Why are a pet rat's kidneys so important for their overall health?

Hello, sorry to hear about Randi. Its unlikely that the kidney is dead as this could be very severe and cause life threatening risks. If an organ is truly dead, then it needs to be removed as you are right, these toxins can be several dangerous. Whats more likely to be going on is that Randi likely has a non-functional kidney. The cells are still alive, just not doing their job sufficiently enough. If this is the case, there is no reason to remove the kidney as it is not causing any more harm by leaving it in there. In fact, if your cat has severe kidney disease, then removing a kidney could make its kidney disease worse. Finally, a nephrectomy (kidney removal surgery) is complicated and not benign by any means. There are greater potential for complications with bleeding and pain. You should clarify with your veterinarian wether the kidney is indeed dead or if it is just not functioning adequately. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Thanks for using Boop by Petco! Cats can develop small kidney stones that can be seen on X-rays or ultrasound. It could be This that your veterinarian is seeing. If you have any concerns, I would recommend reaching out to your regular veterinarian to get clarification for what was seen.

Hello. I would really need to see the individual results for BUN & Creatinine before interpreting this ratio. You also need to have a urinalysis done. Is your pet sick? Is she vomiting, refusing to eat, losing weight? These are all hallmarks of kidney disease/failure & if she has been acting well for the past 10 days, then she is not in end stage kidney failure. Her absomen looks fine. Thanks for using Boop by Petco.

Hello. A known congenital defect is probably an indication to avoid this kitten. She will require very regular checks of her remaining kidney function to make sure any issues are addressed early on. If the breeder is willing to present this kitten to you free of charge, you must make it your business to factor in at least some additional care for the life of this kitten. She may do quite well, but without a more definitive diagnosis of what the abnormal kidney is, it is impossible to say how she may do. BUT, people & animals can certainly live long healthy lives with just one kidney. You will just need to be more proactive with her lifelong health care if you decide to take her. Thanks for using Boop by Petco.

When a dog has kidney dieseae, the blood work looks at the urea and creatinine levels in the blood. When these levels are increased, that indicates that the waste products of the body are not being filtered out correctly by the kidneys due to failure of the nephrons of the kidneys. It's gives the vet an indication of how severe the kidney dieseae is at that point in time. If there are specific values you want more information about, I recommend either posting again with them listed out, or you can request a consult with an expert online for more detailed help. I hope this helps you!

Hello, and thanks for using Boop by Petco. Yes, that product should be pretty safe. However, I don't recommend giving supplements such as this without being directed by a vet. The most important way to support Bruno's organ function is with a good high quality food, and good preventative care (disease prevention through vaccination, parasite control, etc). Milk thistle is a great liver support, but the other ingredients have limited data in dogs and, while probably safe, I would not recommend them.

Hello, and thanks for using Boop by Petco. Excessive salt isn't good for dogs, just as it isn't good for most species - but as long as Mika's kidneys are working well and the salt was a manageable amount for her body to process as she ate it, and all of her lab work (especially SDMA) are normal, then she should be ok. I agree with your vet - if her SDMA and creatinine are normal, then I would not worry about a mild urea elevation. Hope this helps!

Thank you for using Boop by Petco! It is very concerning that Rata is having trouble urinating, as this may be caused by stones/crystals in the bladder or a urinary tract infection. Inability to urinate can be lifethreatening as the urine backs up into the kidneys and prevents them from filtering out toxins, which build up in the body and can make Rata very sick. I recommend having her seen by a vet as soon as possible. There are emergency/24 hour clinics in most towns/cities that will be able to determine what is going on with Rata and begin the appropriate treatment. I hope this helps and that all is well!

Hi and thank you for your post on Boop by Petco! CKD when diagnosed early can absolutely be managed medically. Daily SQ fluid therapy, blood pressure medications, as well as supplemental vitamins and phosphorus binders (if the phosphorus is high) can be given. Also a Rx diet that is kidney friends can also be very helpful. A lot can be done when caught early! Thanks for using Boop by Petco and I hope this has helped.

Hello, and thanks for using Boop by Petco. I'm sorry to hear about Leo. The most important part of treatment when an animal has kidney failure is to give adequate fluids. It would be best to keep Leo at the vet to stay on IV fluids until his creatinine comes down - if the kidneys are not receiving adequate fluids, you are not likely to get him to improve. If you must have him home, then ask your vet if they would be comfortable teaching you how to give subcutaneous fluids at home (injecting an appropriate amount of saline under the skin) to help him stay hydrated and keep flushing his kidneys. If he is eating, then you can add extra water to his food to encourage more fluid intake. However, if he's not eating, he REALLY needs to continue getting fluids, either intravenously at the vet or subcutaneously at home. If neither of these is an option, and he's not eating, then unfortunately euthanasia should be considered. I hope this helps, and again I'm sorry Leo isn't doing well.