Symptoms and Treatment of Cat Kidney Failure in Durham
Your cat's kidneys help keep her blood pressure in check, improve blood flow, and make hormones and red blood cells. Properly functioning kidneys eliminate waste to keep the blood clean. Cat kidney failure threatens your cat's life and well-being. If you suspect your cat is showing symptoms of kidney failure, bring her to a Durham emergency pet hospital right away.
Here are two types of feline kidney problems:
- Chronic kidney failure: these problems are recurring over longer periods of time and may resolve themselves
- Acute kidney failure: sudden decline that requires immediate treatment
Kidney failure leads to severe illnesses in older cats. Signs of renal failure may take up to a month to develop.
What Causes Cat Kidney Failure?
The following health conditions can lead to kidney failure in cats:
- Cancer
- Reduced blood or urine flow
- High blood pressure
- Cancer
- Kidney stones
- Ingestion of toxins, such as pesticides and cleaning chemicals
- Dental disease
- Genetic predisposition, such as long-haired cats
- Age - cats over 7 years old
- High-phosphorus food can accelerate decline
- Outdoor cats are more at least due to contact with toxins
Signs of Kidney Failure in Cats
Renal issues in cats are hard to detect because the common signs are similar to disorders such as hyperthyroidism and diabetes. Symptoms may also indicate that the disease is in an advanced stage.
Contact your pet health care provider if you notice the following symptoms:
- Reduced appetite
- Bloody urine
- Increased thirst
- Frequent or no urination
- Vomiting
- Lethargy
- Poor coat
- Bad breath
- Weight loss
- Diarrhea
Treatment for Feline Kidney Disease
If acute cat kidney failure is caught early enough, it can be managed. However, chronic cat kidney failure cannot be cured and your vet can only provide palliative care. Depending on your cat's individual case, treatment may include food modification, fluid therapy, dialysis, blood pressure drugs, or a transplant.
Early detection is important, so make sure you take your pet for regular vet checks and act right away if she isn’t acting like herself. If your cat is over 7 years old, you might want to get her a senior screening to make sure her kidneys are functioning properly.
For cat's diagnosed with kidney disease, food modification may slow down the process and increase her lifespan. There are specially formulated cat foods for kidney health, and your vet may recommend one for your pet.
Cat kidney disease can change your pet's quality of life. That's why it's important to visit an emergency pet hospital, such as New Hope Animal Hospital in Durham, if you think her health is in danger. Come by today with any immediate concerns you have about your pet's well-being.