Dog Diuretics

Agents that increase the flow of urine are called diuretics. Several drugs can incidentally increase urine flow, al-though they are used primarily for some other purpose. In addition tothese, certain drugs, such as salines, by increasing thirst cause the bloodto absorb a surplus of water which later escapes through the kidneys.Diuretics are occasionally useful to flush some circulatory toxin fromthe blood or to withdraw fluid from the abdomen and relieve pressure on the heart and lungs without resorting to tapping. When doghave bladder infections, sometimes copious urine formation and elimi-nation help wash that reservoir clean. There are also times when theabundant flow of urine helps prevent formation of urine crystals andflushes out those which have formed.

It need hardly be said that while you are trying to eliminate part ofthe dropsical fluid by diuresis without tapping the abdomen, you mustprevent the dog from drinking excess water. You arc trying to make thedog soak this surplus fluid back into its blood vessels. To do that youcause it to urinate copiously, which reduces the water content of theblood, which in turn causes the dog to replenish it from the abdomen.

Water and the excretion of it are the bases of diuresis. Reducing thepercentage of water in the blood is one thing that is striven for. This inturn creates thirst; more water is drunk, more eliminated. So yourveterinarian may inject water with added salt to make a so-called "phys-iological solution." Or he or she can inject a small amount of commonsalt in solution, or even give it by mouth so that the pet will drinkcopiously.

Sugar - either glucose or cane sugar, or both - may be given as adiuretic, but in very large amounts a pet can't utilize it all. It must begiven by vein, and when so given, especially in poison cases, helpsdetoxify some poisons. A 5o percent solution is generally used, a forty-pound dog requiring about 12 cc. Cane sugar is used intravenously indouble the dose of glucose and in some ways is preferable.

Flurosamide has superseded the older and more dangerous drugs,such as the mercurials, and several new diuretics are in the develop-ment stages. When given flurosamide it is impossible for a dog to drinkas much fluid as it eliminates. In the past water had to be rationed withdrugs used to dehydrate but the restriction of fluids can retard thecorrection of the problem. Sometimes called "water pills," flurosamideis a lifesaver for treating many maladies, such as cardiac insufficiency inwhich the heart cough is caused in part by fluid buildup in the lungs.