How important are our cat’s kidneys?
The kidney is one of the most important organs in the cat’s body. It eliminates waste products and excess fluid from our pets’ body. Apart from that the kidneys manage blood pressure and balance your furry friends’ fluids and hormones. This organ does so much more than we imagine and a failure or dysfunction of a kidney in your pet would result in a very serious health impact for your beloved kitty cat…
Types of renal failure in cats:
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
Chronic kidney failure happens slowly over time leading to renal failure and in most cases, the damage done is irreversible. As the process is gradual, it can take several months or years for CKD to be noticed, diagnosed and treated. A failure of the kidney system to push out your pets waste properly results in the buildup of toxins and waste in their little bodies. CKD can lead to lethargy, anaemia and weight loss in your pet.
Treatment:
Treatment for CKD can be started as soon as the reason for CKD is identified and diagnosed. Your cat will need to undergo a physical examination by your trusted vet, then blood and urine tests will need to be conducted before starting any treatment. For cats with anaemia and loss of weight due to CKD, measures will be taken by your vet to restore the correct production of RBC and help in weight gain. Nutritional requirements will have to be carefully planned for felines with chronic kidney failure. Most importantly, the regular intake of water, protein and low phosphate foods. Diet changes have been proven to improve the overall life expectancy of a cat with kidney failure so they are very important.
Acute Kidney Disease:
Acute kidney disease happens suddenly unlike CKD. Causes of acute kidney disease can include poisoning, trauma, heart failure, surgery and ingestion of toxic substances, etc. Symptoms include nausea, diarrhoea, refusal to eat, blood in vomit, frequent urination or no urination at all. If you observe any of these symptoms in your furry friend or if your cat has ingested any harmful or toxic substances or is bitten by any poisonous creature, then please do not wait – seek medical advice immediately.
Treatment:
Your cat may need treatment to restore their electrolyte balance through IV fluids. In case of poisoning or toxic substance injection, dialysis might be recommended and your pet cat will be monitored.
What if my cat refuses to eat?
Loss of appetite and refusal to eat are signs of renal failure. If you find your kitty will not accept the new diet required to reduce CKD, then make sure you start incorporating the diet changes incrementally into their lifestyle and resist the temptation to force-feed your pet. Serving your cat warm food can improve the palatability. There might be other reasons too as to why a cat refuses to eat.
How to prevent renal failures in cats?
Renal failure in cats can occur at any age or even sadly from birth. Although older cats tend to be more susceptible to CKD. While there is little that we can do to completely avoid kidney failure, there are measures that you can take as a pet parent to delay the effects of renal failure.
Regular checkups for your kitten or cat will help us, vets, to take a look at your furry friend’s overall health status including their kidney function. Regular urine tests will help us understand the varying concentration of urea and creatinine so we can come up with an analysis of any possible kidney failure or dysfunction. This will help us to start any treatment required as soon as possible giving your pet the best chance. Having a kidney check-up once or twice a year is recommended for your cat.
Your vet can also give advice about the right diet for your furry friend to ensure that your cat leads a healthy lifestyle which can significantly reduce the occurrence of life-threatening diseases generally.
‘Saying goodbye’:
It is true that a cat diagnosed with renal failure can live longer if treated at the right time and with proper caution. But in situations where the feline’s kidney has undergone extensive damage and recovery is impossible, as a pet parent you might choose to free your pet cat from its ailments. You are in the best position to know if your beloved friend is suffering and not able to tolerate the treatment. If you feel this way, you can talk to us and discuss your cat’s quality of life. You know your cat better than anyone else, and we are sure that as a pet parent, the decision that you take is in the best interests of your beautiful friend. We will make sure that your pet cat does not experience any uneasiness and is put to sleep in the best possible way with our two-step euthanasia procedure. Safe in your arms when crossing the rainbow bridge until you meet again.