Kidney Disease Treatment for Dogs and Cats
Today’s guest post features Ask Ariel! Ask Ariel Your Pet Nutritionist offers expert advice about pet nutrition and holistic pet health. Their exceptional quality supplements were developed based on Pet Nutritionist Susan Blake Davis’ experiences rescuing and rehabilitating homeless shelter animals. Ask Ariel supplements have been used successfully in veterinary hospitals since 2005 and are recommended by veterinarians nationwide. Purchases from links in this post provide proceeds that go 100% to furthering GARC’s mission!
Has your cat or dog been diagnosed with Chronic Renal Failure (CRF) or kidney disease? Ask Ariel offers expert holistic advice regarding diet and supplements for pets with kidney disease. Our track record is so exceptional that veterinarians nationwide have been recommending our kidney supplements for dogs and cats since 2005. How do we know so much? Experience with proven, tangible results. Please see our testimonials—whether it be pets eating better, showing improved lab test results or just acting like themselves again, Ask Ariel has been there to support our patients with this difficult disease. Kidney disease cannot be cured but it can be managed and your pet can have a much better quality of life using a holistic approach.
Our company’s story began with Ariel the Siberian Husky mix. At 13 years of age, after leading a very healthy and happy life, she was suddenly diagnosed with kidney disease. Her creatinine level was 6.4 (very high out of the normal range) even though her blood test 5 months prior had been on the high end of normal. Kidney disease can be detected with gradual changes in some pets (as is often the case with elderly cats) or suddenly where the pet seemed fine the day before and now is no longer wanting to eat and is completely listless. Ariel was dying before Pet Nutritionist Susan Blake Davis’ eyes and she wanted to save her. The research, supplements and treatments that helped Ariel with her triumphant journey over kidney disease (she died over a year later due to a tragic fall) are what inspired Susan Blake Davis, to start Ask Ariel Your Pet Nutritionist so that other pet owners could access the best natural supplements and use the appropriate diet to help their pets feel better.
If you are searching for help with kidney disease, you have come to the right place. Our compassionate team can guide you to the supplements and diet that helped Ariel. You can help your pet attain optimal wellness through holistic healing – you just need the tools and information. Don’t get discouraged – Just Ask Ariel! Email us at support@AskAriel.com (Please understand we cannot provide consultative advice but can provide the resources so you can work with your vet.)
Kidney failure is a challenging disease to manage and is most commonly diagnosed when pets are in their senior years. Some young pets may have a congenital deformity that can also affect kidney function. Kidney disease occurs more commonly in cats than dogs. The disease can progress rapidly in some and slower in others. Laboratory monitoring is key as the pet may not show symptoms until the kidneys are failing. The best time to help your pet if diagnosed with kidney disease, is when the disease is in its early stage.
Kidney disease can be insidious and “suddenly” appear even though your pet may have seemed perfectly healthy the day before. The signs can be very subtle, such as not wanting to eat in the morning and pet owners may initially attribute that to “old age”. The reason the disease can suddenly be diagnosed is because at least 2/3 of the kidneys must be dysfunctional before clinical signs are often detected. Since kidney failure can often be a fatal condition, annual laboratory testing (blood and urine) is critical, along with watching out for the warning signs and notifying your veterinarian if you see them.
Conventional treatments such as subcutaneous fluids for cats and dogs with kidney disease can help as well as using a kidney friendly diet. Pets feel toxic due to uremia (an increased level of urea in the blood and other nitrogenous waste compounds that the kidney normally eliminates) because their kidney function is insufficient. Phosphorous binders are needed to absorb the phosphorous in the diet as cats and dogs with renal insufficiency can benefit from a reduced protein, restricted phosporous diet. These phosphorous binders can reduce the workload on the kidneys helping the pet to feel less nauseated.
Kidney supplements for cats and dog can help the remaining kidney function to work better and make your pet feel more comfortable. These safe, natural remedies can help a pet to eat better (many kidney pets are not eating much) and improve their energy level. Please scroll down and click on the product names below to learn more about how you can detoxify and strengthen your cat or dog’s kidney function.
What is Feline & Canine Kidney Disease?
It is quite common for pets to lose some kidney function with age. Renal insufficiency is especially common in senior cats. The kidneys are bean-shaped organs that operate as filtering mechanisms in the body. The kidneys filter out toxins in the blood such as metabolic wastes, drugs and excess mineral salts as well as regulate the acidity of the blood. The kidneys also help regulate blood pressure, the production of calcium and phosphorus metabolism, and produce a hormone that stimulates red-blood-cell production called erythropoetin.
Since the kidneys perform so many important functions, it is easy to see why kidney malfunction would greatly impact the way your pet feels and behaves. Once the kidney function starts to weaken, pets may develop a variety of additional health issues such as acid stomach, anemia, high blood pressure and pancreatitis. In the blood, three levels are especially important to test for kidney disease. These are creatinine, BUN (blood urea nitrogen) and phosphorous. BUN measures the amount of urea nitrogen, a waste product of protein metabolism in the blood. Urea is formed by the liver and then taken by the blood to the kidneys for excretion. Because urea is cleared from the bloodstream by the kidneys, a buildup in the blood is an indicator that the kidneys are not functioning properly. Creatinine and phosphorous are important markers for kidney disease as well, as they are also excreted by the kidneys.
The difficulty in canine kidney disease treatment or feline kidney disease treatment is that the ability to remove metabolic waste products is often outweighed by the buildup of those toxins. The pet is not able to keep up with the regular detoxification required because the kidneys are impaired. Thus, the pet gradually becomes more toxic and the body chemistry becomes more acidic. Unlike liver disease where the body can build and repair new liver tissue, the nephrons (functional units of the kidney) are damaged forever and cannot be replaced. What is important is to help the functioning nephrons perform at an optimal level.
Conventional treatment for kidney disease in pets includes a reduced protein and reduced phosphorous diet, subcutaneous fluids, use of phosphorous binders and medications for blood pressure regulation, if needed. Holistic care in combination with conventional treatments is essential. Pets can eat a natural, kidney-friendly diet in place of commercially prepared prescription diets that many pets might not eat and can contain chemicals and synthetic ingredients. Supplements can help the kidneys to break down protein, excrete toxins and perform at a significantly improved level. Many cats and dogs that use the Ask Ariel kidney diet and supplements live a higher quality and longer life than was given in their initial prognosis.
Symptoms of Kidney Disease in Cats and Dogs
Unfortunately, laboratory tests may not show renal insufficiency in cats and dogs until your pet’s kidney function is about 65-70% deteriorated. Regular laboratory testing and watching for these signs can improve the prognosis for your pet with kidney disease.
- Increased urination
- Increased thirst
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Strong (ammonia-like) breath odor
- Listless, lethargic
- Vomiting
Ginger’s Story
“Last year our Ginger escaped & spent the night outside. We have no idea what she got into, but she became very sick. That Saturday, at the veterinary clinic, the doctor believed there was something wrong with his laboratory equipment. I even heard him in the back room calling the company that had recently calibrated the machine to complain. He sent her blood to an outside lab. I had Renelix on hand for my other kitty with kidney disease and started Ginger on it immediately. The following Monday our veterinarian phoned and stated that the outside lab had confirmed Ginger’s severe acute renal failure. He stated “Normally when I notify somebody of results this poor, they no longer have a pet that is living”. I explained that we had been through this before, and I attributed Ginger’s survival to the products and advice I had received in the past from Susan Davis of Ask Ariel. Ginger was receiving IV hydration at home, as well as Renelix and the diet as advised by AskAriel. Ginger returned to her normal, healthy & spoiled self! Fortunately, she also slimmed down from her previous tubbiness! I can’t thank Susan Davis and Ask Ariel enough!!” – Suzanne, Florida 2014
Kidney Supplements For Dogs And Cats
Kidney disease treatment works best when a combined approach using both conventional and holistic methods is used. The goal of treatment is to help the pet to live as close to a normal life as possible and slow the progression of the disease. Once the kidneys have been damaged, they cannot be repaired, but you can strengthen and support your pet’s nephrons (filtering units in the kidneys) which will help them function better. Supplements can help flush out the toxins and control acid-base imbalances. Our natural supplements have been used successfully in veterinary hospitals since 2005 and are recommended by veterinarians nationwide.
Renelix is the first line of defense with kidney disease. It helps the body to flush out toxins that accumulate in the kidneys and urinary tract. While there are no guarantees and kidney damage is permanent, in many instances, Renelix has been show to slow the progression of the disease, improve symptoms and some pets do show improvement in laboratory tests after using the supplement.
Kidney Health Protein Support for Pets is an all-natural veterinary-approved supplement that breaks down protein and assists the kidneys to eliminate metabolic waste. Specially indicated for cats and dogs with kidney disease, protein loss in the urine, diabetes and protein malabsorption.
Other Benefits:
- Breaks down protein reducing the workload on the kidneys and liver
- Contains proteolytic enzymes that reduce inflammation and provide support for pets with protein loss and conditions such as cancer that affect protein metabolism
- All natural treatment-combines easily with kidney medications
- Essential for diabetic pets as the kidneys are adversely affected
Purrfect Pet CoQ10 contains NON-GMO Ubiquinol. This antioxidant plays a critical role in cell production and is essential for kidney and heart function. For small pets, topical antioxidant OxiCell SE contains a small amount of CoQ10 and is also very helpful.
Amazing Omegas for Pets are packed in glass bottles to preserve freshness and quality. Simply the best, purest fish oil available for pets. Research on fish oil has shown it to be helpful for kidney disease. It contains omega-3 fatty acids that help reduce inflammation and reduce filtration hypertension, which helps to improve kidney function.
Gastro ULC + Power Probiotic provide comfort to pets with kidney disease by relieving symptoms of nausea due to acid buildup. One of the hallmark symptoms of kidney disease is that pets develop acid stomach and inappetance as the kidneys are not able to properly flush out toxins. Pets become very picky and often lose weight. Gastro ULC and Power Probiotic help relieve stomach discomfort and reduce vomiting, improving your pet’s appetite.
Molly’s Story
“Molly, our 13 year old black lab was diagnosed with kidney disease and was given a few months to live. She had been healthy most of her life and my husband and I were stunned with the diagnosis. In addition to her kidney disease, her legs were getting weak from arthritis and she was also starting to show signs of dementia. Needless to say, we were not optimistic about her future. That weekend, we went to the Pet Expo in Baltimore and were lucky enough to talk to a vendor who recommended we contact AskAriel.com We used Renelix and the Kidney Health Formula for her kidney disease in addition to the Amazing Omegas and used the diet that was recommended for her. We’ve been treating her with the supplements in addition to administering sub-q fluids and 5 months later Molly is still eating, drinking and very much full of life. We know that she is still with us because of Susan Davis’ (Ask Ariel Pet Nutritionist) expertise, compassion and arsenal of supplements. We are so grateful we found Susan and AskAriel and have already started our younger dog, Brandy on the Amazing Omegas.” – Jennifer S., Maryland
Need Help?
We understand how hard it is when your pet is suffering from kidney disease and we will do all we can to help. It can be confusing to know which cat and dog supplements would be appropriate for your pet. Please email us at Support@AskAriel.com Please note that we cannot provide consultative advice due to veterinary regulations, but we will be happy to provide articles and information so that you can make an informed decision about what’s best for your pet.