ABSTRACT
Therapy for intrinsic Acute Renal Failure (ARF) can be divided into conservative medical management and dialysis. The basic aims for established ARF are to correct the renal hemodynamic disorders and alleviate the fluid and biochemical abnormalities until renal repair can take place. The type of fluid administered should be dictated by serum sodium levels. Dehydration in animals with suspected ARF should be corrected more rapidly than in animals with normal renal function, to prevent further renal damage from ischemia and to differentiate physiological oliguria from pathological oliguria. Diuretic administration is indicated in the management of pathological oliguria. Dopamine is the vasodilator most often used in conjunction with furosemide to augment renal function and urine production in oliguric animals. A moderate to severe metabolic acidosis is the most common acid-base problem seen with ARF, and the most significant electrolyte abnormality associated with ARF is hyperkalemia.
