NEWS

Latest News

#1 - THERAPY OF CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE – dogs and cats

Today, the first of 10 news on chronic kidney disease scheduled every 10 days.

General remarks

Treatment of CKD aims at:

• Improving both clinical condition and quality of life
• Prolonging survival time
• Slowing the progression of renal disease

Once chronic kidney disease has been diagnosed, it is recommended:

1. Stop any drugs with certain or potential nephrotoxicity;
2. Identify and treat any concurrent disease influencing renal function and determining renal damage. In some patients, other pathologic conditions (such as endocrinopathies) can make difficult either staging renal disease and setting an adequate therapy;
3. Investigate all causes leading to renal damage and, if possible, treating it. Sometimes, a renal biopsy can be useful to evaluate histologic lesions; in case of proteinuria, results of renal biopsy can provide a specific diagnosis and therapy;
4. To apply a conservative approach of clinical conditions associated to kidney failure such as metabolic, acid-base and electrolytic imbalances. It is a therapy addressed to correct hydration and mineral disorders, acid-base alterations and nutritional impairments. Patients benefit from symptomatic treatment improving their quality of life although azotemia is not significantly modified as this is undoubtedly just one of the factors contributing to the clinical picture of renal patients.

While managing dogs and cats affected by CKD it is also important a correct monitoring to early identify and treat all complications associated to advanced stages of renal disease. As general recommendations, clinically stable dogs and cats affected from CKD should undergo a clinical examination and laboratory evaluations based on their IRIS stage (www.iris-kidney.com)

• every 12 months in IRIS 1
• every 6 months in IRIS 2
• every 4 months in IRIS 3
• every 6-8 weeks in IRIS 4

  Back to News