Hypothermia in Uremic Dogs and Cats

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Nephrology
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Uremic hypothermia (UH) prevalence and its response to uremia treatment are unknown in veterinary patients.
• Understanding UH is crucial for managing kidney disease in animals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of uremic hypothermia (UH) in dogs and cats.
• To investigate the correlation between uremia and body temperature in patients undergoing intermittent hemodialysis (IHD).

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of medical records from 122 uremic dogs and 79 uremic cats treated with IHD between 1997 and 2013.
• Analysis of body temperature variations in relation to uremia, dialysis timing, and patient characteristics.

Main Results:

• Hypothermia prevalence was 38% in azotemic cats and 20.5% in azotemic dogs.
• Uremic dogs and cats exhibited significantly lower body temperatures compared to nonuremic counterparts.
• Dialysis timing, serum creatinine, BUN concentration, and patient weight influenced body temperature in dogs and cats.

Conclusions:

• Uremic hypothermia is a recognized clinical condition in veterinary patients.
• Intermittent hemodialysis improves body temperature by correcting uremia, particularly in cats and larger dogs.
• While present in dogs, body weight is a more significant predictor of temperature than uremia severity.