Chronic renal disease in dogs and cats: anaesthesia considerations

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a common diagnosis in the small animal population. In the UK, 3.6% of cats may experience CKD and renal disorders were the most common cause of mortality in cats over 5 years of age. In dogs, the reported prevalence of CKD is 0.37%, with a median (95% Confidence Interval) survival time from diagnosis of 226 (112–326) days. This article will review the main concepts of renal physiology and discuss considerations when anaesthetising a dog or a cat with CKD.