What Are The Clinical Signs Of Acute Renal Failure
The clinical signs of ARF may include sudden anorexia , listlessness, vomiting , diarrhea that also may contain blood, a strange breath odor, and/or seizures. Some cats will urinate more frequently while others may not be producing any urine at all. There may be a recent history of ingestion of a toxin or of recent trauma, surgery, or illness. Many cats are in shock by the time they reach the veterinary hospital. The veterinarian will frequently find enlarged and painful kidneys during the physical examination.
Kidney Failure Definition And Facts
- Kidneys are the organs that filter waste products from the blood. They are also involved in regulating blood pressure, electrolyte balance, and red blood cell production in the body.
- Symptoms of kidney failure are due to the build-up of waste products and excess fluid in the body that may cause weakness, shortness of breath, lethargy, swelling, and confusion. Inability to remove potassium from the bloodstream may lead to abnormal heart rhythms and sudden death. Initially kidney failure may cause no symptoms.
- There are numerous causes of kidney failure, and treatment of the underlying disease may be the first step in correcting the kidney abnormality.
- Some causes of kidney failure are treatable and the kidney function may return to normal. Unfortunately, kidney failure may be progressive in other situations and may be irreversible.
- The diagnosis of kidney failure usually is made by blood tests measuring BUN, creatinine, and glomerular filtration rate .
- Treatment of the underlying cause of kidney failure may return kidney function to normal. Lifelong efforts to control blood pressure and diabetes may be the best way to prevent chronic kidney disease and its progression to kidney failure. As we age, kidney function gradually decreases over time.
- If the kidneys fail completely, the only treatment options available may be dialysis or transplant.
What Is The Prognosis And Life Expectancy For Kidney Failure Can It Be Prevented
The outlook for kidney failure depends upon the underlying condition that caused it. Kidney function may return to normal, especially if it is due to an acute obstruction and that obstruction is relieved. Other causes of decreased kidney function leading to kidney failure are due to underlying disease and occur slowly over time.
Prevention is the best chance to maintain kidney function, and controlling high blood pressure and diabetes over a lifetime can decrease the potential for progressive kidney damage. Chronic kidney failure may be managed to help monitor electrolyte and waste product levels in the bloodstream. Major abnormalities can be life-threatening, and treatment options may be limited to dialysis or transplant.
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Risk Factors For A Kidney Infection
There are a few things that can up your risk factor of contracting a kidney infection, according to the Mayo Clinic, and some you have zero control over:
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Having avagina. The urethra, that small tube that carries urine out of your body, is shorter in people with vaginas than it is in people with penises. That makes it easier for bacteria to travel from outside your body into the bladder. Your urethra is also close to your vagina and anus, which opens you up to more chances that bacteria from one of those areas will get into your urinary tract.
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Having something blocking your urinary tract. That can be anything that slows down the flow of urine or makes it hard for you to fully empty your bladder when you pee, like a kidney stone.
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Having a weak immune system. Having an underlying medical condition like diabetes or HIV, or using medications that tamp down on your immune system, can increase your risk.
Other potential risk factors include having damage to the nerves around your bladder, using a urinary catheter for the first time, and having a condition like vesicoureteral reflux, which causes urine to flow the wrong way, the Mayo Clinic says.
What Are Dialysis And Hemodialysis
Dialysis cleanses the body of waste products in the body by use of filter systems. There are two types of dialysis, 1) hemodialysis and 2) peritoneal dialysis.
Hemodialysis uses a machine filter called a dialyzer or artificial kidney to remove excess water and salt, to balance the other electrolytes in the body, and to remove waste products of metabolism. Blood is removed from the body and flows through tubing into the machine, where it passes next to a filter membrane. A specialized chemical solution flows on the other side of the membrane. The dialysate is formulated to draw impurities from the blood through the filter membrane. Blood and dialysate never touch in the artificial kidney machine.
For this type of dialysis, access to the blood vessels needs to be surgically created so that large amounts of blood can flow into the machine and back to the body. Surgeons can build a fistula, a connection between a large artery and vein in the body, usually in the arm, that allows a large amount of blood to flow into the vein. This makes the vein swell or dilate, and its walls become thicker so that it can tolerate repeated needle sticks to attach tubing from the body to the machine. Since it takes many weeks or months for a fistula to mature enough to be used, significant planning is required if hemodialysis is to be considered as an option.
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What Cases Warrant Referral When Should A Case Be Referred
For any case that is discovered to be newly azotaemic, the owners should be made aware that once bloodwork abnormalities are detected, the pet is only functioning on 25% of both their kidneys. They should also be made aware that this could either be an acute kidney injury or chronic kidney disease. Without a work up and following how the patient does over time, it is difficult to tell.
So for any newly azotaemic patients with dedicated owners who want to give their pet the best chance in case their pet does have an AKI, referral to an internal medicine specialist as soon as possible is appropriate. Of course, we also welcome CKD referrals, where we can meet the owners and set up a plan for management. As we discussed earlier, many cases can seem like CKD, but actually are patients undergoing constant AKIS so any newly azotaemic patient being referred is never wrong!
Foods To Keep Your Kidney Healthy
The Kidney requires food to be healthy. These foods includes white egg, Cranberries, pineapples, turnips, radishes, macadamia nuts, arugula, onions, blueberries, cauliflowers, sea bass, red grapes, garlic, buckwheat, cabbage, skinless chicken and more.
The human body relies on several internal organs to survive and reproduce. Each organ has an associated function with the other to maintain life. The brain, the lungs, the liver, the bladder, the kidneys, the heart, the stomach and the intestines perform their respective functions in the body.
Kidneys perform their respective functions on a daily basis to maintain a chemical balance in the body. The human body needs to maintain a chemical balance for the prevention of chronic illness and other abnormalities that may affect other organs.
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Red Blood Cell Stimulation
Like every organ kidneys require proper oxygenation to keep up their activity. In case of oxygen, deficiency kidneys release erythropoietin which stimulates the bone marrow and increases the production of red blood cells.
Kidney health is extremely crucial for the human body. Healthy nutrient-dense foods are necessary to maintain proper kidney function.
Treatment Of Kidney Disease
Most often kidney diseases are caused due to another underlying issue such as diabetes, cholesterol or high blood pressure levels. Kidney diseases are easy to cure when diagnosed earlier and the survival rate is high. Doctors provide treatments depending on the severity of the disease. This means not all kidney disease patients will undergo the same treatment. Some of the effective treatment methods for kidney problems are –
Antibiotics – Depending on the results of your blood and urine test your doctor will prescribe antibiotics to fight against bacteria. This is called antibiotic therapy.
Nephrostomy -It is a procedure followed to drain out the urine blocked in the kidneys and further relevant treatment is provided to clear the blockage. This procedure is done by passing a catheter through the skin to reach the kidneys.
Lithotripsy – This procedure is done by a machine to project ultrasound shock waves that pass through the body to break large kidney stones into small pieces. These small pieces can easily pass through urine later.
Nephrectomy – This is a surgery performed in patients suffering from kidney cancer and other severe kidney problems. The damaged kidney is removed completely during this surgery.
Kidney transplant – It is a procedure done when both kidneys fail. Transplantation of a kidney can bring back life to normal. This is done by obtaining a healthy kidney from a living or a deceased organ donor.
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What Health Problems Can People With Kidney Disease Develop
Kidney disease can lead to other health problems. Your health care team will work with you to help you avoid or manage:
High blood pressure. High blood pressure can be both a cause and a result of kidney disease. High blood pressure damages your kidneys, and damaged kidneys dont work as well to help control your blood pressure. With kidney failure, your kidneys cant get rid of extra water. Taking in too much water can cause swelling, raise your blood pressure, and make your heart work harder.
Blood pressure-lowering medicines, limiting sodium and fluids in your diet, staying physically active, managing stress, and quitting smoking can help you control your blood pressure.
Heart disease. Kidney disease and heart disease share two of the same main causes: diabetes and high blood pressure. People with kidney disease are at high risk for heart disease, and people with heart disease are at high risk for kidney disease.
The steps that you take to manage your kidney disease, blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose will also help you prevent heart attacks or strokes.
Anemia. When kidneys are damaged, they dont make enough erythropoietin , a hormone that helps make red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen from your lungs to other parts of your body. When you have anemia, some organssuch as your brain and heartmay get less oxygen than they need and may not function as well as they should. Anemia can make you feel weak and lack energy.
How To Heal A Urinary Tract Infection: Can Natural Remedies Help
This article was co-authored by Zora Degrandpre, ND. Dr. Degrandpre is a Licensed Naturopathic Physician in Vancouver, Washington. She is also a grant reviewer for the National Institutes of Health and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. She received her ND from the National College of Natural Medicine in 2007.There are 17 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 231,455 times.
Urinary tract infections are usually harmless, but theyre annoying and painful. This could really make you miserable for a few days until the infection clears up. While a round of antibiotics knocks out most UTIs, you might want to choose a more natural treatment approach. Luckily, there are some natural remedies that could help clear out the infection. However, you should still visit your doctor before treating the infection yourself. UTIs could get more serious without treatment, so have your doctor examine you first. Then you can try these treatments from home to see if they help.
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What Is The Treatment For Acute Renal Failure
Treatment is focused on removing the circulating toxins as quickly as possible and restoring electrolyte balance. This is usually accomplished by administering intravenous fluids for twenty-four to ninety-six hours . Peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis are rarely performed, but may be available in your area. If toxin exposure or a drug reaction is suspected, it is recommended that the stomach be emptied of its contents immediately, followed by the administration of activated charcoal to prevent further absorption of toxins.
Nutritional support may be required in cats with persistent or uncontrollable vomiting. Your veterinarian will recommend an aggressive treatment plan to give your cat the best chance of recovering from ARF.
Can Dogs Saliva Heal Their Own Wounds
Wound licking is a common practice among animals, as well as humans.
You may even have heard that dog saliva has healing properties.
The idea that dogs need to lick their wounds in order for them to heal is so pervasive that many people, including ancient societies, believe dog saliva can also heal human wounds.
Apply Neosporin to the area with each bandage change.
If the veterinarian recommends you leave the tail uncovered, apply the ointment two to four times a day since dogs and cats tend to lick it off.
Some pets may need a prescription tranquilizer to calm tail movement until it can heal.
Antibiotics may also be needed.
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Ckd In Elderly People
About 1 in 10 people have some degree of CKD. It can develop at any age and various conditions can lead to CKD. It however becomes more common with increasing age. After the age of 40, kidney filtration begins to fall by approximately 1% per year. On top of the natural aging of the kidneys, many conditions which damage the kidneys are more common in older people including diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.
It is estimated that about one in five men and one in four women between the ages of 65 and 74, and half of people aged 75 or more have CKD. In short, the older you get the more likely you are to have some degree of kidney disease. This is important because CKD increases the risk of heart attack and stroke, and in some cases can progress to kidney failure requiring dialysis or transplantation. Regardless of your age, simple treatments can slow the progression of kidney disease, prevent complications and improve quality of life.
Foods That Elevate Kidney Health
Diet has a close relation to kidney health. Deficiency of vital nutrients can be the cause of kidney diseases and kidney failure. People in the advanced stages of kidney disease need to adopt a kidney-friendly diet to prevent kidney failure. Diet requirements vary depending on the stage of kidney disease, however, eating foods low in potassium, sodium, and phosphorus can altogether prevent any abnormality in the kidney function.
A few delicious options for a kidney-friendly diet are
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Here Are The Ways Kidney Gets Damaged
For remedies see the next section.
1. Too much dehydration
Dehydration causes a shutdown of the body, organ by organ. It also causes increased blood viscosity, which inhibits the elimination of wastes as well as the ability of blood to freely circulate around your body and deliver its nutrition to your cells. At least 75% of Americans are dehydrated enough that it affects the health of their kidneys as well as their overall health.
2. Too many painkillers
3. Too many heartburn drugs
4. Too much anti-inflammatory drugs
5. Illegal drugs: cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamine
6. Steroids
7. Too much processed food
8. High levels of phosphorus in food
9. Too much meat or too acidic of a diet
10. Too much sugar
11. Too much diet soda
12. Too much alcohol
13. Too little sleep
14. Too much sickness . The excess antibodies can cause the kidneys to become damaged.
15. Excess use of antibiotics
16. Lack of blood supply to kidney
17. Over-kill on working out
18. Too much weight gain
Drink Plenty Of Fluids
Theres no magic behind the cliché advice to drink eight glasses of water a day, but its a good goal precisely because it encourages you to stay hydrated. Regular, consistent water intake is healthy for your kidneys.
Water helps clear sodium and toxins from your kidneys. It also lowers your risk of chronic kidney disease.
Aim for at least 1.5 to 2 liters in a day. Exactly how much water you need depends largely on your health and lifestyle. Factors like climate, exercise, gender, overall health, and whether or not youre pregnant or breastfeeding are important to consider when planning your daily water intake.
People who have previously had kidney stones should drink a bit more water to help prevent stone deposits in the future.
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How To Prevent A Kidney Infection
Preventing a kidney infection is really all about preventing urinary tract infections and getting prompt treatment if you ever get one. Sorry, but dont rely on cranberry juice or supplements for thisthe science is far too mixed to consider either of these a definitive UTI-prevention method. Instead, whenever you feel a bladder infection coming on, make it a habit to drink enough water every day to stay hydrated. That will ensure youre peeing often enough to help flush out bacteria that could lead to an infection. The NIDDK recommends peeing as often as you get the urge, but definitely at least every three to four hours, since urine hanging out in your bladder for too long may help bacteria to grow, the organization says.
Kaufman also stresses the importance of urinating like a fire hose after sex. It might even be helpful to skip peeing before sex as long as that doesnt make you uncomfortable, he says. This allows you to build up a forceful stream that may better help remove any bacteria that might have been pushed up there during sex.
Also, we referenced this above, but its important to reiterate: After you pee , you should be sure to wipe from front to back, as wiping back to front can spread harmful bacteria from your rectum to your urethra, where it can cause an infection.