Azodyl and Epakitin Side Effects

[pbkwfl]

My dog has Kidney failure.  The vet put him on a few drugs and his kidney fiction kept going down.  So he suggested that i put him on Azodyl and Epakitin.  He has been on both since December.  Since starting him on those 2, he has had a nose running problem.  He had his nose scooped to see if it was a fungus or obstruction and it was neither.  the specialty vet thinks it is allergies.  but none of the allergy meds work. His nose runs none stop, and i have to consistently wipe it. Could this be a side effect of the Azodyl and Eqakitin?  he didn't have this problem before the Azodyl and Eqakitin. I don't want to take him off of these 2 because his kidney function has gone up alot being on them. (before he was at 24%, after 4 months he is back up to 49%)  Thank you very much for your time.  Jen

[Meandboots]

My dog is also in these two meds and has had a runny nose.

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

Hello Jen,  

Since your dog's kidney function has improved from 24% to 49% it seems obvious that the Epakitin and Azodyl are effective and I would continue with them or alternatives.  There are alternatives to Epakitin and Azodyl in mainstream veterinary medicine.  Epakitin can be replaced with Phoslo, and Azodyl can be replaced with any refrigerated human probiotic that can be purchased at a good health food store.  A husky would require a human dose as displayed on the bottle.  I have had success with these alternatives.

Dog's, like many other species can potentially be allergic to anything,  and though unlikely, this could include either the Epakitin or Azodyl, or both.  So switching one medication at a time as a therapeutic trial may determine which medication is the allergen, if the nasal discharge stops.  It is of course very possible that the nasal discharge is coincidental.  

There is a Chinese herbal Formula specifically for copious nasal discharge of undetermined origin.  It is called:  Dr. Pei Yao-Qing's Formula or Huey's Formula (available from Jing Tang Herbal Company by Prescription).  It is extremely effective!  Ask your vet to give you a prescription.  

There are also extremely useful Chinese Herbal Formula's for kidney disease but these should be administered by a veterinarian who specializes in Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine.

Additionally, view my response to the last question in this forum regarding Azodyl.  What I have explained about Azodyl is relevant to all good probiotics.

[Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM]

Hello,

I am sorry to learn that your dog is experiencing these issues. Although I can not say whether or not the runny nose issues your dog has are due to these 2 medications; I can honestly tell you that in my experience as a practicing holistic veterinarian for over 20 years there is absolutely no proof, publication or clinical data showing that Azodyl does anything at all to benefit your dogs kidneys!

The Epikacin, which is currently made and marketed by the same company that markets the Azodyl is an outdated drug formerly given to help bind and remove excess phosphorus levels on dogs with kidney disease. Because Epikacin is calcium based, and excess calcium levels are another very detrimental side effect that dogs often experience secondarily to primary kidney disorders. Today, Board Certified Veterinary Internal Medicine Specialists, including the kidney vets at the Dialysis Center for Pets at UC Davis have replaced it with Aluminum Hydroxide (ALOH) based agents. The ALOH effectively lowers excess phosphorus and calcium blood with no adverse side effects.

The Azodyl is a mixture of only 3 strains of "friendly bacteria"; which are also known as probiotics. For example, organic yogurt also contains probiotics. According to current information available directly from the manufacturer of Azodyl, not only are there no published kidney benefits, it appears that the majority of 3 strains of their  "friendly bacteria" are dead before you ever open the bottle.

I would be glad to offer you more specific suggestions and if you were able to post your dogs blood and urine values that would be most helpful.

I have had very good results with my canine kidney failure patients; older dogs similar to yours using fluids, which owners can give at home if needed, an excellent, herbal kidney supplement, a home made, organic diet which we balance with a natural patented vitamin supplement. We monitor our success with blood and urine results. The goal is to reduce the Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN), Creatinine (Cr), Phosphorus (PO4) and Calcium (Ca)  levels back down to normal.

Once the sum of the blood calcium multiplied by the blood phosphorus levels are less than 40, then that dog (or cat) is a candidate for a natural product called Calcitriol. Calcitriol is a natural form of Vitamin D that was formerly used for human dialysis patients to restore kidney function. Calcitriol is currently available for dogs and cats in kidney failure and veterinarians order it through various compounding pharmacies. Calcitriol is compounded specifically for each pet according to their body weight and BUN-Creatinine levels. It is given to pets as a capsule by mouth once a day. I have been involved in calcitriol clinical trials, which are worldwide, for over 15 years and our results have been excellent, in that it has effectively helped to restore kidney function in dogs and cats with advanced, chronic kidney failure.

With reference to the Azodyl, probiotics in general are very good for the digestive system. There are several probiotic supplements currently available on the market that contain a full spectrum of live bacterial strains at a much lower cost!! Again probiotics are beneficial to overall health and do assist the body in absorption of dietary nutrients but offer no proven benefit to a dogs kidney function whatsoever.

This company has carefully marketed their Azodyl product directly to veterinarians, to help boost sales of their outdated, ineffective Epikacin product and have used clever marketing tactics to do so.

Thank you,
Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM

[KDHowell]

A related discussion, Feline CKF - Azodyl, Epatitin & low protein food - long term use was started.

[Riverbank]

A related discussion, Renalzin a good supplement for a urinary problem cat? was started.

[Kenmich]

A related discussion, Kidney Failure was started.