Mary Allen
Cats are particularly prone to kidney failure as they get older. From the age of ten, the risk of this serious, chronic disease doubles. But if the organ disease is recognized early enough, you can do a number of things to enable your velvet paw to lead a symptom-free life.
As cats get older, the risk of developing chronic kidney failure increases. A wrong diet with too much dry food and too little liquid as well as being overweight can further increase the risk. The sooner you realize your cat has kidney problems, the better. Together with the vet, you can then do everything to improve the quality of life and life expectancy of your cat with kidney disease.
What are the Functions of the Kidneys in the Cat’s Body?
Healthy kidneys filter the blood and eliminate toxins. These are then excreted along with the urine made in the kidneys. In addition, the vital organs regulate the water balance and play a major role in the cat’s metabolism, and are jointly responsible for healthy blood pressure. Hormones that are produced in the kidneys are also necessary for bone and blood formation.
The kidney function can decrease acutely – for example, due to an injury – but this is rather rare in cats. In most cases, the decline in kidney function is gradual. At the beginning of such chronic kidney failure, the healthy kidney cells can still serve as a reserve and perform the tasks satisfactorily. Only when this is no longer possible do the first signs appear that the kidneys are no longer functioning properly.
Renal Insufficiency in Cats: Symptoms Appear Late
The symptoms of kidney disease in cats usually only appear when more than 75 percent of the organ has already been severely damaged. Therefore, it is important to know what to look out for. The first signs include:
● Fever
● Vomiting
● Frequent urge to urinate
As the disease progresses, the following symptoms can also appear:
● Dull, shaggy fur
● Loss of appetite
● Weight loss
● Increased thirst
● Dejection
● Listlessness
● Apathy
● Nervousness and restlessness
Cats with severe renal insufficiency have severe bad breath, sometimes the smell of urine even penetrates the coat. Since kidney failure is associated with great pain for cats, they move less, hardly like to jump, and, in the worst case, do not go to the litter box.
Diagnosing Chronic Kidney Disease in Cats: What Does the Vet Do?
Unfortunately, the symptoms of kidney failure in cats are ambiguous. They can also indicate other diseases, such as feline diabetes. So don’t be afraid to make an appointment with the vet immediately if you suspect something. The veterinarian can use a urinalysis and a blood test to quickly determine whether the problem is actually kidney problems. Under certain circumstances, he supplements his diagnosis with a blood pressure measurement.
Treating Chronic Renal Failure in Cats: What To Do?
To ensure that any kidney failure in your cat is recognized in good time, you should have your cat’s blood tested every year from the age of seven. While destroyed kidney cells cannot be restored, they can help maintain and support the healthy part of the kidneys.
Feed a special kidney diet prescribed by the vet. The feed should contain high-quality proteins and have a low salt content. There are also special medications and infusions that help to balance the water balance. In any case, you should take your cat to the vet regularly so that he can support you with therapy.