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Extracorporeal Services

Hemodialysis & Extracorporeal Therapies

AVECCC Gilbert and ARISE Veterinary Center in Queen Creek are proud to offer extracorporeal blood purification therapies (ECT), one of only two veterinary facilities in Arizona, and the only facility that offers ECT on an emergency basis. Hemodialysis and therapeutic plasma exchange are the most common modalities utilized at our facilities.

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How Hemodialysis Works and is Applied in Veterinary Medicine

In health, the kidneys regulate fluid balance and remove metabolic waste products from the bloodstream. Animals with diseased kidneys cannot perform these functions, causing metabolic waste and toxins to accumulate within the bloodstream, contributing to a syndrome termed uremia.

Hemodialysis is the process of exchanging water, solutes, and toxins across a semipermeable membrane (artificial kidney), allowing removal of waste products and toxins from the blood and restoration of the patient’s electrolyte and acid-base derangements from the dialysate water. Hemodialysis is the most effective treatment available for patients with uremia, refractory acute renal failure, life-threatening overhydration, or acute toxicities.

Indications for Hemodialysis

Hemodialysis provides a new standard of care for animals with diseased kidneys as well as a variety of other clinical conditions for which there are no effective medical alternatives, including:

  • Severe acute kidney injury

  • Acute poisoning (toxin specific – see Therapeutic Plasma Exchange page)

  • Severe overhydration and fluid overload

  • Severe electrolyte derangements

  • Severe chronic renal failure (not offered at this facility)

Veterinarian with Girl, Boy & Dog

Timing of Dialysis Initiation:

While the reasons are easy to define, the exact timing of initiation of dialysis is controversial. However, dialysis commenced earlier in the disease process leads to superior outcomes by preventing the adverse systemic effects of uremia, therefore dialysis should not be considered a last resort or salvage procedure.

Goals of Dialysis:

Acute kidney injury is the most common use of hemodialysis in veterinary patients. Hemodialysis extends the window of opportunity for renal repair indefinitely. Dialysis does not fix the kidney injury per se, it simply provides the injured kidney time to repair. It is often this lack of time and subsequent clinical decline from uremia that unfortunately results in euthanasia in veterinary medicine. Hemodialysis is a viable alternative.

Veterinarians with a Golden Retriever

Length of Treatment and Prognosis:

Length of treatment is difficult to determine as it depends on cause of the acute renal injury and the degree of renal damage. However, clients should be emotionally and financially prepared for on average 2-5 sessions over 1-3 weeks. The prognosis, similarly, varies depending on the cause of the acute renal injury as well as comorbid conditions, therefore, risks/benefits to commencing dialysis need to be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Cost:

The cost for hemodialysis depends on the indication for dialysis and how severe the patient’s renal disease is and balancing of concurrent illness. Some patients are well enough to go home between treatments.  A thorough evaluation of the case is necessary prior to writing an estimate of care. Additional charges may be incurred if a longer time in ICU is required. If you have a patient that you feel may benefit from hemodialysis, call your regional hemodialysis center (AVECCC or ARISE) to discuss the case.

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