Introduction

The kidneys filter waste products from the blood, and discard them in urine. Unhealthy kidneys cannot perform this function properly, so waste products build up in the bloodstream and make the patient feel unwell. Dialysis is a method of filtering the blood to remove the waste products so the patient feels better. Normally dialysis has to be performed on an ongoing basis. Because of the cost and stress factor, dialysis is not normally performed on cats.

Haemodialysis

This is the type of dialysis which people usually think of when they hear the word "dialysis". It has recently become available for cats at a limited number of facilities in the USA, and as in human patients, the process lasts several hours and has to be performed several times a week. It can only be given in hospital and is extremely expensive, with the Animal Medical Center in New York estimating the cost at US$10-15,000 for the first 3-4 weeks.  

The Animal Medical Center in New York City has detailed information about the procedure.

University of California at Davis has a press release about their provision of this service in California.

Vetcentric has an article about the use of haemodialysis in cats.

Veterinary Partner has some information about haemodialysis for pets.

People and pets: common diseases - kidney disease is a video from University of California at Davis which provides an overview of what happens in CRF and shows a dog receiving dialysis. It also features a human CRF patient talking about how CRF feels.

Veterinary hemodialysis: advances in management and technology (2004) Fischer JR, Pantaleo V, Francey T, Cowgill LD The Veterinary Clinics of North American Small Animal Practice 34(4) pp935-967 vi-vii, predicts haemodialysis will gradually become more widely available and will be used for cats with advanced CRF which does not respond to more standard treatment methods (such as sub-Qs).

Peritoneal Dialysis

This involves using the peritoneal cavity as a means of dialysis. The peritoneum is semi-permeable, so urea/BUN, creatinine and phosphorus can pass through it. In peritoneal dialysis, a sterile dialysis solution is introduced into the peritoneal cavity, and this solution then collects waste products and excess electrolytes by means of diffusion. However, it is very hard to maintain sterility and avoid infection using this method, so it is highly unlikely that you will come across this form of treatment in practice; it tends to be reserved for cases of acute renal failure. 

Peritoneal dialysis in dogs and cats: 27 cases (1976-87) (1989) Crisp MS, Chew DJ, DiBartola SP & Birchard SJ Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 195(9) pp 1262-6 reports on the success rates of peritoneal dialysis in dogs and cats.

Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine has detailed information about peritoneal dialysis in cats.
University of Kansas - an explanation of peritoneal dialysis in humans.

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