What is Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)?

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is the progressive, irreversible loss of the kidneys' ability to filter the blood and remove toxins from the body, developing over months or years — unlike acute kidney injury, which occurs rapidly from a specific cause, such as toxin exposure or leptospirosis. It is one of the most common diseases in senior cats and dogs, and its causes include natural aging of the kidneys, genetic disease, high blood pressure, recurrent infections, and previous episodes of acute kidney injury that left lasting damage.

Because the kidneys have significant reserve capacity, signs usually only appear once a significant portion of kidney function has already been lost: increased thirst and urination, weight loss, reduced appetite, occasional vomiting, a dull coat, ammonia-smelling breath, and lethargy. That is why routine blood work (creatinine, BUN, and, more recently, SDMA) in pets starting in middle age is important to catch the disease at an early stage, before symptoms appear.

There is no cure for CKD, but proper management — a specific kidney-support diet, blood pressure control, medications to reduce protein loss and control nausea, and fluid support when needed — can significantly slow disease progression and maintain a good quality of life for a long time. See a veterinarian for routine testing in senior pets, and immediately if you notice increased thirst, weight loss, or lethargy.