Content
- What is kidney failure and what causes it?
- Main symptoms of kidney failure in cats
- Differential diagnosis
- Treatment of Kidney Failure in Cats
Kidney failure in cats is a health problem that progresses progressively and gets worse over the years. We must be very attentive to any symptoms and act quickly so that they can recover in time.
In this article by PeritoAnimal we help you to identify this alteration, a very common disease in any veterinarian office. Below we explain everything you need to know about kidney failure in cats, both symptoms and treatments. Don't forget that it is essential to call your regular veterinarian as soon as possible.
What is kidney failure and what causes it?
In the urinary system we find the kidneys, the organs that are in charge of filter and eliminate harmful substances of our feline's body for the production of urine. Through blood filtration, the kidneys have a number of tasks that are vital for all species:
- Keeping a balance between water and minerals
- Eliminate chemical compounds introduced into the body and substances derived from the protein mechanism such as urea and creatinine.
- Through a hormone manufactured in the kidney, erythropoietin, the formation of red blood cells is regulated.
These substances that must be eliminated become part of the urine to leave the body of our animals. There are other more complex mechanisms, but for practical purposes this is the correct kidney function.
THE renal failure (RI) it is a slow but progressive alteration of these vital functions, being a disease that can be controlled but cannot be cured. Among the most known causes that cause its appearance we have:
- Kidney damage from toxins or misadministered medications
- Polycystic kidney disease (common in Persian cats) that is inherited.
- tumors
- Old age cats, over 15 years old.
- bacterial infections
There are many causes that can cause kidney failure in the cat, but once it has triggered, we must pay attention to its control and treatment.
Main symptoms of kidney failure in cats
In the beginning, the symptoms of kidney failure may go unnoticed and may even be confused with other diseases. In the face of any of these symptoms, we recommend that you go to the veterinarian:
- Loss of appetite and body weight.
- Considerable increase in thirst (polydipsia). To guide you, approximately, we know that the normal water intake is 50 ml per kg of body weight per day.
- Increased urine volume (polyuria) when the normal range is 100 to 150 ml/day.
- Lethargy, depression and poor mobility.
- Vomiting and diarrhea.
- Pallor of the mucous membranes (gums).
- Dehydration. We can check your hydration through a "pinch" of the skin on your neck. If the skin takes a long time to return to its normal state and loses flexibility, the cat is probably dehydrated.
- Through the spleen and with excessive hair loss.
- Bad breath, mouth and/or stomach ulcers.
Differential diagnosis
You clinical signs are not consistent evidence for your diagnosis. These are assessments of the owner and/or veterinarian but must always be accompanied by laboratory tests. Annual visits from the age of 8 years old can help with a timely diagnosis of kidney failure. Within the chosen routine exams, the following can be proposed:
- Complete blood test (we are looking for an increase in creatinine and urea).
- Urine analysis (physical, chemical, sediment and sometimes antibiogram).
- X-rays and ultrasounds they are not strictly necessary like the above, but are often asked to observe the state of the affected organs.
Treatment of Kidney Failure in Cats
The treatment and care of cats suffering from kidney failure will be essential as it is a progressive disease. As much as we treat the symptoms that we observe, we must have proper management and care to avoid relapses.
To begin with, it is essential to talk about medication since we can find many options. The veterinarian will decide, according to the chart, which will be the most appropriate for our feline. The use of antibiotics, vitamin complexes, minerals and appetite stimulants will depend on the patient, the needs and the symptoms that show.
THE food is another fundamental aspect and is one of the pillars to overcome this pathology. It is very advisable to choose one of the best feeds for cats with kidney failure you can find on the market, especially those of high quality, but we can also follow homemade recipes for cat kidney failure. It will depend exclusively on us this choice and the diet that until now our cat followed.
Lastly, we talk about the homeopathy, Bach flowers and herbal medicine. If you want to offer this type of product you need to use a professional and not self-medicate the cat. These are medications, so if you choose natural therapies look for a veterinarian who is dedicated to this.
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.