Kidney & Urinary Disease

The Urinary System includes your pet’s kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. The kidneys are like filters that clean the blood and balance fluids. If they aren’t working right, waste builds up and causes problems throughout the body.

Common conditions include:

  • Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) - the kidneys slowly lose function over time, common in senior cats and dogs

  • Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) - a potentially life-threatening sudden drop in a pet’s kidney function

  • Recurrent or Complicated Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) - bacterial infection in the bladder or urethra

  • Bladder Stones (Urolithiasis) - a condition where hard mineral stones form in the bladder, causing pain and complicating or sometimes blocking urination

  • Protein Losing Nephropathy (PLN) - a condition where protein leaks into the urine due to inflammation or damage to the kidneys

We diagnose these conditions in a variety of ways, often including blood and urine tests, X-rays, and blood pressure readings.

Treatment generally includes medication, diet changes, and fluid therapy (either outpatient or hospitalization). Surgery is often needed for bladder stones.