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.