The Biggest Hurdle For Veterinarians Performing Dialysis

Over the past decade, there has been an increase in the number of veterinarians who are interested in delivering dialysis, explains JD Foster, VMD, DACVIM (SAIM), internist and director of extracorporeal therapies at the Friendship Hospital for Animals in Washington, D.C.

"Over the last 10 or 15 years we've seen both an increased number of veterinarians who are interested in delivering dialysis and other extracorporeal therapies, as well as increased opportunities for them to receive training. That's probably the biggest hurdle to veterinarians performing dialysis, it's not the equipment it's not the supplies, it's actually becoming comfortable and training to know that you can provide safe treatment.

So we have more vets that are actually interested in our doing it and because of that the availability is wider and clients are seeing this not so much as a heroic measure but just as the most advanced standard of care that we could provide for patients with severe kidney disease."