Peritoneal dialysis in dogs and cats: 27 cases (1976-1987)

The records of 25 dogs and 2 cats treated with peritoneal dialysis during an 11-year period were evaluated. The indications for peritoneal dialysis were acute renal failure in 21 animals, chronic renal failure in 5 animals, and azotemia of undetermined cause in 1 animal. Peritoneal dialysis resulted in a significant (P less than 0.05) decrease in serum urea nitrogen concentration in 19 of the dogs and a significant (P less than 0.05) decrease in serum creatinine in 20 dogs. The most common complication of peritoneal dialysis was hypoalbuminemia (11 animals affected). Other common complications were dialysate retention/catheter obstruction (8 animals), peritonitis (6 animals), hypochloremia (6 animals), and subcutaneous leakage of dialysate (6 animals). Twelve dogs and 2 cats died during treatment, 6 dogs were euthanatized, and 1 dog was lost to follow-up evaluation. The remaining 6 dogs survived and were discharged from the hospital after successful peritoneal dialysis. On the basis of the results of this study, the authors concluded that peritoneal dialysis, although associated with a high complication rate, was a successful technique for reducing azotemia in dogs with acute and chronic renal failure. Survival rates were poor because of the severity of the underlying renal diseases.