Treatment Of Kidney Disease In Dogs
Now that you know how to identify kidney disease in dogs, these are the solutions that you want!
The treatment depends of course on the stage your animal is at. Also, we do not treat chronic kidney failure and acute kidney failure in exactly in the same way. In any case, turn to an animal health professional for advice.
In cases of chronic kidney failure, the destruction of the kidneys is progressive, so often the disease is unfortunately diagnosed when the organs are already in a bad state.
However, a dog that receives this diagnosis may still hope to have some good years ahead of him with proper treatment. Unfortunately, unlike humans, dialysis or kidney transplantation is not possible in dogs, but other care is possible and will help reduce the symptoms of the disease or slow down its progression.
Ask your veterinarian for advice on what diet is suitable for YOUR dogs condition.
Some professionals agree that a diet low in protein is important both clinically and biochemically. Proteins are high in phosphorus, which would create a high nitrogen load and could put pressure on the liver and kidneys.
This theory, however, is not supported by all nutritionists and veterinarians. Any changes to your pets diet should therefore be supported by advice from a health professional. In fact, a low protein diet could create a deficiency in amino acids.
Here are some basic tips that you could put into practice:
Recommended Reading: Is Watermelon Bad For Kidneys
Southern Cross Medical Library
The purpose of the Southern Cross Medical Library is to provide information of a general nature to help you better understand certain medical conditions. Always seek specific medical advice for treatment appropriate to you. This information is not intended to relate specifically to insurance or healthcare services provided by Southern Cross. For more articles go to the Medical Library index page.
What Is Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
Some people, especially children age five and under, who become infected with a STEC infection develop a condition called hemolytic uremic syndrome . In this condition, toxins in your intestines from STEC cause diarrhea, travel into your bloodstream, destroy red blood cells and damage your kidneys. This potentially life-threatening illness develops in about 5% to 10% of people who are infected with STEC.
Early symptoms of HUS include:
- Diarrhea .
- Sleepiness, confusion, seizures.
- Kidney failure.
If you develop severe diarrhea or if you have bloody diarrhea, go to the hospital for emergency care. HUS, if it develops, occurs an average of 7 days after your first symptoms occur. It is treated with IV fluids, blood transfusions and dialysis .
Read Also: Why Can I Not Control My Bladder
Complications Of Urinary Tract Infections
Urinary tract infections are an extremely common condition, and most people recover quickly with antibiotic treatment. However, if left untreated the infection can spread throughout the urinary tract system, increasing in severity and causing complications.
In some cases, the infection can reach the kidneys in the upper urinary tract, an infection known as pyelonephritis. Without medical intervention, this can lead to permanent kidney damage. Possible complications from untreated UTIs include:
- Formation of abscesses within or around the kidneys
- Swelling of the kidneys, also known as hydronephrosis
- , also known as blood poisoning
All of these complications are serious and require immediate medical attention.
How Does E Coli Cause A Urinary Tract Infection
Urinary tract infections are sometimes caused when E. coli from your gastrointestinal tract get into your urinary tract. This can happen more easily in women because the anus is located close to the urethra . E. coli bacteria can travel up the urethra to the bladder and even up to the ureters and kidneys. You may have been told if you are a woman to always wipe from front to back. This is so you dont accidently spread E. coli bacteria from your anus to your urethra.
The most common urinary tract infections caused by E. coli are a bladder infection , infection of the urethra and kidney infection.
Also Check: Can You Treat A Bladder Infection Without Antibiotics
Are Some People At A Higher Risk Of Getting A Uti
Women get more UTIs than men. This is because women have a shorter urethra the tube that brings urine out of the bladder. This allows bacteria to enter the urethra and bladder more easily.
Also, a womans urethral opening is closer to the anus, where most UTI-causing E.coli bacteria are found.
Other factors that can further increase the risk of UTI include:
- frequent sexual activity
UTIs cant always be avoided, but its possible to reduce your risk of getting one. Here are nine prevention methods that may help you sidestep a UTI.
Alleviating Discomfort Caused By Uti Bloating
The bloating and pain associated with UTIs can cause severe discomfort and may last for a few days or even up to a week. Some suggestions for helping to alleviate this discomfort include:
- drink lots of water at least one large glass of water every hour to try and flush the infection out of the body
- eat small healthy meals regularly
- reduce sugar intake as certain types of bacteria feed off it in particular, avoid fizzy drinks as these can also cause gas
- limit your intake of any foods that you know you react to, such as wheat or beans
- certain nutrients have been shown to help with the symptoms of UTIs, including cranberry extract , D-mannose, and good bacteria
Also Check: Does Bladder Cancer Feel Like A Uti
Signs Of Kidney Disease
When Should I Contact My Childs Healthcare Provider
Urinary tract infections need to be taken care of right away. Call a healthcare provider if your child:
- Shows a decrease in feeding or drinking.
- Isnt tolerating home medications.
- Is vomiting.
- Experiences an increase in fever or pain.
- Becomes more irritable or inactive.
- Has any signs or symptoms that worry you.
Quickly getting treatment for your childs UTI decreases the risk of kidney problems and the risk that the infection could spread.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Although a urinary tract infection isnt a life-threatening condition, it may result in a hospital stay or lead to complications that can affect your childs quality of life. Be sure to have them checked out by their healthcare provider as soon as they show symptoms. Always make sure that your child takes all of their prescribed medication. Even if they seem better, you should still have them take the medication until the treatment is complete.
You May Like: Bcg Chemo For Bladder Cancer
Drink Plenty Of Fluids
Stay hydrated throughout the day. This will make you pee more frequently, which flushes bacteria out of your urinary tract.
Water is the best choice. Aim for 6 to 8 glasses per day. If its hard for you to drink that much water, you can also increase your fluid intake by drinking sparkling water, decaffeinated herbal tea, milk, or smoothies made with fruits and vegetables.
Try to limit or avoid alcohol and caffeinated drinks, which may irritate the bladder.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome Probability Based On Crude Hr
We found that the risk of suffering new-onset IBS was significantly higher in the study patients than in the comparison patients during the 3-year follow-up period. We found that 3.3% of patients experienced IBS after the occurrence of an initial urinary stone attack, whereas the percentage of IBS was only 2.6% in the comparison patients. The study patients had a crude HR 1.29 times greater than that of the comparison patients , which is showed in the stratified Cox proportional hazards analysis. Furthermore, adjusting for likely influence factors, including patient geographic region, monthly income , personal history at baseline and both modes 1 and 2 , did not affect the HRs of suffering IBS, which all remained higher in patients with an initial stone attack compared with controls .
Don’t Miss: How Do Bladder Infections Happen
What Causes A Urine Infection
Most urine infections are caused by bacteria which come from your own bowel. They cause no harm in your bowel but can cause infection if they get into other parts of your body. Some bacteria lie around your back passage after you pass a stool . These bacteria can sometimes travel to your urethra and into your bladder. Some bacteria thrive in urine and multiply quickly to cause infection.
Women are more prone than men to urine infections, as their urethra is shorter and opens nearer the anus. Pregnant women are also more prone than non-pregnant women to urine infections. This is partly due to the hormonal changes of pregnancy which affect the urinary tract and tend to slow down the flow of urine. It also may be that the enlarged womb presses on the bladder and prevents it draining as well. If urine does not drain quickly from the bladder, germs are more able to multiply and cause an infection.
Less commonly there may be other causes of a urine infection. If you have to have a tube passed into your bladder, it is easier for germs to directly reach your bladder, and this may make urine infection more likely. Occasionally for people whose immune systems are not working well, the infection may spread through the bloodstream rather than up the urinary tubes.
Prevention Methods For Women
In addition to the above prevention methods, women can also:
- Avoid contraceptive methods that contain spermicide
- Avoid using a diaphragm as a birth control method
- Avoid the use of feminine products on genital regions, such as deodorant sprays and douches, which have the potential to irritate the urethra
- Receive vaccination against certain E. coli strains
Dont Miss: Can Align Probiotic Cause Nausea
Read Also: Reasons For Lack Of Bladder Control
Possible Interventions For Constipation In Ckd
Constipation in CKD is challenging to treat successfully due to its multifactorial nature. Therefore, every possible approach to ameliorate constipation needs to be considered. The expected goals of the following interventions may include: regular bowel movement, improvement of stool continence and incomplete evacuation, amelioration of gut microbiota composition, and decreased synthesis of harmful uremic toxins.
The urinary tract consists of:
- The kidneys: The majority of humans have two kidneys, one on either side of the abdomen. Kidneys clear poisonous substances from the blood.
- The ureters: Urine passes from the kidneys to the bladder through tubes called ureters. Each kidney has one ureter connecting it to the bladder.
- The bladder: This is a hollow organ in the lower abdomen that stores urine.
- The urethra: A tube that carries urine from the bladder to outside the body. In males, the urethra travels down the middle of the penis to an opening at the end. In females, the urethra runs from the bladder to just above the vaginal opening. The urethra in females is shorter than in males.
Abrupt Changes In Diet
No matter how quality the food your feeding your dog is, changing it up suddenly can cause serious gastric distress for your pooch.
Abruptly changing from one type or brand of food to another is likely to cause some stomach problems with most dogs and serious diarrhea in those that are more sensitive. If you need to switch your dogs food, you need to do so slowly.
Even the most enthusiastic eaters can get an upset stomach if their diet is changed up too abruptly. Always change your dogs food gradually to give their stomach time to adjust.
The recommended process for gradually switching your dog to a new diet is to slowly increase the ratio of new to old food over the course of about four days.
Day 1: 25% new food mixed with 75% original food
Day 2: 50% new food mixed with 50% original food
Day 3: 74% new food mixed with 25% original food
Day 4: 100% new food
If your dog is especially sensitive, even this schedule may be too abrupt. If thats the case, start with about 10% new food and raise the ratio more gradually over the course of a couple of weeks.
Many dog owners mistakenly blame loose stool on the new food itself, rather than the change in diet. This leads many pet parents to throw out a higher-quality food and return to the original, lower-quality food. The truth is, switching abruptly to any food will cause issues, but switching from one very low in protein to one very high in protein will cause even more issues.
Don’t Miss: What Can Cause An Overactive Bladder
What Is A Urinary Tract Infection
A urinary tract infection, often referred to as a UTI or urine infection, is an infection of the urinary system. Usually, a urinary tract infection is caused by bacteria from the anal or genital region spreading to the bladder. If left untreated, the infection can continue to spread, eventually reaching the kidneys in the upper urinary tract.
UTIs are a very common condition, mostly affecting women, although men can also develop UTIs. Symptoms can include frequent and painful urination, an odd smell to the urine, the presence of blood in the urine and pain in the lower abdomen. Fever, nausea and upper abdominal pain may be a sign that the infection has reached the upper levels of the urinary tract.
With prompt antibiotic treatment, most people recover quickly. However, if left untreated, a urinary tract infection can develop into a serious condition with a number of complications.
Can Stomach Bloating Be A Sign Of Kidney Failure
My husband was diagnosed in October with stage 3 chronic kidney disease and has not yet been seen by kidney doctor I was not aware of his chronic kidney disease because his doctor never discussed it with me he went to his doctor on March the 20th and I didnt realize he had chronic kidney disease until around March the 27th when I called about his blood work and thats when they told me he was diagnosed in October we went on April the 20th 2018 for blood work at the kidney doctor he has an appointment on May 3rd for the results of his blood work but he keeps talking about hurting it in his stomach both sides underneath his rib cage he had a colonoscopy done
Read Also: Can Hemorrhoids Cause Abdominal Pain And Bloating
Recommended Reading: The Most Frequent Initial Symptom Of Bladder Cancer Is
What Does A Kidney Stone Feel Like
Kidney stones can go undetected for a while, but once one starts stirring around, theres a big chance youll be in a lot of pain. Stones that remain in the kidneys may not cause any symptoms, but if a stone moves into the urinary tract, the symptoms can get intense fast. It sounds like this could certainly be a possible cause of the symptoms youre describing.
Kidney stone pain can be felt in your side, back, lower abdomen and groin areas. It can start as a dull ache, then quickly transform into sharp, severe cramping or pain. The pain can come and go, meaning you may feel excruciating pain in one moment then fine the next.
Stones can vary in size, but some can be so large that your physician will have to break up before they pass or just remove them. However, some stones are so small you could pass them and never know it!
You may find it difficult to sit still due to being uncomfortable, and you may feel the need to urinate more often than usual. You might experience burning sensations while urinating, or notice blood in your urine. Other symptoms include fever, loss of appetite, profuse sweating, and diarrhea or constipation. Sometimes kidney stones can even cause vomiting.
If youve experienced any of the symptoms listed above, or simply need a routine check-up, dont hesitate to set up an appointment with one of the skilled professionals at Arkansas Urology. All it takes is the click of a button!
Up Next
Diagnosis Of A Urinary Tract Infection
Diagnosis of a urinary tract infection usually begins with a consultation based on the symptoms and a physical examination. It is usual for a doctor to also ask about sexual history, medical history and any instances of previous UTIs.
A sample of urine might be requested in order to confirm a diagnosis of a urinary tract infection. Dipstick analysis may be done first to indicate the presence of bacteria in the urine. This quick test entails dipping a small chemical strip into a urine sample, then looking for certain color changes on the strip which may indicate abnormal levels of blood, sugar or bacteria in the urine. Looking at the urine sample under a microscope can usually confirm the diagnosis, as well as which bacteria has caused the infection.
If an upper urinary tract infection is suspected, a doctor may also recommend blood tests in order to check the infection hasnââ¬â¢t spread to the bloodstream.
People suffering from recurring or chronic urinary tract infections may be given additional tests to determine if there are any obstructions or abnormalities causing the repeat of the condition. Such tests can include:
- An ultrasound scan of the bladder and kidneys, which uses painless soundwaves to generate an image of the urinary tract
- A CT scan or MRI scan for a more detailed analysis of the urinary tract
- A cystoscopy, in which a small camera is inserted through the urethra to see inside the urethra and bladder
Read Also: Botox Injections For Bladder Control