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Normal kidneys filter the blood, removing wates and excreting them in urine. Kidneys damaged by infection or inflammation lose some of this filtering ability, and waste products accumulate in the bloodstream. Continued re-circulation of this waste material results in illness. About three fourths of kidney tissue must be damaged before signs of illness appear. For this reason, kidney disease is often considered chronic (present a long time) even though the affected pet may not have shown signs of disease for very long.
Signs of chronic kidney disease include vomiting, diarrhea, increased thirst, increased urination, decreased appetite, depression, and bad breath. Continued illness results in collapse, seizures, coma and death.
Although chronic kidney disease ib not curable, it is often controllable. Many pets can live reasonably normal lives when properly managed in a cooperative effort between owner and veteranarian.
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