Support of an anephric dog for 54 days with ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and a newly designed peritoneal catheter

A bilaterally nephrectomized dog was successfully supported with peritoneal dialysis for 54 days, using a radically new design of access catheter and a human dialysis schedule designated as continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. The dog remained active and alert with a stabilized blood urea nitrogen of 30 to 40 mg/dl and a serum creatinine concentration of 4 to 6.5 mg/dl. Problems encountered with the peritoneal dialysis included the propensity for developing peritonitis, anorexia, and a significant plasma protein loss in the dialysate fluid as result of leakage across the peritoneum. Protein loss coupled with anorexia produced a catabolic state, and the animal was euthanatized because of this, at postnephrectomy day 54. The development of a new catheter design alleviated the drainage problems of the straight tube Tenckhoff catheter. Its use coupled with the continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis schedule and detailed management techniques allowed using the anephric dog as a model of uremia. In addition, peritoneal dialysis could be a viable treatment for animals presenting with acute reversible anuric or oliguric renal failure where conservative medical management with fluids and diuretics has failed to give clinical improvement.