney toxins out of the blood stream.
Another important part of long term treatment at house is the feeding of a low-protein diet, preferably a home-made diet, however industrial diets are acceptable options as well. other ancillary medications include oral medications to decrease nausea as well as vomiting, in addition to stimulate appetite if needed. medications to bind phosphorus are likewise important in slowing down progression of chronic renal failure. With aggressive dietary as well as medical treatment, most pets may online many years with chronic renal failure.