Kidney Damage | Treaschwig Veterinary Clinic

Leptrospiriosis Can Infect People As Well as Dogs

October 9, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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Leptrospiriosis is a zoonotic disease which means, it is a disease that can be passed between humans and animals. It is the most prevalent zoonotic disease in the world today and your dog and you may be at risk for contacting this disease. While this disease is usually not fatal by it’s self it can lead to kidney failure and damage to both the liver and the eyes.
Leptrospiriosis is an old disease that was first discovered in the 1800 and vaccinations were developed that helped control the spread of this disease. However, new strains of this disease have recently been discovered and despite the development of two additional vaccines to combat this disease it is on the rise.
Once mainly confined to rural areas where an abundance of wildlife was present and carried the disease these new strains are now reaching urban areas as well, mainly because cities are growing and encroaching on wildlife habitats forcing domestic dogs and even people into closer proximity to the animals who naturally carry the bacteria that spreads this disease. The spirochete bacteria is released by an infected animal when it urinates and is then picked up from the soil or water through the mucus membranes or abraded skin of an animal or human. Not all animals who carry the bacteria show signs of illness but even a seemingly healthy animal can spread the bacteria putting even more animals and people at risk.

Signs of Leptrospiriosis in your pet may mimic a host of other diseases but, common symptoms of this disease are:

general depression

loss of appetite

vomiting

weakness

swollen red and painful eyes

excessive drinking and urination

Due to the fact that the symptoms of this disease is common to many other diseases as well, identifying the disease is not always quick and easy, which poses a problem as a dog suffering from this disease can begin experiencing kidney damage or failure in as little as three to five days.
There are things that you can do to protect yourself and your pet from contacting this disease. The most important thing is to contact your Veterinarian and find out how prevalent this disease is where you live and ask if he would recommend that your dog get vaccinated for one or more of the strains of Leptrospiriosis. While vaccination may not completely protect your dog from all the possible strains it will reduce his chances of contacting this disease by protecting him from the more common strains.
Also don’t assume simply because you live in an urban environment either you or your pet is safe from contacting this disease.

Always take extra care when working in damp soil and around places that have standing water and if camping in places where there is abundant wildlife even small squirrels and rodents, avoid places where there are puddles or damp ground as much as possible.
As in all cases prevention is the best protection and in the case of Leptrospiriosis prevention means using your common sense and getting your dog vaccinated to protect both him and yourself from this disease and it’s serious side effects.

Filed Under: Featured Dog Articles Tagged With: Abundance, Diseases, Domestic Dogs, Excessive Drinking, Kidney Damage, Kidney Failure, Liver, Loss Of Appetite, Mucus Membranes, Painful Eyes, Prob, Proximity, Rural Areas, Spirochete Bacteria, Strains, Urban Areas, Vaccinations, Vaccines, Wildlife Habitats, World Today, Zoonotic Disease

What is Leptospirosis?

August 21, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Leptospirosis (Lepto for short) is caused by a bacterium that attacts the liver and the kidney in both people and animals. The cat, luckily, is one species that seems to be resistant to the bacterial infection. The Leptospires are sprirochetes that live in water and have a spiral shape with a hook on each end. People and animals bcecome infected from swimming or drinking contaminated water or in direct contact with urine from an infected animal, such as raccoons, rodents or cattle. The Lepto spirochete has an uncanny ability to penetrate unbroken skin. Once the victim is infected, the bacteria attacks the kidney, the liver or the blood system. Signs begin to appear four to twelve days after exposure with signs varying depending on what organ is being attacked.

If the kidneys are attacked, renal failure can result. Early signs are fever, listlessness, excessive thirst and urination progressing to kidney shut down and the inability to make urine. Often times, the urine may appear brown or reddish.

If the liver is affected, the liver is damaged and the body becomes yellow or jaundiced. There will also be vomiting, fever and general illness.

The worst form is the hemorrhagic form. The dog will have a fever and develop small hemorrhages in the skin. The disease progresses to internal bleeding and bloody diarrhea and urine. This form is often fatal.

Diagnosis is often difficult because the early signs are similar to other diseases and antibody titers do not rise early in the disease.

Treatment consists of antibiotics and supportive therapy, such as intravenous fluids and a lengthy hospital stay. The fluids from the infected dog will shed the bacterium for several weeks, so care must be taken not to expose family members or hospital staff. Antibiotics are given for a few weeks after the illness to ensure killing all of the organisms. Some dogs may have lingering kidney damage resulting in chronic renal failure.

Prevention for dogs is accomplished with vaccinations. There are 4 major strains of Lepto that the vaccines will protect for. Every now and then, there are other strains that can pop up that are not covered by vaccinations. Since dogs are more likely to be exposed, protecting them with vaccinations will help reduce possible exposure to their human friends. The downside is the lepto vaccine can cause allergic reactions in dogs. The reactions ususually result in hives or facial swelling and can be relieved with anti-histamines. I see more reactions in the Dachshunds than any other breed for some reason. Sometimes the vaccine may also cause soreness for a few days. I feel that the benefits of vaccinating for this disease outweighs the risks of the vaccine, especially, since my clients live in a wooded neighborhood with possibility of exposure. If your dog lives in an apartment and never goes to the woods, swims in lakes or streams, or has exposure to garbage where rodents may get into (a common source of infection), you and your veterinarian may fore go vaccinating.

Filed Under: Pet Health Tagged With: Antibody Titers, Bacterial Infection, Bacterium, Blood System, Bloody Diarrhea, Chronic Renal Failure, Contaminated Water, Excessive Thirst, Failure Prevention, Fatal Diagnosis, Hemorrhages, Hospital Staff, Intravenous Fluids, Kidney Damage, Lengthy Hospital, Lepto, Spiral Shape, Spirochete, Supportive Therapy, Unbroken Skin

Kidney Disease in Pets

September 22, 2008 By admin Leave a Comment

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The kidneys normally filter the blood, cleansing it of waste products, toxins, and other substances. They maintain the correct balance of water and electrolytes, help regulate blood pressure, and keep the blood pH at the right level. Unfortunately, failure of the kidneys is one of the most common diseases of dogs. In this condition, the functional tissue of the kidneys is damaged, leaving them unable to filter the blood adequately. Toxins build up within the body, a condition known as azotemia.

Acute Renal Failure (ARF)
Acute Renal Failure means that the kidneys are damaged suddenly. This is usually caused by poisoning or a lack of blood flow. Poisons that can cause ARF are ethylene glycol (antifreeze); heavy metals such as zinc and lead; and large doses of certain antibiotics, acetaminophen, and chemotherapy drugs. Inadequate blood flow can be caused by shock, hemorrhage, low blood pressure, or dehydration. Infectious illnesses like Leptospirosis can also cause ARF.

Signs of acute renal failure are not very specific. Loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea or dehydration may be seen. Some pets with ARF urinate excessively while others stop urinating altogether. Information on the pets recent experiences is crucial in diagnosis of ARF. Once the veterinarian suspects kidney disease, blood and urine tests are used to determine the cause and the severity of the condition.

Animals with ARF are treated with IV fluids. Additional medications are used to correct electrolyte and pH imbalances and to reduce symptoms. Specific treatment for the original cause of the kidney damage is given if the cause is known. Healing can occur in tissues that are merely damaged, and viable parts of the kidneys will work harder to compensate. Unfortunately, the portions of the kidneys that have been destroyed will not recover.

Pet owners can do several things to reduce the chance of ARF. Keep antifreeze away from pets, and clean up spills immediately. Follow medication dosage instructions, and never give people medicine to pets without first consulting your veterinarian. Make sure that pets, especially older ones, always have access to fresh water.

Chronic Renal Failure (CRF)
Chronic Renal Failure is seen most often in pets over eight years of age. CRF occurs when the functional structures of the kidneys wear out. The damage happens gradually, so months or years may pass before symptoms appear. As much as 75% of the kidney tissue may be destroyed by that time.

Like ARF, symptoms of CRF can be vague. Early signs include loss of appetite, weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and sores in the mouth. As the illness progresses, animals drink more water, urinate more, and may have urinary accidents in the house. Eventually, toxin buildup and electrolyte imbalances can damage the nervous system and the eyes, causing seizures, coma and blindness. Many animals with CRF become anemic, because the kidneys are also responsible for stimulating production of new blood cells. The veterinarian will perform blood and urine tests to confirm a diagnosis of CRF and to assess the severity of symptoms.

CRF is a progressive, irreversible disease. Treatment is aimed at slowing the rate of damage and minimizing symptoms. Diets for pets with CRF usually contain restricted amounts of high quality protein and are low in minerals. Many pets require supplemental fluids given periodically under the skin or intravenously. Medications are given to manage nausea, correct electrolyte and pH imbalances, control high blood pressure, and stimulate blood cell production.

The newest treatments available for pets with CRF are hemodialysis and kidney transplantation. These procedures are very costly and are only available at certain veterinary teaching hospitals and specialty practices. Hemodialysis is used as a temporary, emergency method for cleansing the blood. Transplantation can extend a pets life for two or more years. Kidney transplants are complex surgeries with a high rate of success. Pets that receive transplants must remain on anti-rejection medicine for life. Regardless of the type of treatment, the goal is to maintain the pets quality of life. When this is no longer possible, euthanasia may be considered.

Chronic Renal Failure is not preventable. Although some have suggested that low protein diets might have a protective benefit for animals with healthy kidneys, scientific research does not support this belief

Filed Under: Featured Cat Articles, Featured Dog Articles, Pet Health Tagged With: Acute Renal Failure, Antifreeze, Arf, Blood Ph, Chemotherapy Drugs, Common Diseases, Correct Balance, Ethylene Glycol, favorite, Functional Tissue, Heavy Metals, Inadequate Blood Flow, Infectious Illnesses, Iv Fluids, Kidney Damage, Kidney Disease, Kidneys, Loss Of Appetite, Low Blood Pressure, Medication Dosage, Tvet, Urine Tests, Vomiting And Diarrhea

Kidney Disease in Cats

June 15, 2008 By admin Leave a Comment

Renal%20Failure Kidney Disease in Cats

The kidneys normally filter the blood, cleansing it of waste products, toxins, and other substances. They maintain the correct balance of water and electrolytes, help regulate blood pressure, and keep the blood pH at the right level. Unfortunately, failure of the kidneys is one of the most common diseases of cats. In this condition, the functional tissue of the kidneys is damaged, leaving them unable to filter the blood adequately. Toxins build up within the body, a condition known as azotemia.

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Chronic Renal Failure (CRF)
Chronic Renal Failure is seen most often in pets over eight years of age, particularly cats. CRF occurs when the functional structures of the kidneys wear out. The damage happens gradually, so months or years may pass before symptoms appear. As much as 75% of the kidney tissue may be destroyed by that time.

The newest treatments available for pets with CRF are hemodialysis and kidney transplantation. These procedures are very costly and are only available at certain veterinary teaching hospitals and specialty practices. Hemodialysis is used as a temporary, emergency method for cleansing the blood. Transplantation can extend a pets life for two or more years. Kidney transplants are complex surgeries with a success rate of about 80% in cats. Pets that receive transplants must remain on anti-rejection medicine for life. Regardless of the type of treatment, the goal is to maintain the pets quality of life. When this is no longer possible, euthanasia may be considered.

For the Nutritional Management of Cats with Kidney Disease

There are many causes for kidney disease resulting in an variety of uncomfortable and life threatening feline kd Kidney Disease in Cats symptoms for your cat. Kidney disease can be either sudden (acute) or occur gradually (chronic). Prescription Diet® k/d® Feline cat food has been uniquely formulated to help manage cats with kidney disease. Kidney disease can result from other illness or changes in your cat’s health, breed/hereditary tendencies and even nutritional factors. The signs of kidney disease remain difficult to detect until more than two-thirds of kidney function are lost. The nutritional formulation of Prescription Diet® k/d® Feline may also be useful for pets with a variety of conditions.