KIDNEY

CHRONIC RENAL FAILURE (CRF)

Background: Rare in horses. Causes of premature kidney failure include: congenital defects, poisoning, exposure to especially heavy metals, antifreeze and pesticides, cancer, some drugs, infections, diabetes mellitus and nutritional imbalances.
Symptoms: PU/PD, anorexia, bad breath, poor coat quality and weakness are often non-specific in the early stages, so clients may wait until later in the disease process to notice. In later stages, anemia occurs.
Diagnostics: Blood and urine tests define the disease as well as giving a prognosis of survival time.
Principles for Supplementation: Natural treatment supports renal function and replaces nutrients lost in the dilute urine. Specific treatment with Chinese herbal medicine or homeopathy by a trained veterinarian can be helpful.

EQUINE PRODUCTS—CHRONIC RENAL FAILURE