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Nephrology

Nephrology is an area of internal medicine that specializes in the kidneys, which play a pivotal role in the maintenance of a patient’s health. VSC has been a leader in the management of kidney disease for over a decade and offers state-of-the-art equipment that assists with the diagnosis and treatment of pets with renal disorders. We were the first facility in the Midwest to offer hemodialysis and one of the first in the country to offer plasmapheresis to companion animals. We have the capability to provide care at any stage of renal failure.

What Our Nephrology Team Can Treat

Some of the common illnesses and disorders that are treated by our nephrology team include:

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  • Acute Kidney Injury/Failure

    Rapid loss of kidney function

  • Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)

    Elevated systemic arterial blood pressure

  • Hematuria

    Presence of red blood cells in urine

  • Disorders of Acid-Base and/or Electrolytes

  • Kidney Stones (Renal Calculi)

    Solid concretion aggregation formed in the kidneys

  • Chronic Kidney (Renal) Disease

    Progressive loss of renal function over time (months or years)

  • Proteinuria

    Elevated presence of serum proteins in urine

Treatment Options

We are also trained and certified to offer:

  • Peritoneal Dialysis

    Blood is cleansed using the patient’s peritoneum membrane (lines the abdominal cavity) as the dialysis membrane. It is used most frequently for the treatment of acute and chronic renal failure, specific intoxications, electrolyte abnormalities, and fluid overload.

  • Plasmapheresis

    This is a blood purifying procedure that involves the removal, treatment, and return of blood to the body to remove antibodies, thereby preventing them from attacking their targets. It is used to treat several autoimmune diseases.

  • Hemodialysis

    Blood is cleansed by circulation through an external dialyzer membrane (artificial kidney). It is most often used to treat acute kidney failure and to remove toxicities from the bloodstream.

  • Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy

    This is a type of hemodialysis that gradually dialyzes the patient over an extended period of time. It is most commonly used for the treatment of acute kidney injury, but other applications chronic kidney disease and for the treatment of exposure to various drugs and toxins.