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

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! 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. 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 Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. 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 Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. 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 Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! 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 Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! 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 Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and I hope this has helped.

Hello, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. 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.