I came across this article about how to recognize the signs of kidney failure in cats and have posted it here for your information. Cat kidney problems seem to be on the rise and this is one of those cat health problems that needs to be dealt with quickly. I hope you enjoy the article and learn from it.
Image by wwhyte1968 via Flickr
Kidney in a Cat – Tips to Recognizing the Signs of Kidney Failure in Cats
By Ezine Articles author Kate Rieger
Its critical to seek immediate veterinary treatment when you notice the signs of a problem kidney in a cat. The earlier your cat gets treatment the more chances she has for a longer life with you. While chronic renal failure arrives over a long period of time, acute kidney failure is an emergency. Here’s some tips to recognizing the symptoms of kidney failure in cats.
Feline kidneys are vulnerable to a number of life-threatening disorders that can lead to a failing kidney in a cat or chronic renal failure. Your vet would probably agree with the statistics that they see more cats 7 years and older
that are showing signs of kidney failure in cats.
The risk for feline kidney disease may be inherited. Some long-haired breeds like Angoras and Persians and short-haired cats like the Abyssinian are more genetically predisposed to kidney problems, either acute or chronic renal failure.
The main difference between chronic and acute kidney failure in cats is that acute renal failure is a very severe situation that occurs relatively suddenly – over a week or a month. Chronic renal failure creeps up on your cat over a longer time, years even. Common causes of acute renal failure include blockages that prevent a good flow of blood to the kidney in a cat or stones and inflammations blocking the flow of urine from the kidney into the bladder.
- Image via Wikipedia
The most common cause of kidney failure in cats occurs when your cat swallows a toxic substance like antifreeze, pesticides, cleaning fluids and human medications.
Signs Of Kidney Failure In Cats
* Occasional vomiting
* Increase in water consumption
* Increase in urination
* Weight loss Loss of appetite
Your vet may use a couple of terms “polydipsia” or “polyuria”. Polydipsia means that your cat is drinking a lot of water – lots of it. On the other end, polydipsia means that your cat is urinating a lot – lots and lots. In fact, you this may be the first sign your recognize of a problem kidney in a cat. When you clean the litter box you find numerous pee-balls of cat litter, or unusually large ones.
If your vet suspects kidney failure in a cat she will evaluate your cat’s BUN. BUN stands for blood urea nitrogen, as well as the creatinine levels. When these are elevated it means your cat’s kidneys aren’t working right and need extra help.
Traditionally, treating renal failure in cats is determined by the disorder causing the condition. If acute kidney failure is caused by a urinary tract blockage the stone must be removed immediately. Treating chronic renal failure is done with a more conservative approach. This may include intravenous fluid therapy and changes to diet.
Low protein diets are easier to process by a malfunctioning kidney in a cat. Other measures that help your cat include adding a homeopathic remedy to sooth her urinary tract and support her kidney functions.
You can find more about natural medications and free tips for treating a kidney failure in cat at Cat-Bladder-Problems.com Article Source: Ezine Articles – Kidney-in-a-Cat—Tips-to-Recognizing-the-Signs-of-Kidney-Failure-in-Cats.
I totally agree with Kate’s suggestion of using natural medications in treating any cat health problem. Liz Barton’s *Health and Grooming Secrets has more information on possible causes for cat kidney problems.
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Tags: cat kidney problems cat health problems, kidney failure in cats, kidney in a cat
Lulu, my cat is over fifteen years old. Last winter I took her to a vet. he said she has kidney failure. We can put water under her skin with a needle each day. Since last December, she has lost weight, drinks lot of water. These last four days, she has been sleeping many hours at a time. Is this a sign of kidney failure? Thank you so much Mary Gilmour
Hi Mary,
I’m sorry to hear that Lulu has kidney failure. Here are a few things you can do to help her. Continue with injecting her with water each day, this helps keep her hydrated and puts less strain on her kidneys. Your vet may insert a port for you to inject into if you are unsure about doing it yourself. She will need to drink lots of fluids so have a few dishes scattered throughout your home. You can also add a little flavoring to the water such as the fluid from tuna in spring water (not any fish in brine, that is far too salty). I suggest giving her smaller and more frequent meals so the kidneys aren’t put under too much pressure filtering a large meal. Try warming her wet food a little but not above body temperature. This may make it a little more palatable for Lulu. Because she needs to drink so much, have a few litter trays around the house so she won’t have to worry about holding her urine. Your vet may have prescribed a special diet rich in needed vitamins and minerals. If not, ask him about one.
With care and love, Lulu can still live for quite some time. She will want to sleep a lot as she is a very sick cat. Just as with us, the body works to heal itself when she’s asleep. This website (http://www.felinecrf.com/map.shtml) is purely devoted to cats with kidney failure and I’m sure you’ll find support there as her kidneys fail further.
Kathy