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Dialysis for Dogs

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Another Treatment Option

[/trx_title][trx_title type=”4″ align=”center” color=”#434544″ weight=”700″ bottom=”mini”]by Dr. Eileen Savier CVA, CVCH[/trx_title][vc_column_text]

There are usually two reasons I recommend dialysis for dogs – if they ingested something that severely affects the kidneys or if I have a dog with stable kidney disease that suffers an acute change and the kidney values are suffering.

For toxicity cases, the hope is to prevent any further damage to the kidneys and allow them to heal as much as possible. For an acute on chronic kidney failure case, the goal is to get back to the baseline for that dog so we can continue to manage the patient at home with supportive care.

There are other reasons to consider dialysis for dogs and cats but the cost of the treatment means it is often overlooked as a treatment option.

What is dialysis?

Dialysis is a process that can be thought of as removing toxins from the blood. This is done using a membrane called a dialyzer membrane and a fluid. The blood is separated from the fluid by the dialyzer membrane. The fluid is formulated so that the toxins in the blood will be attracted across the dialyzer membrane and into the fluid.

The patient is hooked up to the dialysis machine by an intravenous catheter and a pump forces the patient’s blood into the machine for cleansing. The detoxified blood is returned to the patient.

The treatments last 3-5 hours.

Where is dialysis done?

Dialysis is typically performed by veterinary specialists that have spent additional time studying and work primarily at university hospitals. Once the initial treatment is performed a follow up plan is made depending on how the pet is doing. For chronic kidney failure patients, this can sometimes mean that a pet needs to return to the hospital 2-3 times a week for the remainder of its life.

What are potential side effects?

• Malnutrition and Nausea- It is particularly important for the dialysis patient to get nutrients in one way or another. Feeding tubes or IV feeding may be necessary.
• Metabolic Bone Disease
• Carnitine Deficiency
• Taurine Deficiency
• Problems with the Dialysis Catheter- The dialysis catheter may create a blood clot at the catheter tip. Infection from the Dialysis Catheter is bad news. The resulting blood infection can be lethal and, at best, requires months of antibiotic therapy.

What does dialysis in pups cost?

Patients requiring dialysis: Our standard dialysis estimate is $5500-$7500 for the first 2-3 treatments and $700-$800 per treatment thereafter. Detailed estimates are typically provided once a patient is assessed.

 [/vc_column_text][/trx_section][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1533135180690{margin-top: 40px !important;}”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1533134942241{background-color: #d9ae4c !important;}”][trx_title type=”2″ align=”left” color=”#f6f2e4″ left=”20″ right=”20″]About Dr. Eileen Savier[/trx_title][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1533135315368{padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 30px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;}”]Barks & Recreation is proud to feature Dr. Eileen Savier CVA, CVCH as our Veterinary Blogger in our “From the Vet” Series. Currently part of the team of doctors at Keystone Veterinary Clinic, Dr. Savier is a 2012 Graduate of the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, She completed her clinical experience at The Ohio State University and after veterinary school she pursued further education and certification in Veterinary Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, and Fear Free veterinary visits. Dr. Savier has a special interest in integrative medicine, animal behavior, and internal medicine and is committed to improving animal health care by integrating Eastern and Western philosophies. She enjoys working with fearful & aggressive dogs and cats and she has had additional training in low stress handling techniques and encourages positive reinforcement during exams and procedures. Her clinical interests include pain management, animal behavior, geriatric patient care, and internal medicine. Dr. Savier is a member of the following associations:

• American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
• International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management (IVAPM)
• American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP)
• American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB)
• American Association of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (AATCVM)
• Ohio Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA)

Dr. Savier shares her home with two (soon to be three) dogs, two cats, and a toddler. She lovingly refers to her two dogs as Coconut Retrievers as they were rescue dogs she brought home from the island of St. Kitts. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, going to the beach, and planning her next Disney vacation.

Join us every month for Dr. Savier’s “From the Vet” series to get more information related to the health and welfare of your furry family members![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]