Page 12 - Martin Downs Bulletin - November '24

Page 12, Martin Downs

tip of tHe tail

Kidney Insufficiency of life. Special prescription diets are one of the best main Chronic kidney insufficiency is a common disease
long-term treatments to help maintain appropriate protein in older animals; however, pets can live with a good
levels and certain electrolyte levels. These diets are quality of life for many years after diagnosis with proper
available through veterinarians. Another treatment option management. Annual labwork may reveal indications of
is fluid therapy, either subcutaneous fluids or intravenous chronic kidney insufficiency well before a pet shows
fluids. Subcutaneous fluids, which are placed under a pet’s clinical signs. Please check with your veterinarian to see
skin, can be used at home or in the clinic to help maintain if your pet is due for his or her labwork.
hydration; subcutaneous fluids can be utilized long-term Established in 1981, Palm City Animal Medical
to help with quality of life. Some pets will benefit from Center is dedicated to providing the best possible care
subcutaneous fluids up to several times a week, while for your pets. With focuses on compassionate care in
others may need fluids less often. Intravenous fluids are surgery, physical therapy and rehabilitation, preventative
usually reserved for pets who need more aggressive fluid medicine, extensive diagnostics, and emergency service,
therapy. Some pets with chronic kidney insufficiency Palm City Animal Medical Center combines exceptional
may have blood pressure issues, and these pets may medical care with a caring philosophy for pets and their
benefit from blood pressure medications. Depending on owners. For more information, call (772) 283-0920, visit
Chronic kidney insufficiency is one of the most the chronicity and severity of kidney insufficiency, pets www.palmcityanimalmedicalcenter.com or find us on
common diseases affecting older pets, especially cats. can experience anemia. If this occurs, medication may be Facebook at www.facebook.com/PalmCityAnimalClinic.
Many causes exist for chronic kidney insufficiency, with needed to help correct the anemia.
age-related kidney deterioration being one of the more
common causes. Chronic kidney insufficiency indicates
that a condition called azotemia has been present for
months or years. When azotemia is present, toxins
have accumulated in the bloodstream, and labwork will
indicate abnormalities. Approximately 70 percent of
kidney function must be lost before labwork abnormalities
are noted. Azotemia does not necessarily mean a pet is
experiencing a reduced quality of life. The term uremia
means that the patient is azotemic and also demonstrating
clinical signs of kidney disease, which may be reducing
their quality of life. The goal in treatment of chronic
kidney insufficiency is to prevent, postpone, or resolve
uremia, to ensure the pet experiences the best possible
quality of life. Azotemia associated with chronic kidney
insufficiency may not be reversible.
The kidneys perform several important functions:
1.) Filtering waste products, primarily urea and
creatinine;
2.) Regulating electrolytes, including sodium,
potassium, phosphorus, and calcium;
3.) Producing erythropoietin, which helps stimulate
the bone marrow to produce red blood cells;
4.) Producing renin, which helps control blood
pressure;
5.) Producing and concentrating urine.
When kidney function begins to decline, waste
products accumulate in the blood, electrolyte imbalances
occur, anemia can develop, blood pressure problem may
occur, and urine concentration decreases.
Clinical signs of chronic kidney insufficiency can
be vague and may mimic other diseases. The most
common symptoms usually noted are increased thirst
and increased urination. Other symptoms may include
decreased appetite, vomiting, weight loss, and poor hair
coat. These symptoms may be slowly progressive, and, PUT YOUR MIND AT EASE
if mild, may go unnoticed by a pet owner. Labwork may
reveal abnormalities before obvious clinical signs are
evident, which may allow treatment to be initiated sooner A quick screening can detect lung cancer
and provide the best quality of life for the pet.
Several treatment options can be utilized to help pets at its earliest stage
with chronic kidney insufficiency maintain a good quality
Did you know lung cancer can be detected at its
earliest and most treatable stage? The team at
Cleveland Clinic Martin Health uses low-dose CT

screenings to detect lung cancer earlier. That means
our experts, from radiologists and pulmonologists to
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with nonsurgical and surgical treatments sooner.

Find out if you need a lung cancer screening:
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