“By removing toxins from the system, the supplement performs similarly to kidney dialysis but makes it possible to do so by administering a capsule,” Dr. Eric Linn, director of scientific affairs for Vetoquinol USA, Inc. says of the product, called Azodyl(TM).
“Previously, the only treatments for uremia have been kidney dialysis or transplant, which are impractical for pets and cost-prohibitive for owners,” he said.
CKD is a progressive, incurable disease and a leading cause of death in dogs and cats. It can occur at any age, but is especially common in older cats. There are many causes, ranging from old age to kidney tumors. Signs of CKD include increased thirst and urination, weight loss and lethargy, Linn says.
“The kidneys clear the body of waste via urine, but when they fail to function properly, waste accumulates in the system, circulates through the body and the pet becomes ‘uremic.’ Pets with CKD are essentially poisoned by toxins, which cause the signs of the disease,” he explains.
Azodyl contains Kibow Biotics , a patented formulation of “friendly” bacterial organisms that target and metabolize uremic toxins as they pass through the bowel. The bacteria and toxins are then excreted.
In an independent study, Azodyl reduced signs of uremia in 100 percent of cats with CKD and the patients experienced “improved health and vitality,” reports a California veterinarian who published his results recently in the Journal of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association.
The same supplement as Azodyl is being developed for human CKD patients. Product research has been funded in part by the National Institute for Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health.
Azodyl capsules are administered in pet food or a treat.
Source: PR Newswire/Vetoquinol USA