Cross section of a normal feline kidney. Photo credit Creative Commons
The kidneys are paired organs having many crucial roles in the body, including filtering the blood of metabolic breakdown products and toxins, regulating electrolyte, glucose, protein, and water balance, producing hormones that promote red blood cell production, and more. Needless to say, when the kidneys start to fail the entire body is adversely affected.
There are many causes of kidney disease in cats and dogs, such as age-related causes, infections (bacterial, fungal, etc.), toxic exposures, cancer, and others.
Fortunately, regular wellness examinations and diagnostics like blood and urine testing, x-rays, ultrasound, and more can help veterinarians diagnose the degree to which animal companion is suffering from kidney disease and direct the most-appropriate treatment.
Want to learn more about kidney disease? Check out this article Canine & Feline Kidney Disease–What You Need to Know
Related Articles
Dr. Patrick Mahaney
Please leave your constructive perspective in the below Comments section and communicate with me and follow my adventures in veterinary medicine and life via Instagram (@PatrickMahaney), Twitter (@PatrickMahaney), and Facebook (Patrick Mahaney: Veterinarian Acupuncture Pain Management for Your Pets).
Copyright of this article (2018) is owned by Dr. Patrick Mahaney, Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist and Certified Veterinary Journalist. Republishing any portion of this article must first be authorized by Dr. Patrick Mahaney. Requests for republishing must be approved by Dr. Patrick Mahaney and received in written format.