How to Detect & Manage Cat Kidney Disease

How to Detect & Manage Cat Kidney Disease

Posted on May 21, 2013

Your cat’s kidneys filter and remove toxic waste products from your cat’s blood via the urine. They also regulate calcium and vitamin D levels, maintain your cat’s level of hydration and secrete the hormone responsible for red blood cell production. Cat kidney disease interferes with your cats kidneys to function normally which affects your entire cat.

Feline acute kidney disease occurs suddenly and is rare in cats but, with prompt recognition and treatment, it is generally reversible.Feline chronic kidney disease occurs as the kidneys deteriorate slowly over a cat’s lifetime.

This is the most common situation and is called chronic renal (or kidney) disease (CRD).

Feline chronic kidney disease is treatable but not completely reversible and signs generally don’t occur until 80 percent of kidney function is lost.

CAUSES OF CAT KIDNEY DISEASE

Cat Chronic Kidney Failure– A variety of chronic conditions causing exaggerated, abnormal and/or immune reactions can result in Feline Chronic Kidney Disease and failure.

Chronic Dental Disease

Chronic bacterial and viral infections

Chronic skin allergies

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and hormonal disorders like Diabetes Mellitus

Blood pressure abnormalities: too high or too low

Dehydration

Trauma

Improper diet, excess phosphorus and/or excess protein

TIP: Long term excessive urination and excessive drinking are the most common initial signs of chronic cat kidney failure.

WHAT YOU AND YOUR VET CAN DO FOR CHRONIC CAT KIDNEY DISEASE

Diagnostics for chronic cat kidney disease include:

Routine lab tests (blood, urine) don’t reveal chronic feline kidney disease until 75 to 80 percent of kidney function is lost. X-rays and ultrasound allow visualization of the kidneys. A cat kidney biopsy confirms the exact diagnosis. During a feline kidney biopsy, local anesthesia and ultrasound are used to aid removal of a tiny piece of kidney tissue. This allows the cells to be examined under the microscope so that an exact diagnosis can be obtained.

Fluid therapy to correct dehydration is the single most important factor in cat kidney failure therapy! It is very important to use the correct type of fluids. 9% Normal Saline which is technically sterile salt water is the ideal fluid to give these cats.

TIP: Lactated Ringers Solution should be avoided as a fluid source in feline kidney failure as it contains calcium which is often also elevated in kidney disease. The calcium further compromises feline kidney function.

Without normal kidney function, toxins like Ammonia, normally eliminated in the urine, build up in the blood and circulate throughout your cats body. These toxins are caustic and cause serious damage including vomiting, diarrhea, appetite loss, anemia, heart problems, and dementia. Fluids may be given under the skin which is called subcutaneous or through a catheter, which is a small catheter (tube) inserted into a vein. Some cat owners learn to give fluids under the skin at home.

Kidney Dialysis machines that filter toxins from the blood and kidney transplants are available in extreme cases.

Special cat diets like Hills K/D with restricted levels of protein and phosphorus reduce the toxic waste load on the kidneys.These prescription diets are available through your veterinarian. In this veterinarian’s clinic, we develop homemade cat kidney diets, specifically for your cat.

Calcitriol is a form of activated Vitamin D, which is a natural hormone that helps prevent progression of cat kidney disease. It is compounded specifically for each cat based on their kidney blood values and now is also available commercially by prescription.Calcitriol is given by mouth once daily in this veterinarians experience, results are excellent.

Enalopril is a medication that safely reduces your cat’s blood pressure when necessary to prevent Feline Hypertension from occurring in cases of feline kidney disease.

Tumil-K is a potassium source useful in many cats suffering with chronic feline kidney failure. Because many of these chronic kidney failure cats have a lack of appetite, their potassium is often low and Tumil-K raises the levels appropriately. In some chronic kidney failure cases feline appetite stimulants may be needed.

COMPLEMENTARY CAT THERAPY for CHRONIC CAT KIDNEY DISEASE

Comprehensive balanced antioxidant-vitamin-mineral supplement given daily.

B-Complex Vitamins and Iron help combat Anemia which is often present with chronic cat feline kidney disease because the kidneys normally make a hormone that stimulates red blood cell production. When your cat’s kidneys are failing, they are not able to produce the hormone to stimulate red blood cell production which leads to a lack of red blood cells which vets refer to as anemia.

Vitamin B Complex – 5 milligrams daily

Vitamin C powder – 250 mg 3 times per day

Vitamin E – 400 IU (international units) once a week

Vitamin A – 10,000 IU (international units) once a week

Glandular – beef kidney – available at grocery stores – cats enjoy this!

 HERBAL REMEDIES FOR CHRONIC CAT KIDNEY DISEASE

Kombu broth – seaweed rich in minerals and low in sodium

Parsley tea – 1 Teaspoon of herb taken internally is rich in minerals,

Vitamins: A, B, C and the mineral Potassium.

Horsetail Grass infusion

Hornbeam is a Bach Flower Remedy used for cold, weak cats. The cat dose is 3 drops daily by mouth.