Early detection is key for managing kidney disease in dogs and cats, so we take a look at the symptoms <\/p>
An estimated 7.2 million people in the UK suffer from chronic kidney issues, but it\u2019s not just a human condition, our four-legged friends are also susceptible to renal problems, including kidney failure, says Sarah Holliday<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong>, Veterinary surgeon at VetPlus<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p> There are two types of kidney disease. The first, acute kidney injury (AKI), occurs in cats and dogs when the kidneys suddenly stop working. Causes of this can include illness, infection, or eating something toxic, such as anti-freeze.\u00a0<\/p> Meanwhile, chronic kidney disease (CKD) is much more gradual and can take years to develop, making it more common in older pets.\u00a0<\/p> Kidney failure is a serious condition for cats and dogs and its signs can include changes such as increased thirst or weight loss, so it\u2019s important to keep a close eye on your pet and take them to a vet straight away if you suspect anything is amiss.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p> Chronic kidney disease can look similar to many other health conditions, so it\u2019s best to have your pet assessed by a vet if you notice any changes. They will likely recommend blood<\/a> and urine tests, just like we might get at our own GP, to help find out the cause of your pet\u2019s symptoms.<\/p> Three signs of kidney disease to look out for:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p> Kidney disease leads to a build-up of toxins in your pet\u2019s bloodstream, as the kidneys struggle to filter waste products out of the blood and into the urine.<\/p> An important substance\u00a0 called potassium, which is vital for nerve and muscle function, can also be lost in the urine and is not effectively replaced through the diet, as your pet is likely to be urinating excessively and have less of an appetite.\u00a0<\/p> Cats and dogs suffering from kidney disease are therefore more likely to be lethargic or generally dull, with these signs most noticeable in their overall energy levels and enthusiasm.\u00a0<\/p> Our cats and dogs have their own little personalities and if yours doesn\u2019t seem like themselves, make sure to check in with a vet, who will be able to run tests to assess their kidney health.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p> If your vet finds that your pet has a potassium deficiency, in severe cases, your pet may be admitted to the practice for a few days and supplemented with injectable potassium, with close monitoring.\u00a0<\/p> There are several factors which are important for a vet to consider when starting a potassium supplement and deciding how much to give an individual pet, so it is vital you only start potassium supplementation when recommended to do so by your vet, based on blood test results. They will also need to carry out follow up assessments and potentially adjust the amount of potassium you are giving, so keeping in regular contact with your vet is crucial.\u00a0<\/p> If your cat or dog is drinking an unusual amount of fluid and going to the toilet more, they could be showing signs of kidney disease.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p> This is because kidneys lose the ability to conserve water when they start to become damaged.\u00a0<\/p> If you notice your pet getting through their water bowl quicker, urinating larger quantities, or having more accidents around the home, make sure to get them checked out at the vets.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p> Nausea and vomiting can be another sign of kidney disease in our pets, also caused by the build-up of toxins in the blood.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p> As well as not being able to keep food down, it\u2019s important to keep an eye on your pet retching or generally going off their food.\u00a0<\/p> It\u2019s worth noting that the signs above can be seen with a range of other illnesses too. That\u2019s why it\u2019s vital to always report any changes in your pet\u2019s behaviour or worrying symptoms to your vet, who will be able to investigate and suggest the best treatment for your cat or dog.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p> More pet advice<\/strong><\/p> Early detection is key for managing kidney disease in dogs and cats, so we take a look at the symptoms <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":40831,"template":"","categories":[1],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"4"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2024\/10\/could-your-pet-have-kidney-disease-vet-explains-how-to-recognise-the-warning-signs-in-cats-and-dogs.jpg",2073,1446,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2024\/10\/could-your-pet-have-kidney-disease-vet-explains-how-to-recognise-the-warning-signs-in-cats-and-dogs-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2024\/10\/could-your-pet-have-kidney-disease-vet-explains-how-to-recognise-the-warning-signs-in-cats-and-dogs-300x209.jpg",300,209,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2024\/10\/could-your-pet-have-kidney-disease-vet-explains-how-to-recognise-the-warning-signs-in-cats-and-dogs-768x536.jpg",768,536,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2024\/10\/could-your-pet-have-kidney-disease-vet-explains-how-to-recognise-the-warning-signs-in-cats-and-dogs-1024x714.jpg",800,558,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2024\/10\/could-your-pet-have-kidney-disease-vet-explains-how-to-recognise-the-warning-signs-in-cats-and-dogs-1536x1071.jpg",1536,1071,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2024\/10\/could-your-pet-have-kidney-disease-vet-explains-how-to-recognise-the-warning-signs-in-cats-and-dogs-2048x1429.jpg",2048,1429,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Early detection is key for managing kidney disease in dogs and cats, so we take a look at the symptoms","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/40830"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/40831"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40830"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40830"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}What causes kidney disease in cats and dogs?<\/h2>
What are the symptoms of kidney disease?<\/h2>
Lethargy<\/h3>
Increased thirst\u00a0<\/h3>
Nausea and vomiting<\/h3>
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