Is vitamin supplementation needed?
Animals with renal failure have an increase in their urine volume and therefore may have exaggerated loss of water-soluble vitamins (B vitamins and vitamin C). Loss of these vitamins may contribute to the decrease in appetite associated with renal disease. Diets designed for the management of renal disease are supplemented with increased amounts of water-soluble vitamins, and further vitamin supplementation is rarely necessary. Humans with renal failure have a reduced capacity to excrete vitamin A, although no similar information exists in dogs and cats. Feeding supplements containing vitamin A is not recommended. Is my pet likely to have acidosis? Acid-base abnormalities are commonly seen in dogs and cats with renal failure because it is the kidney’s job to excrete hydrogen ions and retain bicarbonate ions to maintain blood pH within the normal range. When the kidneys begin to fail, hydrogen ions are retained and bicarbonate ions are not reabsorbed, leading to a state called metabolic
