Kidney Disease in cats

Holly is a senior kitty (14 years old) with advanced Chronic Kidney Disease.  There is a great website 

that can give you so much information written in simple English that we can all understand.  Her phosphorus level had risen very high again so she was hospitalized for a few days to try to get it lowered.  She is a sweet kitty and sadly I think as advanced as her kidney disease we will not have many more months with her.  For my vet/vet tech friends out there BUN 47  CREATINE 2.5 PHOSPHORUS 6.2  This is AFTER being in the hospital for 2 days.  For my non vet friends,  those numbers are not good.

Holly gets daily fluids to help with dehydration.  With a cat with end-stage kidney disease, this will not fix dehydration but it helps.   She is not fond of having fluids done but usually will co-operate long enough for me to get them done.

Here is a video of me doing them.  This one is kind of disjointed.

Please remember you are human and nothing is ever perfect.

Do the best you can :) 

If your cat has any of the following symptoms, please get them to your vet immediately.

**  weight loss and reduction of appetite
**  Dry coat
**  Bad breath (often with an ammonia-like odor)
**  Vomiting and diarrhea
** Discoloration and/or ulcers on the tongue or gums
** Coma

Once a coma occurs, death is imminent.  It is critical you take your cat to the veterinarian when they first
exhibit any of these symptoms.

Your vet will need to do blood work & urinalysis to confirm the diagnosis.  Give your vet the tools to help your pet.  Always let them do blood, etc.

Prevention of Kidney Failure in Cats

Limit your cat’s exposure to toxic substances.

Understand possible genetic connections: (Abyssinians and Persians are thought to have a familial predisposition to developing kidney disease.

Schedule regular, twice - yearly appointments with your vet.  Caught early as part of wellness screen
gives the best chance for long-term health because intervention takes place very early in the disease process

Learn the signs of kidney disease.  If your cat has a change in water intake or trips to the litter box, take
them to the vet.   They could be signs of kidney disease or diabetes.  Go to the vet and find out  :)