Holistic treatments for canines and felines to help reduce kidney disease problems in cats and dogs.

Kidney Disease

Select a Topic

What is Kidney Disease?
What Causes Kidney Disease?
Diagnosing Kidney Disease
Help for Kidney Disease
More Information on Kidney Disease

I received my order yesterday, which is FANTASTIC! I also wanted to say thank you. I sent an email to Ask our Experts, and I was surprised at the speed [of the response]. Thanks so much for the excellent service!

–Rachel Irving, Singapore

What is Kidney Disease?

Kidney disease, also known as renal disease frequently affects both cats and dogs. The kidneys have a very important function within the body which is to filter the blood and remove waste products. If these organs do not function properly, waste products accumulate in the body causing your pet to become very ill.

There are two forms of kidney disease, acute renal disease and chronic renal disease. In acute renal disease, symptoms occur suddenly and are often a result of toxicity, infections and changes in the body that restrict the blood supply to the kidneys. Acute renal disease is sudden and severe.

Chronic renal disease (CRD) occurs gradually and over a longer period and there may not be any observable signs of illness. If left untreated, kidney failure can occur and result in serious health complications for your pet.

The common symptoms and signs of kidney disease include:

An increase in water consumption
Increase in volume of urination
Lack of urination
Decrease in urination
Voiding urination during the night
Blood in the urine
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Loss of appetite
Weight loss
Lethargy
Hunched over posture accompanied with a reluctance to walk
Poor skin and hair condition

What Causes Kidney Disease?

The causes of renal failure and include:

Fungal, viral, and bacterial infections
Parasites
Aging
Inflammation
Trauma
Autoimmune diseases
Cancer
Congenital diseases
Amyloidosis (a disease caused by the abnormal deposits of certain types of protein in the kidney)
Inherited disorders
Toxic reaction to certain medications

Diagnosing Kidney Disease

The diagnosis of kidney disease is based on the symptoms, thorough physical examination and review of your pet’s medical history. Certain diagnostic tests such as blood tests, urinalysis, x-rays and ultrasonography may be performed to determine the cause of kidney disease.

Help for Kidney Disease

Your vet will prescribe various medications to reduce the workload on the kidneys. Certain dietary changes such as a low protein, sodium and phosphorus diet including drinking plenty of fresh, clean water will be recommended.

In more severe cases, hospitalization may be required where intravenous fluids, medications and nutritional support will be administered. Kidney dialysis and kidney transplants may also be performed on cats and dogs, but keep in mind that these treatments are extremely costly.

Natural Remedies

Natural remedies have also proven to be highly effective in improving kidney functioning and providing support to the urinary system in both humans and animals. Herbal and homeopathic remedies are gentle enough to use of the body’s system without any harsh side effects while also providing overall health and wellbeing.

Well known herbs such as Arctium lappa (Burdock), Taraxacum officinalis (Dandelion) and Galium aperine (Cleavers) help the kidneys act as blood purifier and systemic cleanser, maintain a healthy pressure and provide support to the urinary tract system.

More Information on Kidney Disease

There are a number of things that you can do
to prevent kidney disease and these include:

Feed your pet high quality commercial food or a well balanced all natural diet that contains the essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals
Always make sure that your pet has access to fresh, clean water and encourage him to drink regularly
Encourage your dog to urinate often by taking him outside at regular intervals
Make sure that you cat has access to a clean litter tray
Ensure that your pet exercises regularly to maintain overall health and wellbeing
Incorporate immune-building supplements into your pet’s diet to strengthen the immune system thereby avoiding disease and infection
Avoid exposing your pet to chemicals and toxins
Have regular veterinary check ups to maintain the overall health of your pet