COURSE AND TREATMENT OF UREMIA IN THE DOG
Thursday, 25 April 2024
The kidneys are one of the most important organs in the body of any creature. They are responsible for regulating the body's water, mineral and acid-base balance, and are involved in the production of urine. It is their work that enables the removal of toxins and harmful substances. The kidneys also affect the production of certain hormones, as well as vitamin D.
Uremia is the common name for chronic renal failure. It is an incurable disease that is very common in cats due to their susceptibility to urinary tract problems and their sensitivity to poisoning.
Chronic renal failure can occur in both acute and chronic forms. The cause of the former is usually various types of poisoning and a decrease in the amount of blood flowing through the kidneys. In this situation, quick intervention of vet allows to restore normal work of kidneys, which results in cure.
Too late help can result in transition of acute form into chronic, which has a very bad effect on the work of the body. This is due to the prolonged action of the toxin in the body, which threatens to stop the secretion of urine.
Chronic kidney failure in the long run leads to many irreversible changes in the body, which affect the deterioration of health and well-being. Diseases and associated causes can vary, including bacterial infection, polycystic kidney disease, hypercalcemia, amyloidosis, and kidney tumors.
Certain breeds of dogs are more susceptible to developing this disease, so it is a good idea to find out the details of the diagnosis beforehand. These breeds include dobermans, poodles, golden retrievers, samoyeds, German Shepherds or Bernese Mountain Dogs.
The occurrence of symptoms is related to the presence of toxins in the body and its defensive reaction. Kidney damage may also result in heart disorders and increased blood pressure, bone inflammation or hyperparathyroidism, which causes pain to the animal.
Symptoms that we should pay special attention to include:
Details of the course of the disease
Uremia results in a significant deterioration in the functioning of the kidneys, which affects the formation of abnormalities in the filtering of blood and the production of hormones. However, these organs work with a certain reserve, which allows them to continue to work even when the functionality of individual cells is reduced. However, this also has major drawbacks. This means that visible symptoms of the disease may only appear when the disease is already in an advanced stage, making treatment difficult and often impossible.
The onset of the disease is almost undetectable because it is asymptomatic. In this case, compensatory mechanisms begin to work, that is, healthy cells begin to take over the functions of damaged ones. Making a full diagnosis in this stage requires a detailed urine examination of the animal. The development of the disease causes an increase in the serum creatinine level, which indicates an early stage of the disease. As it progresses, the symptoms become more acute and noticeable.
