Small Talk - Autumn 2018

Investigating cases of kidney disease can be done by a few different methods, with a blood test and checking a urine sample being the most common tests for an initial investigation. A blood test checks if there are higher levels than normal of waste products in the bloodstream, which suggests the kidneys are unable to excrete these products from the body. Urinalysis is the process of checking urine using a dipstick test to determine if any abnormalities are present and also determining the specific gravity of the urine which indicates how concentrated or dilute the urine is. Other methods available to investigate kidney disease include an ultrasound scan of the kidneys, radiography, taking a biopsy from kidney tissue and checking blood pressure. Measuring your pet’s water intake is also a useful way to determine if they are drinking excessively and whether further investigation should be done. Treatment of kidney disease depends if it is from a progression of the disease (Chronic Kidney Disease) or whether is has happened suddenly (Acute Renal Failure). In cases of chronic kidney disease there is no treatment that will reverse the causes of the disease but there are ways available to slow down the progression of the disease, including specially formulated prescription diets, encouraging your pet to increase its water intake, appetite stimulants and avoiding certain drugs that may worsen the disease. Cases of acute onset need to be managed much more quickly and intensely often involving your pet being admitted to the clinic for intravenous fluids, pain relief and appetite stimulants. small talk 11