Nefropatia cronica nel cane e nel gatto : approccio diagnostico

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common disease in small animal clinical practice. Clinical symptoms are evident only at late stages of the disease, therefore in most cases an early diagnosis is difficult. Monitoring patients at risk, through appropriate laboratory tests, helps the diagnosis of CKD prior to the development of azotemia. The diagnostic plan should evaluate the possible causes of CKD, the different renal functions and the progression factors. The staging of the disease, according to the guidelines of the International Society of Renal Interest (IRIS), facilitates the clinician in the management of each patient.