URINE HEAVEN Joe Bartges, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, DACVN Professor of Medicine and Nutrition The Acree Endowed Chair of Small Animal Research
[email protected] Amanda Callens, BS, LVT Veterinary Nurse, Nephrology and Urology
[email protected] Phone: 865-755-3359 FAX: 865-974-5733 The University of Tennessee Veterinary Medical Center Knoxville, TN 37996-4544 Urine Trouble: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Joe Bartges, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, DACVN Professor of Medicine and Nutrition The Acree Endowed Chair of Small Animal Research The University of Tennessee General Key Points: • CKD implies irreversible renal failure that remains stable for a period of time, but ultimately progresses • Incidence increases with increasing age in dogs and cats * Although many things can cause chronic kidney disease, by the time chronic kidney disease is diagnosed the cause(s) is/are not present and not treatable. It can occur as a result of: * Congenital renal disease * Acquired diseases – hypotension, drugs, toxins, hypotension, infections, cancer * Periodontal disease has been linked to renal histologic changes in dogs * Feline immunodeficiency virus infection has been linked to renal disease in cats * Kidneys are involved with whole body homeostasis; therefore, CKD affects general well-being * Clinical signs involve primarily * Change in water balance: polyuria / polydipsia (PU / PD) * Gastrointestinal signs (vomiting, hyporexia / anorexia, halitosis) * Signs of chronic disease (weight loss, loss of body condition, unkempt appearance) * Laboratory evaluation reveals *