Keeping Kidneys Safe: Kidney Disease In Dogs and Cats

One of the questions we ask of our new clients is how they hear about us. Many of them found us by doing research – mostly online – for natural and effective ways to help improve their pet’s current health problems.

Allergies, digestion, arthritis, cancer – these are all pet health problems that we come across on a regular basis (and it’s interesting to note that these are common diseases in humans too!).

One health problem that comes up quite often is canine kidney disease.

What Do Kidneys Do?

A main player in the body’s filtration system, your pet’s kidneys provide a major function in removing toxins in the bloodstream and eliminating them through the urine. The kidneys control the water, salt, and mineral levels in the body and help with calcium absorption. They also produce a hormone called erythropoietin (EPO) that helps with red blood cell production. So you can see why the health of your pet’s kidneys is so important.

Signs of Kidney Problems

There are certain signs to look for when suspecting kidney problems in your pet. These include:
Anemia (pale gums and weakness)
Dehydration (causing sudden and increased thirst)
Lethargy
Depression
Increase in urination and/or trouble urinating
Loss of appetite and weight loss
Vomiting and/or diarrhea

When the kidneys start to fail, your pet will feel the need to drink more water in order to flush out those excess toxins in the body that the kidneys are not filtering out. Over time, even excessive intake of water won’t help remove those toxins thus, much more serious issues will arise.

Because the symptoms listed above can be the result of many other possible health issues, a blood or urine test may be necessary in order to diagnosed kidney disease.
Types of Kidney Problems

There are two types of kidney failure in dogs and cats: acute and chronic.

Acute kidney failure happens suddenly and aggressively. Bacterial infections, poisoning, and even kidney stones or other urinary blockages can cause acute kidney failure. When acute kidney failure is suspected, immediate veterinary care is necessary because this is a life-threatening situation. Luckily the majority of instances of acute kidney failure can be treated – if caught in time.

The picture above shows a close-up view of two kidney stones. An increase concentration of minerals in the urine combined with too low of an alkaline level in the urine is the perfect breeding ground for the formation of stones.

Chronic kidney failure is much slower in progression and most common in older animals. Unfortunately, by the time your pet starts to show signs of chronic kidney failure, the damage has already been done and there is currently no cure.

Besides kidney failure, kidney stones (or Nephrolithiasis) are another pet health problem we come across quite often. Nephroliths are clusters of stones or crystals that form either in the kidneys or in the urinary tract. These clusters create blockages in the urinary tract, which are very painful and life threatening if not treated right away.

Cause of Kidney Disease

There are various causes of kidney disease, such as:
Abdominal injury
Bacterial infection
Blockage to the urinary tract (kidney stones)
Heart failure
Poisoning
Shock caused by rapid dehydration or blood loss
Renal artery obstruction (blood clots)
Long-term use of NSAIDs or antibiotics
Is Kidney Disease Hereditary?
There are some breeds of dogs and cats that are more susceptible to kidney disease:

Cats: Exotic Longhair, Exotic Shorthair, Himalayan, and Persian.

Dogs: Basenji, Beagle, Bedlington Terrier, Bernese Mountain Dog, Bull Terrier, Cairn Terrier, Chinese Shar-Pei, Chow Chow, Cocker Spaniel, Doberman Pinscher, Golden Retriever, Keeshond, Lhasa Apso, Newfoundland, Norwegian Elkhound, Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Rottweiler, Samoyed, Shih Tzu, Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier, and Standard Poodle

Prevention

There are many steps that responsible pet parents can take in order to help decrease the chances that their pets develop kidney disease.
Diet

As always, diet plays a major part in disease prevention. Eliminating all heat-processed diets (dry, canned and semi-moist pet foods) and treats as well as foods containing artificial flavors, dyes, and preservatives will help to reduce the amount of toxins the body is exposed to, thus reducing stress on the kidneys.

Instead, feed a complete and balanced, species-appropriate raw food diet that contains raw whole foods, no artificial ingredients, and no grains. A raw food diet contains a high level of easily absorbed water content with minimal toxins, which is perfect for good kidney health.

Some veterinarians will prescribe a low-protein diet for pets suffering from kidney disease. The reasoning behind this is that the body produces urea (waste) when it digests protein so in order to alleviate stress on the kidneys, they will often recommend a low-protein diet.

Our co-founder and raw pet food diet guru, Robert Mueller calls this the “protein diet controversy.” He states that there is actually little to no scientific proof that a low-protein diet is the best way to go. In fact, in his 35+ years consulting pet parents on the proper raw food diet for pets with kidney disease, he has found that a diet comprised of mainly bones and raw food (BARF Diet) which is high in protein actually helps entice the animal to eat and provides them with a much better quality of life.

A raw protein-based diet is much easier for your pet to digest and contains a much higher level of essential nutrients which allows the body to heal itself better, naturally.
Water

Speaking of water, make sure to provide your pet with a clean source of filtered or distilled water. Tap water contains chorine, lead, bacteria and nitrates that your pets – and your family – should not be consuming. That’s why health experts recommend that pregnant women, children – and yes our pets – should instead opt for filtered water to minimize toxins and eliminate harmful contaminants from being introduced into the body.
Supplements

There are also two great supplements you can incorporate in your pet’s daily diet in order to help prevent, and even slow the progression of kidney disease:

If your pet is suffering from kidney disease, make sure to add an omega-3 supplement to their dietary routine. Fish oil has been known to help slow the progression of this disease.
Fish Oil (omega-3) – the most important supplement for kidney disease and prevention. Fish oil (especially wild salmon oil) have been know to slow the progression of kidney disease in pets and people.
Coenzymes Q10 (CoQ10) – A natural antioxidant, CoQ10 has been shown to help humans with kidney and heart problems. 1.5 mg per pound of your pet’s body weight each day should be sufficient.
Final Thoughts

For those of you who read our informative pet health articles, you’ll notice this common theme regarding the health of our pets: the foundation to a healthy, happy pet is a natural raw food diet, clean filtered water, wholesome pet supplements and as little exposure to harsh chemicals, toxins, and medications as possible.

So steer clear of over-vaccinating your pet, using harsh flea and tick treatments, and avoiding foods and treats containing ingredients that are hard for our pets to digest (such as grains, artificial flavors, artificial colors, and preservatives).

These are the best practices to follow to help your pet stay healthy, active, and vibrant for as long as possible!

References

“What Your Kidneys Do.” American Kidney Fund. American Kidney Fund Inc., 20 Dec. 2007. Web. 11 March 2013.

“Kidney Problems In Dogs.” WebMD. WebMD LLC, n.d. Web. 11 March 2013.

“Canine Kidney Failure: Causes, Treatment and Prevention.” Healthy Pets With Dr. Karen Becker. Dr. Joseph Mercola, 4 Nov. 2010. Web. 11 March 2013.
“Chronic Kidney Disease and Failure (CKD, CRF, CRD).” Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Washington State University, n.d. Web. 11 March 2013.

Pierson, Lisa A. “Feline Cystitis and Bladder/Kidney Stones.” Feline Nutrition Education Society. Feline Nutrition Education Society, 28 April 2009. Web. 11 March 2013.

Hines, Ron. “Kidney and Bladder Stones in Dogs and Cats.” 2ndChanceInfo.com. 2ndchanceinfo.com/Ronald Hines 2013., n.d. Web. 11 March 2013.

“Kidney Stones in Dogs.” PetMD. petMD LLC, n.d. Web. 11 March 2013.

“Kidney Failure (Uremia) Symptoms in Cats.” WebMD. WebMD LLC, n.d. Web. 11 March 2013.

“Renal Failure, Acute (Canine).” Petside.com. NBC Universal Inc., n.d. Web. 11 March 2013.

“Kidney Disease.” The Cat Practice PC. The Cat Practice PC, n.d. Web. 11 March 2013.

Sawyer, Molly. “Raw Food Diet For Dogs With Kidney Failure.” eHow.com. Demand Media Inc., n.d. Web. 11 March 2013.

Mueller, Robert. “Kidney Disease In Dogs.” BARF World Blog. BARF World Inc., 23 April 2008. Web. 11 March 2013.

“Low Protein Recipes.” National Kidney Foundation. National Kidney Foundation Inc., n.d. Web. 11 March 2013.

Mueller, Robert. “Why All The Kidney Problems?” BARF World Blog. BARF World Inc., 6 May 2009. Web. 11 March 2013.

Shakeshaft, Jordan. “What’s Actually In Your Tap Water.” Greatist.com. Greatist, 25 April 2012. Web. 11 March 2013.

Strauss, Mary. “Supplements Recommended For Dogs With Kidney Disease.” Dog Aware. Mary Straus, n.d. Web. 11 March 2013.

Amber Keiper is the Marketing Assistant and Raw Diet Educator for BARF World Inc.. She and her husband have two former rescue animals that are now healthy and proud “BARF brats” – a terrier mix named Chewbacca (“Chewy”) and a tabby mix named Chiquita (“Chiqui”). For more articles like these and to learn more about the benefits of raw food for your pets, sign up for The Intelligent Pet monthly e-zine at www.barfworld.com.
Ask The Holistic Vet

By Dr. Cathy Alinovi

Question: It’s my understanding that bison don’t get cancer nor is their meat associated with causing cancer in dogs. Is that your understanding too?

Answer: This is a fabulous question! Most of the answer lies in how the bison are reared vs. how the rest of our common food animals are reared.

Bison are relatively untouched by humans. We haven’t vaccinated them, we don’t feed them excessive amounts of high-energy foods to force rapid growth, and we haven’t spent decades altering their genetics to make their meat a “better” product (based on someone’s definition of “better”).

Because bison are pasture-fed, their meat is much higher in omega-3 fatty acids, and low in omega-6 (which we discussed last month). Therefore, their meat is much less inflammatory than many other types of meat on the market.

Inflammation is the key to causing cancer; avoiding inflammation substantially helps someone (human or canine) avoid cancer.

Now, get enough people demanding Bison meat and someone, somewhere will figure out how to make more bison faster (think of the recent “super” salmon that, due to genetic engineering, mature in 18 months instead of the standard 36). When that happens, our once healthy food source will become adulterated. At that point, I suspect we will find cancer in bison and we will find the meat will become increasingly tumorigenic for those who eat it. Even polar bears now have cancer simply due to human influence on their environment.

Dr. Cathy Alinovi, DVM – veterinarian, pet lover, and nationally celebrated author knew she wanted to be an animal doctor since she was nine years old. Her mission then was simple: to make the world safe for dogs; and her mission now — healthy patients! Dr. Cathy is certified in Veterinary Food Therapy, Veterinary Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Therapy, and Aromatherapy. Dr. Cathy’s approach provides whole body support through both the best in veterinary medicine as well as high-quality, all-natural foods, supplements, and health care products.

Hoofstock Veterinary Service and Hoopeston Veterinary Service are both owned and operated by Dr. Cathy Alinovi. To schedule an office appointment or phone consultation, call (765) 714-5973 or visit www.hoofstockvet.com.