Peritoneal Dialysis: Key Therapy in Kidney Failure in Small Sized Dogs

Abstract

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a highly effective therapeutic method employed to remove toxic byproducts and metabolites from the body when this role can no longer be ful illed by the kidneys that are either permanently damaged as in chronic kidney failure, or need time and proper treatment to recover from other diseases of the kidney itself or pathologies that may affect the renal function as they progress. This technique uses the peritoneum ability to act as a iltering membrane, through which the toxins, such as urea and creatinine, pass into the peritoneal cavity, being subsequently removed along with the dialysate. The study describes the evolution and follows the dynamic of the biomarkers in 5 dogs suffering from kidney failure, that did not respond well to speci ic treatment and for whom peritoneal dialysis was the best therapeutic approach. Peritoneal dialysis was performed in 5 dogs, with ages between 5 and 15 years old, during 6 months, using Diaenal PD4 glucose 1.36% W/V/13.6mg/ml produced by Baxter. Blood samples were taken from each dog before the procedure, and then twice a week to monitor the electrolytes, creatinine and urea levels. Also, before introducing the dialysate into the peritoneal cavity, the patients underwent ultrasound examination to evaluate the kidneys and to exclude other problems that would prevent this maneuver, and 2 hours after administering the dialysate to measure the absorption rate. All 5 patients exhibited an important recovery after 8-14 dialysis sessions, showing that the procedure was able to maintain kidney stability, a fact proved also by the levels of metabolites involved in the clinical evolution. Ecography performed before and after dialysis revealed that the hydration level is key point in the success of the procedure. Peritoneal dialysis is a more affordable and less invasive procedure to gradually eliminate the uremic toxins. It can offer temporary support for kidneys until the recovery of renal function is done, or when hemodialysis cannot be used as a basic treatment.