Home / Gaia Toast / Why CKD is a ticking time bomb in your pet
“Because the signs of an early onset of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) are quite subtle, it can be months and years of your pet having the disease before you notice a problem. Hence the term ‘chronic’. The damage to the kidneys is irreversible and can become life-threatening.” - Dr Anise Hee, Veterinary Surgeon, Gaia Vets
Let’s be candid here.
It is not easy for pet owners like you to notice changes that may be affecting your pet’s health. In cats and dogs, this is especially so in early stages of diseases such as Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).
Symptoms of early onset of CKD include:
Drinking more
Urinating more
Decreased appetite
Weight-loss
Dull coat (especially in cats)
Kidneys are quite resilient in the sense that they can continue to function normally despite damage to their tissues. At least 75% of the kidneys must be damaged before significant symptoms show up.
Some of these symptoms which indicate that CKD is already in the advanced stage include:
Lethargy
Vomiting and/or diarrhoea
Bad breath
Oral ulcers
Pale gums and/or ears
Bleeding in the eye and/or blindness
Seizures
By this stage, your pet’s kidneys may require aggressive treatment to slow down the disease and maintain whatever kidney function that may be left. That is why it is crucial for pet owners like you to be aware of the risk factors and possible causes of CKD. Annual health checks can also provide crucial insights into your pet’s kidney functions.
So what are the risk factors and causes?
Risk factors include old age and breed types.
Senior dogs and cats are more likely to develop CKD as a result of age and natural degeneration. There is no exact age where pet owners can reference and start to look out for CKD, especially for dogs.
For small dogs, CKD shows up at around 10 - 14 years of age (what is conventionally considered old age) but for larger-sized dogs, CKD can show up as early as 7 years old.
In cats, certain breeds seem to be more susceptible to developing CKD. Higher incidences of CKD have been reported in breeds such as Maine Coon, Abyssinian, Siamese, Ragdoll, Russian Blue, Persian and Burmese.
Some of the causes of CKD include:
Genetics - where your pet inherits a disease, e.g. Polycystic Kidney Disease.
Stones in the kidneys or ureters.
Infection of the kidneys.
Viral infections in cats such as FeLV (Feline Leukemia Virus), FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) and FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis).
Tumours in the kidneys.
As a consequence of Acute Kidney Disease (AKD). AKD is usually caused by the ingestion of toxins such as grapes (in dogs) and lily flowers (in cats).
What can I do for my pet?
With awareness comes the power to act.
Pet owners like you can do a lot to reduce your pet’s risk of getting CKD or detect it early.
Annual health checks. This aids in early detection of not just CKD but also a bunch of other diseases. Early disease detection gives you more options for treatment and also a better chance to keep the disease under control.
To check the condition of your pet’s kidney function, blood tests are conducted to measure by-products such as blood urea nitrogen (BUN), blood creatinine (CREA) and SDMA.
Be more vigilant especially if your pet has reached old age or is a breed that seems to be genetically predisposed to developing CKD.
There is no need to despair just yet! Treatment of CKD depends on the extent of disease i.e. how far it has progressed and whether co-morbidities (other medical conditions) are present.
Your pet may need to be hospitalised to stabilise his/her condition first. Thereafter, life-long medication at home and regular checks may be required to ensure that the CKD is under control. Your vet will be able to provide a suitable treatment plan based on your pet and his/her medical history.
As always, our professional team at Gaia Vets are here to support you and your pet through long-term disease management. Contact us today if you need help!
