Hemodialysis for dogs is essentially the same process used in treating humans suffering from renal failure. This treatment can be potentially life saving for dogs who have severe renal failure. Although there are very few treatment facilities in the United States, the number of clinics using hemodialysis is likely to increase.
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Use
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Hemodialysis should be administered to dogs when all conventional treatments and medications have failed. According to University of California-Davis veterinarian Dr. Larry D. Cowgill, hemodialysis is the best way to treat renal failure when the only other alternative is death. No other therapy can match the benefits and efficiency of hemodialysis to combat severe uremia, acute poisoning, and life threating hypervolemia.
Acute uremia is a common indicator that hemodialysis is needed to eleviate the symptoms such as appetite loss, seizures, vomiting, and weakness.
Function
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Hemodialysis is the procedure for using principles of diffusion, ultra filtration, and convection to gain the correct balance of body fluid volume. It is considered to be a sophisticated therapy for treatment of renal failure and works to remove the toxins through an artificial kidney. Diffusion is used to remove the toxins across a membrane in the dialyzer, according to "The Canadian Veterinary Journal."
The machines used for hemodialysis were originally made for human use, but they are able to be set for animal use. Pediatric equipment is used on the animals during the use of the machine.
Bridge to Kidney Transplant
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Hemodialysis is considered to be a bridge before and after a kidney transplant. Hemodialysis conditions animals that are considered to be unsuitable for transplant surgery into stabilized health so that they can undergo the kidney transplant.
Causes
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Several toxins can cause renal failure in dogs. Some of these toxins include grapes and raisins. Dogs who have ingested these foods, or toxins, may present signs of vomiting and lethargy. Vin.com states that hemodialysis is an effective treatment for this kind of toxin and renal failure, and can be used when other medications have proven to not be effective in treating the toxin poisoning. Hemodialysis is suited to treat many different toxins in dogs if the toxin has specific characteristics such as distributing only a small amount into the blood stream, and not being bound to plasma proteins.
Hemodialysis can be used to treat antifreeze poisoning, however there is only a 15 percent survival rate.
Availability and Cost
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Few veterinary centers have the capabilities to do hemodialysis. These centers are in California, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and New York. Many dogs will need two to three treatments a week and the cost can range between $5,000 to $8,000 for three to four weeks of therapy. This cost is in addition to screening tests that are needed before the treatment is given, and any other medication that may be needed along with the hemodialysis treatment.
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