Historically, managing chronic kidney disease (CKD), or chronic renal failure, in pets has been a losing battle. By the time this progressive condition is revealed when pets become visibly ill, 70% of the pet’s kidneys are irreversibly destroyed, rendering many therapies useless or only moderately helpful.

Fortunately, modern veterinary innovations and an increased awareness for routine health screenings are rewriting the story of chronic kidney disease in pets, including here at Mercer Street Veterinary Hospital. 

Healthy kidney, sick kidney: Chronic kidney disease in pets explained

The kidneys’ most known responsibilities are filtering waste, byproducts, and excess materials from the blood and removing them via the urine. However, they are also responsible for many other vital tasks, including maintaining the body’s pH and electrolyte balance, regulating blood pressure, and producing hormones that aid in red blood cell production and calcium regulation.

In a pet with CKD, the nephrons (i.e., the functional cellular units) inside each kidney break down, leading to a slow but steady decline in the kidneys’ abilities to perform essential tasks. Although a healthy pet’s kidneys each contain 200,000 to 400,000 nephrons, these units do not regenerate. As the damage increases, the kidneys cannot effectively filter out waste, and decreased function, internal toxicity, and widespread illness results.

That was then: Traditional kidney disease signs and diagnosis in pets

In the past, a CKD diagnosis was made as an incidental or unexpected finding on annual blood work or, more commonly, after the pet owner sought veterinary care because their pet was visibly ill. CKD clinical signs appear as the toxins increase inside the pet’s body and cause generalized sickness. Classic signs include:

  • Increased thirst and urination
  • Weight loss
  • Vomiting
  • Bad breath
  • Lethargy
  • Nausea and reduced appetite
  • Diarrhea
  • High blood pressure (i.e., hypertension)
  • Protein in urine

Because pets who are clinically ill are already suffering from advanced disease, veterinary care at this stage focuses on minimizing clinical signs, maximizing quality of life (i.e., comfort), and supporting the remaining functional kidney tissue.

This is now: Chronic kidney disease screening tests for early diagnosis in pets

As a Cara Family Neighborhood Vet, our mission is to deliver exceptional pet-centered care that enhances and extends your pet’s quality and quantity of life. Through routine wellness exams, annual blood work, and routine screening tests, our veterinarians can detect, diagnose, and address small changes in your pet’s health before they become larger or untreatable problems.

Symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) testing is a yearly blood screening that can detect changes in your pet’s kidney health and function long before clinical signs appear. Unlike traditional blood work, which cannot detect kidney damage until 70% of the kidney is destroyed, elevations of SDMA, which rises along with kidney damage, can appear in pets with an average of 40% functional loss. In some cases, SDMA has increased with as little as 25% functional loss. 

When SDMA testing is combined with additional diagnostics, such as complete blood work and ultrasound imaging, your veterinarian can comprehensively assess your pet’s kidney function and provide more effective, life-extending, treatment.

After early diagnosis: Managing chronic kidney disease in pets

Early CKD diagnosis provides additional treatment options that result in a better outcome for the pet. Although CKD is irreversible, early veterinary interventions can preserve and protect remaining kidney function and ideally slow disease progression.

Your Mercer Street Veterinary Hospital veterinarian will tailor your pet’s treatment to their individual needs, health status, and preferences. Common CKD goals include:

  • Reducing kidney workload — Your pet’s kidneys work 24/7/365 to maintain homeostasis and filter waste from the blood. Preventing unnecessary strain can delay nephron death and associated clinical signs.
  • Diet — Veterinary therapeutic diets feature moderate protein and low sodium to avoid unnecessary demand on the kidneys and maintain a healthy muscle mass.
  • Fluid therapy — In-hospital or at-home fluid therapy may be required to diurese (i.e., flush) accumulated toxins from the blood.
  • Supporting healthy hydration — CKD-affected pets are at risk for dehydration, because their malfunctioning kidneys waste large water quantities. Increasing water consumption with a wet diet, soaked dry food, or a pet water fountain can help your pet stay hydrated.
  • Monitoring kidney health and function — Your veterinarian should periodically recheck your pet’s kidney function so they can make precise adjustments to their treatment plan and stay ahead of disease progression. This is a vast improvement over traditional diagnosis and intervention, which occurred after the damage was done.  

When should my pet be screened for chronic kidney disease?

Our Mercer Street Veterinary Hospital veterinarians combine SDMA testing with many routine blood work panels. They generally recommend annual SDMA testing for all mature adult and senior pets 7 years and older. Other circumstances in which SDMA testing would be beneficial include:

  • Pre-anesthetic testing — Impaired kidneys can increase anesthetic risks. 
  • Pets with vector-borne diseases — Tick-borne diseases (e.g., Lyme disease) can affect kidney function.
  • Pets undergoing medical treatment — Other illnesses and their treatments (e.g., medication, chemotherapy) can be affected by or cause kidney damage. A kidney function evaluation prior to veterinary interventions ensures a comprehensive health assessment and can minimize treatment complications. 

Early disease detection gives your pet an enormous advantage over CKD. Speak with your Mercer Street Veterinary Hospital veterinarian if you’re concerned about your pet’s kidney health, or contact us to schedule their next wellness visit and kidney evaluation.