Kidney inflammation in dogs and cats

Most commonly, pyelonephritis is an inflammation of the kidney pelvis, calyx and functional tissue with infection. Due to the difficulty of accurate diagnosis, kidney inflammation may be referred to as inflammation in the pelvis (pyelitis), functional tissue (nephritis), or tubules (glomerulonephitis).

Causes of kidney disease in animals

The immediate causative agents of infection are coccal flora, Escherichia coli, chlamydia. Provoke their active reproduction in renal tissues can:

Infectious diseases of the lower urinary tract - bladder (cystitis) or urethra (urethritis);

urolithiasis;

hypothermia - when bathing in cold water, long walks in bad weather, refusal to wear clothes for ornamental breeds;

Sexual diseases - prostatitis in males, vaginitis, pyometra, endometritis, complicated labour - in females;

worm infestations with accompanying intoxication;

congenital anomalies of the structure of the genitourinary organs;

trauma to the organ (contusion without damage to the capsule) in a fall, impact, car accident;

diabetes mellitus - against the background of high sugar content in the urine and destruction of the vessels of the organ;

circulatory disorders of the organ in poisoning;

neoplasms in the kidneys, bladder, ureters, genitals.

Factors that increase the risk of inflammation include:

Older age;

low immunity;

improper nutrition, hypovitaminosis.

In a separate group are lesions of excretory organs in viral diseases - leptospirosis, parvovirus enteritis, distemper.

Symptoms and diagnosis

In the chronic course, tissue changes in the organ are asymptomatic or manifest themselves:

decrease in activity;

emaciation;

oedema.

With acute pyelonephritis, owners notice:

thirst and urinary disorders - frequent and false urges;

a sharp decrease in appetite, up to refusal of food;

blood in the urine;

purulent discharge from the urethra;

lethargy, apathy;

change in the position of the torso when walking - the pet is hunched over;

sensitivity when trying to stroke the animal's back in the lumbar region (approximately midway between the withers and the root of the tail);

high temperature - up to 40 degrees Celsius;

chills, muscle tremors;

signs of dehydration - dry mucous membranes and nose, shortness of breath, weakness in the hind legs;

nausea, vomiting; 

acetone odour from the mouth.

These symptoms are nonspecific - to make a diagnosis are carried out:

examination with palpation and measurement of body temperature;

blood and urine tests - general, biochemistry, bacterial culture with determination of antimicrobial sensitivity;

X-ray or ultrasound.

In severe cases (in case of exacerbation of a long-term chronic process), acute renal failure with intoxication (nitrogen and toxic metabolites in the blood), cardiac dysfunction and coma may develop.

Treatment of renal inflammation in dogs and cats

The main direction of therapy (in the absence of renal failure) is to fight infection. For this purpose, choose a drug that is active against the pathogen identified after bacteriological examination. For animals, it is more convenient and safer to use veterinary antibiotics:

Amoxisan - injectable antibiotic based on amoxicillin (penicillin group). Active against Gram-positive and anaerobic bacteria, cocci, Escherichia coli, is not toxic to the liver. The drug is characterised by the duration of action, which allows reducing the frequency of administration to once every two days;

Oflosan - antibiotic for oral use based on ofloxacin (fluoroquinolones). It is active against Gram-negative bacteria, coccus flora, Escherichia coli, mycoplasma. The absence of bitterness simplifies the use of the drug;

Sulfetrisan - a combined injectable antibiotic. The composition is based on sulfadimethoxine (sulfonamides), erythromycin (macrolides), trimethoprim. The combination of 3 active components provides a wide spectrum of action (including flora resistant to sulfonamides) and effectiveness in pneumonia.

The standard course of antibiotic therapy in pyelonephritis - from 14 days, but in each case the scheme is determined by the doctor, based on the results of tests.

Premature cancellation of therapy can lead to the transition of the process into a chronic, difficult to cure form.

In addition to antibiotics in pyelonephritis prescribe:

antispasmodics - to relieve spasms and improve the blood flow of the organ;

immunostimulants;

vitamins A and E, C;

Stop-Cystitis Bio;

drugs that normalise blood pressure, such as Vasosan.

During treatment, urine and blood tests are performed 1-2 times a week to monitor and correct the treatment.