Homeopathic & Natural Treatment of Renal Failure in Dogs & Cats
The kidneys’ main functions are to remove waste products from the blood stream and maintain the water content and pressure. Chronic kidney or renal disease is a condition of irreversible, long term deterioration in the kidney function. The main clue therefore that dogs or cats have kidney disease is in changes to their urination (more or less than usual) and drinking (more than usual). As the kidneys get worse at filtering out waste products dogs and cats are likely to become sick and so exhibit vomiting, loss of appetite, lethargy and other symptoms.
THE ROLE OF THE KIDNEYS
All mammals have a pair of kidneys located in the abdomen, one either side of the spine and just tucked up under the ribs. Their main functions are to:
- Eliminate waste products from the body
- Help maintain fluid balance
- Assist in regulation of blood pressure
- Produce erythropoietin, a hormone involved in the production of red blood cells
- Regulation of the calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood
Blood, carrying waste products, enters the kidneys through the renal arteries, which branch into smaller and smaller vessels within the kidney. These end as complex networks of capillaries, known as glomeruli, through which the blood is filtered.
The filtered material is collected and, as it passes along to the next stage, water and other vital substances are absorbed back into the bloodstream. This process of reabsorption is vital to good health. Under normal circumstances, some substances are completely reabsorbed, such as glucose, while others, such as urea (a waste product), are completely eliminated. Of all the fluid filtered out, some 99% is reabsorbed and as little as 1% ends up as urine which is passed into the bladder for storage.
The kidneys have a large functional reserve and can lose over 75% of their capacity before any symptoms of kidney disease can be seen. Despite this fact, kidney problems are fairly common in both dogs and cats.
Types of Kidney Failure
There are two types of renal (kidney) failure: acute and chronic.
- Acute Renal Failure (ARF)
In acute renal failure, the symptoms appear suddenly and can be quite severe: vomiting, lethargy and loss of appetite are those most commonly seen. There may be lack of urine production, especially in cases of urinary obstruction. ARF is a potentially fatal condition and must be treated immediately in order to save your pet’s life.
ARF is often caused by waste products and toxins that build up in the body, known as nephrotoxins. Common toxins and poisons that are well known to cause kidney failure include certain antibiotics, antifreeze, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), raisins and grapes, and (in cats only) the Easter lily plant. Anything that decreases blood flow through the kidney can cause renal failure.
If your pet has ARF, the best approach is to consult with a veterinary homeopath. There are a number of remedies that are effective, depending on the cause and the symptoms. Animals with ARF should also receive intravenous fluids under the care of a veterinarian.
The good news is that ARF can be treated successfully if caught early enough. Unfortunately, in some cases it becomes chronic and is more difficult to treat.
- Chronic Renal Failure (CRF)
Chronic renal failure is the gradual loss of function of the kidneys, most frequently in older pets. A number of factors can contribute to the development of CRF. Vaccination is a prime suspect, especially in cats. Diet also seems to play a role in the development of the disease. Other factors include infection, high blood pressure, kidney trauma and kidney stones. Timely diagnosis with ongoing veterinary care and a good diet will help to maintain the pet’s quality of life.
WHY DOES KIDNEY DISEASE HAPPEN IN DOGS?
A combination of factors mentioned below usually plays a role. However, the final cause often remains unidentified.
- A poor-quality diet, especially dried and processed food that absorbs water from the body to digest food, thereby leaving the body dehydrated
- Muscle injury or spinal energy flow decrease in the region of the third lumbar vertebra
- Genetic predisposition
- Stress
- Fear as an emotion is connected with kidney dysfunction
- Toxins – for example from pet food with ingredients sourced from China, tainted with melamine and other toxins
THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF KIDNEY FAILURE
There are basically two common forms of kidney failure:
- Acute kidney failure
This is sudden in onset and caused by damage to the kidneys by infection, dehydration, poisoning or haemorrhage.
Symptoms include:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Lethargy
- Dehydration
- Anorexia (not eating)
- Abdominal pain
- Weight loss
The build-up of waste products, especially urea, leads to a situation known as uraemia, causing the breath to smell unpleasant. Treatment needs to be carried out promptly to limit damage.
- Chronic kidney failure
This is more common, with a progressive deterioration of kidney function.
Symptoms include:
- Increased thirst
- Increased urination
- Periodic vomiting
- Picky appetite
- Dehydration
- Poor coat and general health
- Ulceration of the mouth and gums
- Bad breath
- Anaemia
- Weakening of the bones, due to imbalances in the calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood
Early Signs
The first symptoms of CRF are an increase in drinking and urination. Your dog may begin to sit near the water bowl and ask to go outdoors more often. At this stage you may also observe changes in the coat or dry and flaky skin, as well as very bad breath. These changes can be gradual and are easy to miss, so it’s a good idea to perform laboratory tests annually or semi-annually on older pets. Testing should include blood tests and a urinalysis; kidney disease usually shows up first in the urinalysis.
An increase in protein in the urine often appears prior to increased drinking and urination. Early detection of this protein allows your holistic veterinarian to help slow the progression of the disease.
Later Symptoms
As the disease progresses, the pet loses the ability to concentrate the urine and this results in an increase in urine production. At this stage of kidney disease, the pet has lost approximately two-thirds of the nephrons in the kidneys. (Remember, nephrons are the functional units that remove waste and extra fluids from the blood.) Usually, the only noticeable changes in your pet at this time are the increased drinking and urination.
As the disease progresses to a point where three quarters of the nephrons are not functioning, bloodwork starts to reveal changes – usually an increase in Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine. At this stage your pet may have anorexia, nausea and vomiting, and foul smelling breath. Their coat may appear dull and they may have some weight loss and lethargy, even sunken eyes.
Unfortunately, this is often the stage at which many pets are first taken to the veterinarian. By then they are usually depressed and dehydrated. They need to be hospitalized and receive IV fluids until their BUN and creatinine come down to an acceptable level. This is stressful for the pets and expensive for their owners – another reason early detection and prevention are so important.
THE DIAGNOSIS OF KIDNEY FAILURE
It is important that you consult your vet if you suspect that your animal has kidney problems. The history and clinical signs may often be sufficient to arrive at a diagnosis, but your veterinary surgeon may decide to take blood samples to provide a more accurate picture of your pet’s condition. This will almost certainly involve measuring the levels of blood urea and creatinine. Based on the results, your vet will be able to determine the best course of treatment and to give you a prognosis.
TREATING KIDNEY DISEASE
Diet
The correct diet is of vital importance in the long-term management of kidney problems. The ideal diet should contain:
- Reduced levels of protein. It is a good idea to avoid excess protein, which has to be excreted by the kidneys. Chicken and egg are ideal protein sources and are often used as the basis of specialised kidney diets
- Reduced levels of sodium (salt). Excess sodium can lead to an increase in blood pressure or retention of fluid within the body
- Reduced levels of phosphorus
If you are unsure what to feed, your own vet is the best source of advice and may be able to provide you with specific prescription foods to help.
CAN YOU REVERSE KIDNEY DISEASE IN DOGS?
Many dogs can live good and full lives for years with kidney disease. While the damaged kidney tissue cannot be regenerated, I believe we can stop or at least slow down the destructive process and preserve the remaining kidney cells by using non-toxic, natural healing methods.
Homeopathy is used for kidney failures in the ways mentioned below.
- Apis MellificaThis medicine is recommended by homeopathy doctors if you suffer from mild kidney dysfunctions. There are great belief and trust in homeopathy treatment for kidney failure. This particular medicine may help increase your urination and reduce your fatigue. It also helps to improve your urine quality. With this medicine, the albumin in your blood increases and you feel much relaxed and can sleep better.
- Arsenicum Album
Arsenicum Album is a preferred medicine for treating chronic kidney failure. It is used to treat patients in the later stages of kidney failure when they experience excessive thirst, pale and waxy skin, diarrhoea, pale and waxy skin. Also, when the colour of the urine is darker yellow and is full of albumin, this homeopathic medicine is used. It also helps to create a line of mucus that makes breathing easier for chronic patients.
- Aurum Muriaticum
This particular homeopathic medicine is used to treat severe diseases like Bright’s disease that is caused by syphilis. It very much helps in reducing the agitation in the digestive tract and helps in proper functioning of the nervous system as well. One of the most common outcome of kidney failure is vertigo. But, if you start on Aurum Muriaticum medication, you will be able to keep your vertigo in control.
- Cantharis
There is another condition of the kidneys called nephritis. It is the inflammation of kidneys and could affect your system if not kept in control. A person suffering from nephritis suffers from extreme pain in the pelvic region. Nephritis also makes it painful to pass urine and is quite a severe disease. When a person is suffering from nephritis, their legs, hands, feet and face swell and it could get very serious. When cantharis is used as a homeopathic treatment, it gives relief from pain and makes a living better for the person. Nephritis can also lead to blood in the urine, and one needs to take special care and connect with homeopathy doctors for better effect and relief.
Natural Remedies for Kidney Failure Procedure in Dogs
Remedies for treating canine kidney failure are more effective for resolving the symptoms of kidney failure rather than the condition itself. All natural remedies should be administered according to veterinary instruction.
Vitamin & Mineral Supplementation
- Fish oil
- B vitamins
- Iron
- Pet-friendly multivitamins
Homeopathic Remedies
- Fresh parsley: Promotes normal urination
- Kali chloricum: Useful for treating chronic kidney disorders
- Arsenicum album: Relieves vomiting and gastrointestinal upset associated with kidney failure and kidney disease
- Silicea: Fortifies kidney tissue and slows kidney degeneration
Miscellaneous Remedies
- Low-protein diet
- Mastica: Resolves gastrointestinal upset.
- Aluminum hydroxide: Removes phosphorus buildup in the kidneys
- Glandular therapy: Involves feeding your dog dietary beef kidney to restore kidney function and promote healing of damaged kidney tissue. To find out more about glandular therapy, ask your veterinarian.
Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine for Renal Failure
Chronic renal failure (CRF) is the most common renal disease in both dogs and cats. A protein-restricted diet has been emphasized in the treatment of CRF for many years. Other recommended diets are modified from typical maintenance diets in several ways, including reducing quantities of phosphorus and sodium, and increasing caloric density, potassium, dietary fiber, B-vitamin content, and magnesium. In addition, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) offers promise in minimizing renal disease progression. Chinese herbal medicine has been used in animals for thousands of years in China. Clinical anecdotal evidence indicates that Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM), including acupuncture and herbal medicine, can benefit patients with renal failure. The acupuncture and herbal treatment of CRF will be discussed in this presentation, along with modifications for different TCVM pattern diagnoses.
TCVM Pattern Diagnosis and Treatment of Renal Failure
- Kidney Qi/Yang Deficiency and/or with Spleen Qi Deficiency
Clinical signs: dysuria, stranguria, weakness in back, urinary incontinence, warm-seeking behavior or cold extremities, poor dentition, hearing loss, general debility/weakness, edema in limbs or ventral abdomen, pale and wet tongue, deep and weak pulse (especially on the right side).
Acupuncture treatment: BL-23, KID-3, KID-7, KID-10, CV-4, CV-6, BL-22 and BL-39. For Yang deficiency (cold ears/back/extremities, pale/purple tongue and deep/weak pulse), add Bai-hui and GV-3/4 (Moxibustion); for anorexia, add Shen-gen and BL-20/21.
Herbal medicine: Jin Gui Shen Qi, 1 g per 10 kg body weight twice daily orally; for anorexia, use Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi (Eight Gentlemen), 1 g per 10 kg body weight twice daily orally.
- Kidney Yin Deficiency
Clinical signs: dysuria, stranguria, and weakness of back, thin and shriveled (dehydrated) appearance, dry throat, warm palmar surfaces (hot five hearts), cool-seeking, panting, night sweating, generalized erythema, hearing loss or infertility problems, red and dry tongue, deep, thready, weak pulse (especially on left).
Acupuncture treatment: KID-3, BL-23, SP-6, KID-7, KID-10, CV-4, CV-6, BL-22 and BL-39.
Herbal medicine: Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (Rehmannia 6).
- Spleen/Kidney Qi + Kidney Yin Deficiency
Clinical signs: anorexia, diarrhea, body weight loss, fatigue, cool-seeking, hot ears/body, panting a lot worse at night, pale/wet or red/dry tongue, weak pulse.
Acupuncture treatment: GV-3, GV-4, Bai-hui, Shen-shu, Shen-peng, Shen-jiao, BL-26, KID-7, KID-10, CV-4, CV-6, BL-22/39.
Herbal medicine: a combination of Jin Gui Shen Qi and Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (Rehmannia 6), 0.5 g per 10 kg body weight twice daily orally. For anorexia, add Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi (Eight Gentlemen), 1 g per 10 kg body weight twice daily orally for 1 month.
- Kidney Jing Deficiency
Clinical signs: premature aging, poor dentition, brittle bones, poor neonatal growth and development, inadequate skeletal development, developmental bone diseases, congenital defects, a preponderance of signs towards either Kidney Yin or Kidney Yang Deficiency, pale or red tongue, weak pulse.
Acupuncture treatment: KID-3, BL-23, BL-26, SP-3, ST-36, BL-21, BL-20, CV-4, CV-6, BL-22 and BL-39.
Herbal medicine: Yin Yang Huo San (Epimedium powder).
Compiled & Shared by- Team, LITD (Livestock Institute of Training & Development)
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Reference-On Request.
