Cats have been found to have a diagnosis of Kidney Failure.
It is part of the natural aging process for cats over the age of 7 years.Animals less than 4 years of age are more likely to have genetic problems with their kidneys.The most important job of the kidneys is to remove natural toxins from the bloodstream and get rid of water that would otherwise end up in the urine.It is important to be aware of the signs of kidney failure so the cat can be diagnosed and treated as quickly as possible.
Step 1: Understand the difficulties of early detection.
The kidneys have a huge reserve capacity and it isn't until at least 75% of total function is lost that the cat shows clinical signs of a problem.By the time a diagnosis is made, the cat has a maximum of 25% of its capacity left.When people donate a kidneys, they lose 50% of their capacity, but they don't become ill.As the function of the kidneys declines, the nephrons are asked to work harder and so their demise is hastened.In order to prolong the life of the remaining nephrons, it is important to identify the disease early in the cat's life.When 75% damage has occurred, early detection is problematic because blood screening is not very sensitive.Yearly or six-monthly screening programs for senior cats are offered by many vet clinics.Even if most of the nephrons in their kidneys are destroyed, many cats can still compensate.If the owner isn't looking for signs of kidney failure or the symptoms are just a part of the cat getting older, this will delay a diagnosis.
Step 2: Make sure to watch your cat for symptoms.
There are a range of symptoms associated with the failure of the kidneys.The body adjusts in order to minimize the effects of the disease.As an owner, you may notice small changes in your cat, such as the need to fill the water bowl more often or empty the litter tray more frequently.The signs that the cat is drinking more should never be ignored.Many of the signs associated with renal disease overlap with other conditions.This means that a definitive diagnosis cannot be made on symptoms alone, but that further steps need to be taken to get to the bottom of the problem.
Step 3: If you see signs of increased thirst, that's a sign.
If your cat drinks from the toilet or the water bowl constantly needs topping up, you may notice.Increased thirst can be caused by the kidneys losing its ability to recycle water from the bloodstream.Increased thirst in the cat can be caused by the body losing water through the urine, which needs to be replaced.
Step 4: The cat might be urinating more often.
The volume of urine produced is larger because the cat is not able to concentrate it.The cat needs to urinate more often in order to stay comfortable.Cardinal signs need to clean the litter tray more often, or break down in house training habits, such as urinating outside of a litterbox.
Step 5: The cat may have signs of dehydration.
The gradual development of dehydration is caused by an imbalance between water loss and water taken in, even though the cat drinks more.During a physical examination, veterinarians look at how quickly the scruff springs back to its normal position.To do this, hold a piece of scruff between the fingers and thumb of one hand.Lift the scruff away from the spine and release it.The scruff springs back into its normal position in a well-hydrated animal.The skin of a dehydrated animal loses elasticity and returns slowly to its resting position.The cat is probably dehydrated if the skin takes over a second to slip back down.
Step 6: Do you know if you've lost any weight?
As a result of the kidneys' impaired ability to filter, large molecule such as protein tend to leak through the body and end up in the urine.It is an important waste of calories.One of the reasons for weight loss is that natural toxins make the cat feel sick, which reduces her appetite.A normal weight cat can lose muscle mass if it is overweight.As fat deposits are lost, the fat pad between the cat's legs will become saggy.
Step 7: You should smell your cat's breath.
Bad breath can be a result of many things, including rotten teeth, gum infections, diabetes, diet, and kidney failure.The bad breath is caused by the toxins that cause it, and this is described as having a typical ammonia-like smell.Some people's noses seem to be better at picking up ammonia smells than others.
Step 8: Check for oral wounds.
The toxins that cause bad breath damage the tissues in the mouth and stomach.You can see the wounds in the mouth.The margins of the tongue are where they form, and they can cause the cat to salivate.If the cat has a caustic substance, or if it has viral infections, it's a sign that you need to be aware of.
Step 9: Find out if there is any muscle wastage.
The cat's muscle starts to break up when it is too much for her to take from the diet.Cats with kidneys failure are usually thin and have dull coats.
Step 10: If you vomit or have a bad appetite, watch.
The cat is sick from gastric ulcers caused by a build up of toxins.It results in vomiting and a reluctance to eat.
Step 11: Feel the cat's body parts.
Failure of the kidneys can be caused by scar tissue and can feel smaller than usual.The lower back of thin cats makes it easy to feel the kidneys.Calculating their relative size is a skill that veterinarians acquire over the years.Don't try to feel your cat's body parts.A normal kidneys is usually equivalent in length to that of three lumbar vertebrae, and shrunken kidneys are usually less than two.
Step 12: The shape and symmetry of the kidney is important.
The surface of the kidneys feels smooth and both feel shrunken, because scar tissue forms uniformly throughout the body.With a rough, bumpy surface, cancerous kidneys often feel knobbly.The latter is a good indicator of whether or not a cancer can be treated with chemotherapy.
Step 13: The cat has a blood pressure.
The hormones that control blood pressure are broken down by the kidneys.The increased risk of high blood pressure is caused by the increased levels of hormones in the urine.A common consequence of hypertension is hemorrhage on the retina, which can be seen on a physical examination.A strong clue that needs to be followed up on is high pressure.The cuff used to measure your cat's blood pressure is similar to the one used in humans.Normal blood pressure for your cat is 120/80.
Step 14: Do a urine analysis.
In the early stages of kidney disease, urine analysis is an extremely valuable tool.If noglucose is present, a dipstick test can quickly rule out conditions that cause increased thirst.A dipstick test can give a rough indication of the urine's content.Blood can be present in the urine if there is a highprotein level.The clinician will suggest treating with antibiotics or sending the urine for culture if the blood is present.Once the blood has cleared, a decision can be made about the cause of the problem.An ERD test is a test that checks your cat's urine for the presence of microalbuminuria.
Step 15: Try a urine test.
Specific gravity is a measure of how concentrated the urine is.Cats conserve water by concentrating their urine.Specific gravity is measured by water.A healthy urine SG is between 1.035 and 1.060.It is considered abnormal to have urine below 1.035.There is a significant amount of urine SG below 1.025.It is an indicator that the kidneys are not concentrating urine if the urine has a low SG and high protein level.Changes in the blood test can be a sign of kidney disease.
Step 16: The urine creatinine ratio is a measurement of the amount of urine in the body.
The ratio of urine to creatinine is measured by this test.The cat's normal value is below 0.4.There needs to be an investigation if the ratio is above 1.0.
Step 17: You should take a sample of the cat's blood.
Blood tests can be used to identify cats that have lost 75% of their function.Blood urea, creatinine, andphosphate levels are three indicators that can be used to diagnose kidneys failure.Normal blood urea levels in the cat are less than 32mg/ml and levels higher are considered to be high.It can be high for other reasons if the urea is raised in the blood.Raising urea levels alone is not enough to diagnose renal failure.The normal level in cats is below 130 umol/l.It's likely that a reading above 130 umol/l is indicative ofrenal disease.The waste product of a breakdown is called conjugate.When the function of the kidneys fails, the levels ofphosphate in the bloodstream rise.The normal levels are below 2.6mmol/l.High blood phosphate levels can cause further damage to the kidneys due to a vicious circle of poor function.
Step 18: If you want to distinguish between dehydration and kidney disease, you need to do a test.
A high level of urea, creatinine, andphosphate is indicative of the disease.Raising results don't tell the clinician whether the problem is within the kidneys or not.If the organ is under strain because of another condition.If the problem is caused by dehydration, the clinician often suggests rehydrating the cat by putting her on an IV for a few days, and then repeating the blood tests at the end of this time.If the results are normal in the fully rehydrated cat, it means the kidneys is functioning normally but was under stress.If the results are not raised in the hydrated cat, there is a chance of failure.
Step 19: If there is a suspicion of cancer in the kidneys, you need to have a biopsies.
There is a limited role for kidneys in the diagnosis of disease.A definitive diagnosis of the type of cancer can be used to determine whether or not the treatment would be beneficial.The small, smooth feel of a large kidneys with knobbly surfaces contrasts sharply with the large one with cancer.Most causes of renal failure are treated the same way.Putting the cat through an anesthesia and a surgical procedure in order to reach a precise diagnosis is not something that should be done.