By Kate Rieger
Cat renal failure is most commonly known as kidney failure in our furry little friends. It is a very common condition that affects older cats. To give you an idea of how common it is, one out of every five cats over the age of fifteen will suffer from it.
Cat renal failure is characterized by the decrease in the kidney’s ability to purify blood in order to remove waste products from it. It is often a slow going, and gradually degenerating problem which is often irreversible.
Some of the symptoms you should look for are weight loss, depression, loss of energy or appetite, excessive thirst and urination, elevated blood pressure, poor coat and anemia. The diagnosis can be reached by visiting a veterinarian to have blood analysis done, as well as a urine test.
The first treatment often used is to give the cat fluids intravenously in order to balance their electrolytes. Sometimes this is just a hydration packet inserted under your cat’s skin. Other times it is a full blown IV drip. In some cases, cat parents learn how to give an IV to their cat. Then they do the IV treatment at home.
Cat renal failure can be controlled through diet. You should decrease the amount of protein in your cat’s diet, because protein is most responsible for the accumulation of waste products in the blood once the kidneys have stopped working properly. However, it is important that the diet is regulated with care because if you feed your pet too little protein, the condition can actually get much worse.
Additionally, lowering the phosphate content in the food appears to help prevent further damage to the kidneys. It is highly recommended that you purchase a special diet food that has been designed specifically for cat renal failure. To help your cat adjust, you can start by mixing it in with their old foods.
Ensuring your cat gets adequate intake of water is important, because cats who suffer from this disease often become dehydrated. If you find your cat is not drinking the water on its own, you can try flavoring it with tuna or chicken to make it more appetizing.
Visiting your veterinarian is the first step to diagnosing and treating cat renal failure. It is important that you get treatment started right away, as it will help prolong the life of your precious pet. We all want what is best for our furry little friends. A kidney transplant is another option, but this can easily cost anywhere from five to eight thousand dollars.
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I hope those new to Kidney disease do not despair once they hear the Dx. There is much you can do holistically that will extend the quality of life of your cat. The SubQ fluid administration at home is just a start. There is a supplement called Azodyl that offloads the toxins in the blood into the intestines that the kidneys would normally process, thus lessening the burden on the kidneys. My Vet stocks this because it’s THAT effective. There is an herbal formula that has a good track record in helping cats feel much better – Kidney Support Gold by PetWellbeing. The quality of the protein is actually more important than the quantity. Home cook fresh can help if you have time. I’ve been down this path with 3 cats and I hope this helps anyone that is looking for a ray of hope.
Renal failure is far from a death sentence when discovered early. One of my vets once said that the #1 cause of renal failure in old cats is being an old cat. Thanks to improvements in diet and veterinary care over recent decades, our cats are living longer than their kidneys have evolved to expect. I have had four cats with renal failure: one lived 4.5 years after diagnosis,and two lived for over two. All were over the age of 14 when diagnosed.
Some preventative measures can help. Switch cats to a senior diet when they reach 8-10 years of age. Start having senior chem profiles done every year or two at the same time and request the kidney profile.
If your cat isn’t a good water drinker, add extra water to canned food at feeding time.