You may not have realized it, but just like humans, some pets can become so sick that they need dialysis.
One veterinarian told the story of a dog named Tooter.
He became sick from a toxic lily plant, so his owner decided to put him on dialysis.
Acute kidney failure due to serious poisoning or infection is successfully treated in 20 percent of animals.
Without the dialysis, pets with acute renal failure will die.
The difference between humans and pets, animals don't usually need dialysis over a long period of time.
That's because in animals, the procedure rebuilds their metabolic balance quickly which gives their damaged kidneys time to recover.
"He felt dramatically better. He was able to go home and came back for dialysis. We'd send him home again and that bridged the gape for his kidneys to regenerate and repair," said Dr. J.D. Foster, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinarian Medicine.
Doctors suggest that owners ask their veterinarians if this procedure is offered near them.