Veterinary Dialysis for Pets in Bannockburn, IL
Veterinary Specialty Center is proud to be the first veterinary dialysis center in Illinois, offering extracorporeal therapy for pets for over 15 years. Our nephrology and dialysis team provides 24/7 coverage, ensuring that patients with kidney disease or toxin exposure receive immediate, specialized care.
Our service is led by highly trained experts, including 5 doctors who completed advanced training through the Dialysis Academy. In addition, VSC is the only veterinary hospital in Illinois with doctors recognized by the American College of Veterinary Nephrology and Urology. Dr. Thornhill is an honorary member, and Dr. Bierlein is completing her residency, placing our team at the forefront of veterinary nephrology.
What is Veterinary Dialysis?
Dialysis is a form of extracorporeal therapy for pets in which your pet’s blood is drawn through a special catheter, circulated through a machine, and then returned to the body. During hemodialysis, the machine functions as an artificial kidney, filtering out toxins and waste products that the kidneys can no longer remove on their own. This therapy can be life-saving for dogs and cats with acute kidney injury or certain types of toxin ingestion. It also allows patients more time to recover while their kidneys heal.
Commonly Treated Conditions
We utilize dialysis to treat various conditions in pet, including:
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Acute Kidney Injury
Sudden, severe increase in kidney values unresponsive to hospitalization alone.
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Toxin Ingestion
Antifreeze, NSAIDs, and many prescription medications can be removed using dialysis or other extracorporeal therapies.
We are also trained and offered to certify:
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Peritoneal Dialysis
Blood is cleansed using the patient’s peritoneum membrane (lines the abdominal cavity) as the dialysis membrane. It is used most frequently for the treatment of acute and chronic renal failure, specific intoxications, electrolyte abnormalities, and fluid overload.
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Plasmapheresis
This is a blood purifying procedure that involves the removal, treatment, and return of blood to the body to remove antibodies, thereby preventing them from attacking their targets. It is used to treat several autoimmune diseases.
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Hemodialysis
Blood is cleansed by circulation through an external dialyzer membrane (artificial kidney). It is most often used to treat acute kidney failure and to remove toxicities from the bloodstream.
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Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy
This is a type of hemodialysis that gradually dialyzes the patient over an extended period of time. It is most commonly used for the treatment of acute kidney injury, but other applications chronic kidney disease and for the treatment of exposure to various drugs and toxins.
What to Expect from Hemodialysis Treatment
During each dialysis session, your pet’s blood is circulated through a specialized dialysis machine that filters waste products. Depending on the case, patients may receive medications or nutritional support while undergoing treatment. Each session typically lasts 4 to 8 hours, and the frequency of treatment depends on the severity of your pet’s condition. Many patients require 2 to 3 treatments per week, but our nephrology team will create a treatment plan tailored to your pet’s individual needs.