Azodyl: Treatment for Dogs and Cats Chronic Kidney Disease

Kidneys in dogs and cats (and other animals) remove toxins from the blood and maintain water and salt balances. Blood is constantly filtered through the kidney to remove the toxic waste products, and eventually drained out through the urine. Also, kidney functions return water to the body, preventing dehydration.

In dogs and cats, one of the most common health concerns is Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) or renal failure, and a slow progressive disease. Renal failure is most commonly seen in middle to old aged cats. Statistically, around one in five cats over fifteen years of age has renal failure. Chronic Kidney Disease is seen about three times more frequently in cats than diagnosed in dogs. In North America, estimated 2.4% of dogs over ten years of age and eight percent of cats over ten years of age have CKD. Kidney disease is the leading cause of death in dogs and cats. Renal failure in dogs and cats is the result of a decrease in the rate of filtration of blood through the kidneys called glomerular filtration rate (GFR): The kidneys are unable to maintain a balance of proper amounts of material in the blood or balance of electrolytes (potassium, sodium, calcium phosphates, etc.) in the body, regulating the amount of acid in the blood and controlling blood pressure. Also, inability to produce a hormone called erythropoietin that stimulates red blood cell production by the bone marrow. Consequently, leads to a condition called azotemia, which is an elevated (abnormal) concentration of urea (BUN - Blood urea nitrogen measures to assess kidney function) or carbamide, creatine (Energy storage compound in muscle. Eliminating creatine produced in the kidney.), and other non -- protein nitrogenous substances in the blood.

Uremia is condition caused by kidney failure: Increased concentration of urine by products in the blood combined with the multiple systemic changes that result from advanced stages of kidney disease.