The urinary tract provides a means by which our daily metabolic wastes and toxins are filtered from our blood (by the kidneys), dissolved in as little water as possible (also by the kidneys), transported to a storage area (namely the urinary bladder), and removed from our bodies (by the process of urination. Disease can occur at any level of this system. Here are some relevant topics.
 | * Bladder Stones in Dogs and Cats |
| | There are many types of bladder stones, and each tends to form in a specific breed or species under specific conditions. Here are some common forms. |
| | A Chronic Renal (Kidney) Failure Center |
| | The kidneys are made of thousands of tiny filtration units called nephrons. Once a nephron is destroyed by a disease, it cannot regenerate; this means that we all have a finite number of nephrons to last us our whole lives. |
| | Anemia: Inadequate Red Blood Cells |
| | There are three important ways in which the kidney patient loses red blood cells. The first way is bone marrow suppression. The second way is bleeding. The third way is called hemodilution. Maintaining a stable red blood cell quantity keeps the patient energetic and spirited and is crucial to staying alive. |
| | Calcium Phosphorus Balance |
| | In renal insufficiency, phosphorus is not anyone’s friend. The failing kidney is no longer good at getting rid of excess phosphorus and phosphorus levels in the blood begin to rise. |
| | Canine Struvite Stones |
| | Some patients with bladder stones show no symptoms of any kind and the stones are discovered incidentally, but there are some symptoms that might promote a search for stones. |
| | Chronic Renal Failure Links |
| | See other sources of information on renal disease. |
| | Dietary Therapy of Renal Failure |
| | Diet can be used to help in many ways and we are lucky to have commercially available diets made specifically for renal patients, even for different stages of kidney failure. The goal of therapy is to prevent or at least postpone advanced uremia (poisoning by toxins that the kidneys could not adequately remove) and extend life expectancy. |
| | Ectopic Ureters |
| | If your puppy has an ectopic ureter or even two, the only chance at resolving the incontinence is through surgery. This is expensive and often unsuccessful so it is important to know what you're getting into.
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| | Fluid Therapy |
| | Fluid therapy concerns the administration of fluids to bring down (and keep down) the toxin levels of kidney failure. There are many ways to deliver fluids. |
| | Glomerulonephritis |
| | In glomerular disease, holes are punched out in the filtration system, allowing molecules that the body needs to keep entering the urine flow and be urinated away. Chronic inflammation leads to the holes in the filtration system. |
| | High Blood Pressure (Systemic Hypertension) in our Pets |
| | High blood pressure is an extremely important concern in human medicine. High stress lifestyle, smoking, and high salt diet all contribute to this potentially dangerous condition and virtually everyone in the U.S. knows how serious it can be. But what about our pets? They don’t smoke or worry about the mortgage and they don’t deposit cholesterol in their blood vessels. They do, however, get high blood pressure, especially in age and here is what you probably should know. |
| | Kidney Dialysis: Is it for your Pet? |
| | Most every animal hospital can provide diuresis: a therapy where extra fluid beyond what the patient can drink is provided, thus giving the kidney its medium so that it can remove toxic waste. This works well but there comes a time when even with plenty of fluids, the sick kidney simply cannot get the toxins out. For most patients this is the end of the line. In fact, diuresis may be another choice, though it is substantially more expensive than diuresis and dialysis centers for pets are still few and far between. |
| | Kidney Failure: Where to Begin |
| | Chronic kidney, or renal, failure is common among geriatric pets. As treatment frequently is long term, owners should understand their options. Topics discussed include definitions, medications used in treatment, diagnostics/helpful testing, and monitoring. |
| | Kidney Transplants for Cats and Dogs |
| | To the uninitiated, the impression may be that once your cat or dog receives a new kidney, life is renewed and all the kidney problems are solved. In fact, this is hardly the case. Immune-suppressive medications are needed to prevent rejection of the new organ, not to mention infection and other issues. A kidney transplant is a big deal regardless of the species of the recipient.
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| | Leptospirosis |
| | This is infection can be caught by humans as well as by canines. Learn about the leptospira organism, and how we test, treat and vaccinate against the disease (in dogs, that is). |
| | Leptospirosis and Your Pet: A CDC Fact Sheet |
| | A fact sheet from the CDC answers questions about the risk of people getting leptospirosis from their pets. |
| | Oxalate Bladder Stones (Canine) |
| | Although a urinalysis can provide a clue, the only way to know for sure that a dog’s bladder stone is an oxalate stone is to retrieve a stone and have a laboratory analyze it. |
| | Pyelonephritis |
| | Pyelonephritis is an inflammation of the kidney that frequently shows no symptoms and thus it is not usually recognized until the signs become severe. It may not be diagnosed until histopathology is done on the kidney after the pet's death. |
| | Straining to Eliminate |
| | Straining is a frequent and sometimes exaggerated effort to have a bowel movement or to urinate. |
| | Subcutaneous Fluids |
| | Lots of animals require extra fluids, either temporarily or indefinitely, to insure that they receive adequate hydration. The technique is simple, but sometimes daunting to the beginner. Here is a pictured guide to assist with the learning experience of giving subcutaneous fluids to your pet at home. |
| | Transitional Cell Carcinoma |
| | The transitional cell carcinoma is a particularly unpleasant tumor of the urinary bladder that usually grows in the lower neck of the bladder, causing a partial or complete obstruction to urination. Bloody urine and straining to urinate are typically the signs noted by the owner. |
| | Uric Acid Stones//Urate Urolithiasis |
| | Dalmatians are different. Being unable to convert uric acid to allantoin is the main predisposing factor to uric acid stone formation and accounts for why 80% of uric acid bladder stones come from Dalmatians. |
| | Urinary Incontinence |
| | When a house pet develops urinary incontinence, many owners fear the worst. Urinary incontinence is usually one of easiest problems to solve so it is crucial that veterinary assistance be sought before an owner’s patience is completely worn out. |
| | Urinary Tract Infection |
| | The urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common ailments in small animal practices. |