kidney failure often occurs in cats old age. This is a condition in which the kidneys cannot cope with the function of removing toxic substances in the urine. Violation of the excretory function of the kidneys leads to a gradual poisoning of the body with toxins. Symptoms of the disease begin to appear when a huge number of cells have already been lost. renal tissue(nephrons).

What animals are at risk?

Several factors influence the possibility of developing the disease. The causes of CKD in cats are varied. It often happens that diseases of other organs cause kidney failure in cats, treatment of these diseases could prevent severe consequences. It is important for the owner of the animal to be aware of the risks of developing such a complication in order to prevent kidney failure in time.

1. Most often, older cats over the age of 8 years suffer from kidney failure. Kidney tissue ages, it appears age-related changes that can lead to the development of the disease. However, the disease can also occur in young animals. Kittens suffer from this disease less frequently than adult cats.
2. An important factor is heredity. If there were cases of kidney failure in the animal's pedigree, then there is a considerable risk of developing the disease.
3. Certain breeds of cats are more likely to suffer from this disease. For example, Angora, Persian and other breeds with long hair. They have a high predisposition to kidney disease.
4. Spayed cats are at risk of developing kidney failure. Such animals, if improperly fed, are predisposed to diseases of the excretory organs, which can lead to severe impairment of kidney function in the future.
5. The conditions in which cats are kept are of great importance. So, cats that go out for a walk are more likely to suffer from kidney disease than domestic ones.
6. Urolithiasis often leads to the development of renal failure.
7. If the animal suffers from pyelonephritis or glomerulonephritis, then such diseases can be complicated by kidney failure.
8. Improper feeding and lack of water lead to the formation of kidney stones, and then to insufficiency of the excretory organs. This is facilitated by eating low-quality economy class feed, monotonous food, insufficient drinking when using dry feed.
9. Severe food poisoning or toxic substances can impair kidney function. Kidney failure can also occur due to side effects some veterinary drugs.
10. The disease can also occur as a complication after injuries, for example, due to a fall from a window or from a dog attack.
11. The animal may become ill after past infection(distemper or viral peritonitis).
12. In cats that are sick diabetes high risk of developing kidney failure.

Kidney failure in cats can occur in two forms: acute (ARF) and chronic (CRF). AKI caused by damage to the kidney tissue is called renal insufficiency. Acute renal failure in cats is completely curable until it becomes chronic. Therefore, you should know the symptoms of the disease in order to consult a veterinarian in time with suspicious signs.

Symptoms of kidney failure in cats

Put accurate diagnosis only a veterinarian can, because the symptoms of kidney failure are nonspecific, such signs can be observed in other diseases. The following manifestations should alert the owner of the animal:

1. The cat loses its appetite, refuses to eat. There is a sharp weight loss, sometimes up to anorexia.
2. Seals become lethargic, sleepy, move little.
3. Frequent vomiting occurs due to poisoning of the body with toxins. Bouts of vomiting can occur several times during the day. Vomiting does not bring relief, the animal noticeably weakens. There may be diarrhea with abdominal pain.
4. The cat begins to drink a lot, it torments intense thirst. Plentiful drink worsens health, as it creates an additional burden on the kidneys.
5. There is a delay in urination, the animal rarely goes to the tray. The cat may begin to urinate in unusual places. There are pains when urinating. The cat makes squeaks and groans while sitting on the tray.
6. The color and amount of urine changes. In the urine, a bloody admixture is visible, the amount of fluid released becomes small. Occasionally there is infrequent but copious urination.
7. May be observed seizures. Sudden involuntary contractions different groups muscles. With severe intoxication, loss of consciousness is possible.
8. From the mouth of the animal comes bad smell. It resembles the smell of urine or the smell of acetone. With such a symptom, the animal needs emergency care, since there is high risk development of renal (uremic) coma.

If these signs appear, you should contact your veterinarian immediately. At the stage of acute renal failure, the condition of the animal can still be significantly improved with the help of a specially selected diet. If acute renal failure in a cat manifests itself repeatedly, then the disease gradually progresses. And then it becomes much more difficult to help the animal, because dying kidney cells cannot be restored.

Over time, chronic renal failure develops, the treatment of this disease is long and complicated.

Stages of development of chronic renal failure (CRF)

With chronic renal failure in the blood of cats, the amount of a nitrogen compound, creatinine, increases. Depending on the amount of creatinine, several stages of CRF are distinguished:

1. Latent (hidden) stage of CRF. At this stage of the disease, the level of creatinine in the blood is still within the normal range or slightly elevated. There are no symptoms of the disease yet, the animal feels normal. It is very difficult to detect CRF at this stage. This requires a number of tests, but pet owners rarely go to the veterinarian at an early stage, since nothing worries them about the condition of the pet.
2. The initial stage of HPN. At this stage, the amount of creatinine in the blood increases, it becomes difficult for the kidneys to cope with their function. The first signs of the disease appear. The cat loses weight, becomes sleepy and lethargic, periodically vomits. The animal eats little. Such signs can last for several months, after which the disease without treatment passes into the next stage.
3. conservative stage of the disease. The kidneys lose most of their function. The level of creatinine in the blood is sharply increased. The animal suffers severe vomiting, the level of hemoglobin falls, dehydration occurs.
4. The end stage of CRF leads to the death of the animal. The level of creatinine and urea in the blood reaches high performance. Observed seizures. Comes from the cat's mouth Strong smell urine or acetone. Such manifestations mean that the cat's kidneys are failing. At this stage of the disease, only a kidney transplant can prolong the life of the animal. But such an operation is still rare and prolongs life only for a short time. Treatment of chronic renal failure in cats terminal stage is usually ineffective.

Additional symptoms in chronic renal failure

In chronic renal failure, there may be additional symptoms from other organs. After all, impaired kidney function affects the work of other body systems. Appear:

1. Disorders of the heart (rapid or rare heartbeat).
2. high arterial pressure.
3. Violation of blood clotting.
4. Seizures resembling those of epilepsy.
5. Formation of ulcers in the mouth and on the tongue.
6. Weakened immunity, susceptibility to colds.
7. Dullness of the coat.
8. Softening bone tissue, especially the bones of the skull in the facial part.

What should I do if my cat shows these signs? You should not self-medicate and make a diagnosis yourself. Only a specialist can understand the causes of kidney failure in cats, the symptoms and treatment. Therefore, you should immediately contact veterinary clinic to make a diagnosis.

Diagnosis of CRF in cats

After clarification of complaints and a preliminary examination of the animal, the following examinations are prescribed:

1. Blood and urine tests. This will help determine the presence of toxins in the blood and urine. With such a disease, there is always an increase in the number toxic substances because the kidneys can no longer excrete them. By the amount of toxins, you can determine the stage of the disease.
2. Calculation of CFP (concentrating function of the kidneys). This calculation is based on the results of urine and blood tests. To determine the CFP coefficient, you need to divide the value of creatinine in urine by the value of creatinine in the blood. Normal indicator a coefficient greater than 100 is considered. If this indicator is less than 100, then chronic renal failure can be suspected. If the CFP is less than 30, there is a serious threat to the life of the animal.
3. An ultrasound of the kidneys may be prescribed. This makes it possible to determine which kidney disease may have caused the failure.
4. A biopsy of the kidney tissue is performed to identify the cause of the disease.
5. X-ray diagnostics with the introduction contrast agent to confirm or exclude the presence of stones in the urinary tract.

Based on the examination of the animal and the results of the research, the veterinarian makes a diagnosis and prescribes treatment.

Methods of treatment of chronic renal failure

Consider how to treat chronic renal failure in cats. The choice of treatment method largely depends on how far the disease has gone. The prognosis of survival also depends on the stage of the disease. The treatment of kidney failure in cats includes various methods.

1. Bladder catheterization. This method is used as first aid for CRF. V bladder a tube is inserted to remove urine. Catheterization helps clear the body of urine.
2. infusion therapy. The cat is given droppers with saline solutions. This helps to cope with dehydration and restore the water-salt balance in the body. Also, with the help of droppers, they cleanse the blood of toxins. Infusion saline solutions is the main method of dealing with kidney failure.
3. Remedies for vomiting. If the animal is tormented by bouts of vomiting from poisoning with toxins, Cerucal is prescribed. This helps to tame nausea.
4. Antispasmodic drugs. Drugs such as Papaverine or No-shpa relieve spasm of the kidney vessels.
5. ACE inhibitors (Captopril, Enalapril) are used to lower blood pressure.
6. Painkillers. Analgesics are used, and with severe pain, blockade with novocaine is performed.
7. Antibiotics. Antibacterial drugs are prescribed to prevent the development of infection.
8. Hemodialysis. In severe stages of the disease, the body is cleansed with the help of an “artificial kidney”.
9. Kidney transplant. This method is used extremely rarely. Kidney transplantation is performed in a very small number of clinics. Only young cats can do this operation. In the terminal stage of the disease, such an operation can extend the life of a cat by about 6 months.
10. Food additives (Ipakitine). These dietary supplements bind phosphorus, they are used to prevent complications in chronic renal failure. However, such supplements are not medicines and do not cure the disease, but only prevent the development of complications.

Alternative methods of treatment of chronic renal failure in cats

How to treat folk remedies CKD in a cat? Such treatments can be used as an adjunct to the main therapy. Herbs and homeopathy are used:

• pomegranate juice;
• decoction of burdock root;
• decoction of flax seeds;
• rosehip decoction;
• linden tea with honey;
• echinacea tincture;
• herbal collection(melissa, oregano, chamomile, St. John's wort);
• infusion of oats;
• decoction of birch buds;
• homeopathic preparations for the treatment of kidneys: white arsenic oxide (arsenicum albumum), eel blood serum (serum anguille), bee venom (apis mellifica).

Treatment of renal failure with folk remedies should be agreed with the veterinarian. After all, phytopreparations and homeopathy can also have contraindications.

How to feed a cat with CKD?

If cat CKD, then diet is extremely important for his condition. With the help of a diet, you can significantly improve the condition of a sick pet. If the cat is in serious condition and refuses to eat, then feeding through a tube is used. This is done in a hospital setting. As soon as the animal can eat on its own, the veterinarian prescribes a diet.

1. Limit proteins in food. Protein is contraindicated in cats with CRF and should be kept to a minimum in the diet. meat consumption and meat products should be reduced to 30-50%. The diet of a cat with kidney failure should contain only a small amount of lean protein. Can be given instead of meat chicken offal(stomach, heart). Turkey meat is useful, it contains little protein and is nutritious. To increase the calorie content of food, you can include porridge from cereals in your diet. Low-fat cottage cheese or yogurt is recommended.
2. Limit phosphorus in food. Fish is categorically contraindicated. This product contains a lot of phosphorus. In food it is useful to include special nutritional supplements(Ipakitin), binding phosphorus.
3. There should be enough water in the diet, since chronic renal failure develops dehydration. The animal should always have a bowl with a clean drinking water. We must remember that water enters the body not only through drinking, but also through food.
4. Currently, special renal feeds have been developed. These are therapeutic foods for cats with renal insufficiency, such as Royal Canin Renal, Eukanuba Renal, etc. Such dietary foods are made taking into account all the nutritional needs of sick cats. They are used only for feeding animals with renal insufficiency, they are not intended for feeding. healthy cats. In such products, protein is sharply limited, but they are nutritious, and the pet receives a sufficient amount of calories and nutrients. What to do if the pet is not used to medicinal food? Then you should add a small amount of dietary food to the usual food and gradually accustom the cat to a new diet.

It must be remembered that a cat with CRF should not be hungry. After all, with this disease, weight loss is observed. Feeding cats should be sufficient.

How to care for a sick cat?

Chronic renal failure in cats requires a special approach in handling the animal. Must comply following rules caring for a sick pet:

1. Visit the veterinarian regularly. A sick cat should be under the constant supervision of a doctor. With an exacerbation of the disease, the animal should be placed in a hospital.
2. It is necessary to strictly follow the diet.
3. The course of treatment must be completed. Even if the pet's condition has improved, the prescribed therapy should be continued.
4. Make sure your cat is drinking enough fluids.
5. It is necessary to monitor the well-being of the cat and the condition of its coat. If there are any changes, visit the veterinarian.
6. Vitamin and mineral complexes should be included in the diet for general strengthening organism.
7. It is necessary to protect the animal from injuries and infections. The room where the pet is kept should be warm. Do not let a sick cat go for independent walks.

Following these rules will help improve the condition of the cat.

Chronic renal failure in cats is easier to prevent than to treat. After all, this disease is not treated to the end, it is no longer possible to fully restore kidney function. To prevent the disease, you need to follow some rules in the care of animals:

1. If the cat is overweight, the obesity must be treated. Excess weight is one of the risk factors for chronic renal failure in cats.
2. It is necessary to monitor the safety of the pet in order to avoid possible injuries. After all, trauma often leads to impaired renal function.
3. Infections in cats should be treated promptly so that there are no complications to the kidneys.
4. If you have diabetes, be sure to follow the instructions of your veterinarian. This disease is one of the risk factors for kidney disease.
5. should be under the supervision of a veterinarian. You should not self-treat urolithiasis.
6. Cats should be fed quality food. high class. When eating dry food, the animal should always have water to drink. Do not feed your cat fish too often. Meat for nutrition should be lean and dietary.

Chronic renal failure is serious illness, but this is not a sentence for the animal. At modern methods treatment is quite possible to prolong life and significantly improve the condition of the pet.

Chronic renal failure (CRF) is a nightmare for many cat owners, especially thoroughbreds, because scientists have already established that this disease is hereditary. Even breeds are named, in whose representatives CRF is more common than in others. These are British persian cats and Maine Coons.

The only way to prevent the occurrence of pathology is to prevent sick cats from breeding. But not all breeders care about conducting a survey of producers, and therefore chronic renal failure continues to be dreamed of by owners in nightmares. But forewarned is forearmed.

What is chronic renal failure?

So what is chronic kidney disease in cats? We will try to reveal the causes of this disease and the secrets of dealing with it.

Chronic renal failure is a pathology in which the kidneys cease to cope with their work. And we are not talking about a temporary breakdown, but about a "factory defect" - a kind of time bomb.

An explosion, that is, the beginning of the development of a disease, can occur at any time and for a variety of reasons. Inflammatory process in the body not proper nutrition, hypothermia, infection, metabolic disorders - any of these factors can become a pebble that brings down an avalanche.

Chronic renal failure in cats is incurable. All that can be done is to carry out maintenance therapy, strictly monitoring the condition of the animal and applying special diet. If you manage to contain the onset of the disease, then the cat will be able to live for many years and even feel good, delighting the owners.

Stages of Renal Failure in Cats

But here is the main difficulty. Symptoms of chronic renal failure in early stages in cats, they are not expressed in any way, so it is so rare to diagnose the disease in time that these cases can be counted on the fingers.

In the first and second stages, the disease does not manifest itself externally, and only a very attentive owner will notice that the cat has begun to drink more. But you must admit, how many of us will consider this a reason to immediately run to the doctor?

Meanwhile, checking the level of creatinine and ultrasound can give an answer quite quickly and accurately even when clear signs renal failure in cats is still absent.

The International Society for the Study of the Kidney (IRIS - The International Renal Interest Society) proposed four stages of renal failure in cats. See how the level of creatinine in the urine differs on each of them (the unit of measurement is µmol / l).

And now let's talk a little about what happens in the body of a cat suffering from chronic and, moreover, acute renal failure - the symptoms of this disease should become SOS signals for the owner of the animal.

Your pet's body produces a certain amount of toxins every day - the waste products of the muscles and internal organs. All of these toxins enter the bloodstream and travel through the bloodstream until they reach the kidneys, which filter the blood and produce urine, which unnecessary to the body substances and leave it forever.

Signs of early renal failure in cats

Healthy kidneys can cope even with very large quantity toxins, increasing their concentration in the urine to significant limits. If the process of kidney failure has already begun, then the filtering ability of the kidneys is weakened, and in order to remove all the toxins, they have to produce more and more urine. And for this you need water - the cat begins to experience constant thirst and drink more.

This is one of the first signs of chronic renal failure. initial stage. Cats at this time, mostly feel good. However, if the doctor does not intervene at this stage, the process will continue inexorably, and soon no volume of fluid will be able to compensate for the insufficiency of the kidneys.

It is like a clogged filter, through which no matter how much water is poured, only a thin trickle will come out.

Signs of advanced renal failure

At the next stage of the disease, the purr becomes lethargic, apathetic, loses appetite, loses weight and suffers frequent vomiting- so the body tries to get rid of toxins accumulated in the blood.

In the last stage of kidney failure, the cat loses hair, and also appears strong smell acetone from the mouth.

Alas, very often sick animals come for examination already with many, if not all of these symptoms, when it is no longer possible to help the animal.

Therefore, if your cat is at risk, get tested by your veterinarian and check if your pet is at risk of chronic kidney failure - in cats, the last stage can come much faster than you think, so if in any doubt, do not delay the diagnosis .

As we said, if timely measures are taken, a cat with kidney failure can survive. long life. It is only necessary to strictly follow the doctor's instructions and provide the animal with special nutrition. We will talk about how to feed a cat with kidney failure and the proper treatment of pets in the next article. Follow our publications.

We suggest leaving your comments below on the topic - the forum, unfortunately, is not provided within the framework of the article, but we will try to answer all your questions. We hope that the discussion of such a disaster as kidney failure in cats, the symptoms and prognosis of the disease will be useful to everyone.

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Cats are carnivores, so their body produces mass harmful substances, they do the same from outside. When an animal healthy kidneys, then most of the accumulated toxins are excreted in the urine.

Among the ailments that lead to the death of a cat are kidney diseases. Toxic Substances lingering in the body can cause poisoning. Usually, cats courageously endure uncomfortable sensations, until the disease does not give complications. Pay close attention to changes in your pet's behavior, as the most common disease among cats is kidney failure - a disease of the urinary tract.

Forms and stages of the disease

The state of pathology, in which the work of the kidneys is disrupted, to maintain homeostasis (the constancy of the internal environment in the body) is called renal failure. At the same time, the ability of the kidneys to form and excrete urine is completely or partially lost, which leads to the development of a serious violation of the acid-base and water-salt balance, a violation of the internal environment. This leads to failure of the whole organism.

There are two forms clinical development renal failure: acute and chronic. sudden, acute lesion kidney tissue leads to a sharp drop in the amount of urine excreted, or even to its complete absence (anuria), called acute renal failure (ARF), as a rule, this process is reversible.

There are four stages in the formation of kidney failure:

• initial - sharp drop blood pressure leads to a decrease in urine volume;
• the oligoanuric stage minimizes the amount of urine to the limit, sometimes it stops being excreted altogether;
• restorative - nitrogenous metabolites accumulate in the blood, their concentration increases;
• recovery - acute renal failure responds well to treatment and in the process, the volume of urine increases, sometimes becoming more than in healthy body, but apart from salt and water, urine removes almost nothing from the body.

Adequate treatment and favorable development of the disease makes it possible to restore the optimal amount and quality characteristics urine, gradually, after about 2-3 months, kidney function will fully recover.

Causes and symptoms of kidney failure in cats

Congenital disorders of the kidneys, tumors, frequent inflammations, malfunction thyroid gland. Diabetes, urolithiasis, amyloidosis, poisoning and other pathologies lead to chronic renal failure in cats.

With chronic renal failure, all changes in the kidneys come down to a decent decrease in the active materials of the kidneys, and this leads to azotemia, that is great content degradation products in the animal's blood. When a protein breaks down, it appears uric acid, the kidneys do not function well and shift their work to other organs: the gastric mucosa, the lungs, which are not designed for heavy loads, such a plan. It all comes down to self-poisoning of the body.

There are frequent bouts of nausea, vomiting, the cat is tormented by thirst, may begin muscle cramps, from the mouth of the animal smells of urine, low temperature body. The volume of urine is reduced.

The result of chronic renal failure can be:

• pyelonephritis, amyloidosis, urolithiasis, any chronic diseases kidney,
• systemic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, gout, hereditary kidney anomaly (most often in British and Persians),
• due to poisoning with lead, mercury, medicines.

Chronic renal failure is formed for a long time, up to several years, but always leads to irreversible changes and impaired functioning of the kidneys. Most often the disease occurs in adult cats older than 10 years.

The kidneys have a large reserve, so the disease proceeds for a long time without any symptoms, only when most of the kidneys are affected, signs of kidney failure appear.

If the animal is frequently exposed infectious diseases, the kidneys may be secondarily affected, kidney disease affect all functions internal organs, so the diagnosis is based on laboratory research.

The main signs of kidney disease are the appearance of protein in the urine, erythrocytes, low density urine, the contour outlines of the kidneys are not even, there is palpable pain on palpation, the mucous membranes are yellow.

The disease of the genitourinary system is accompanied by weakness, loss of appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, the smell of ammonia on the breath, thirst, followed by dehydration, back pain. False urge to urinate, weakening immune system, seizures, anemia, edema, hypertension.

The diagnosis of CKD can only be determined by biochemical analysis blood, since in the initial period the symptoms are mild or absent at all.

Some Clinical signs correspond to other diseases, therefore, if the animal has a suspicion of renal failure, it is necessary to undergo deep examination, including examination by a veterinarian, blood and urine tests, ultrasound abdominal cavity t x-ray, after which the doctor will make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment.

How to Treat Kidney Failure in Cats

It is necessary to treat kidney diseases in a complex way, including diet food, adjust the water-salt balance and acid-base balance, normalize blood pressure, if necessary, apply extracorporeal blood purification, you can replace the kidney with an artificial one, or even transplant a donor one.

During treatment acute illness first eliminate the root causes of its occurrence.

Chronic renal failure develops slowly and is the cause of frequent kidney inflammation. Over time, the active functions of the kidneys are replaced connective tissue, therefore, the work of the kidneys remains normal, and in the body there is an accumulation of harmful substances and slow poisoning. At treatment of chronic renal failure priority is given to maintaining kidney function at a certain level.

Kidney diseases are associated with the accumulation of urea and phosphorus in the blood, so the diet should be selected with a small amount of protein products. In some cases, when too much protein is lost due to poor kidney function, foods with high content protein, which negatively affects the body of the animal. This is very rare, so most of the time kidney disease use a low protein diet.

Nowadays, many famous brands, produce specialized food for cats prone to kidney failure and for the prevention of the disease.

Cats prefer food rich in protein, for a diet that is good for her, with low content squirrel animal is difficult to translate, so you have to cheat, seduce the pet. At the consultation veterinarian will explain which food is more useful for your cat, where optimally balanced useful elements. It remains to persuade the cat to eat this food. Murka can stubbornly refuse him, try to cook dinner for her yourself.

If the cat is rapidly losing weight, it is necessary to apply anabolic steroid together with B vitamins, this will help bring the animal's weight back to normal.

Popularity won ACE inhibitors, which have recently been used in the treatment of renal failure in cats. They are good at reducing pressure, it affects general well-being animal, improves the quality of life and its duration.

Often, the infusion method is used in treatment, when solutions are injected into the animal's body. different composition intravenously, using a dropper, the method also allows you to remove harmful toxins from the body and prevent dehydration.

The drugs are prescribed according to primary disease which caused kidney failure. The treatment was aimed at restoring and maintaining kidney function.

If there is a suspicion of kidney failure, what should I do?

If the owner has any suspicions that his pet is sick, he should immediately show it to the veterinarian, and cats, aged, should undergo an annual medical examination. This procedure will help to identify the disease already at the first stages of development and help prescribe adequate treatment.

The initial stage of chronic renal failure is difficult to identify, symptoms begin to be noticeable when almost two-thirds of the kidney tissue is damaged. By this time, much has already been lost, therefore, do not waste time in vain, the sooner treatment begins, the more effective it may be.

Before going to the veterinarian, collect urine in a jar for testing, do not forget to take it with you, this will save time. An x-ray should be taken to rule out kidney stones or tumors. The doctor can inject a special dye into the blood, which will make it possible to see in the picture. internal structure kidneys. A biopsy may be needed, this is when an incision is made on the cat's abdomen, through which tissue samples are taken for examination using a thin long needle. The biopsy is performed under anesthesia.

Depending on the diagnosis, treatment is prescribed. Kidney stones are most often removed surgically, but sometimes they can be crushed and excreted by the kidneys with the help of therapeutic diet. Older cats are more likely to have kidney diseases, in which most of the kidneys are already damaged and cannot function normally, it is impossible to completely cure the disease, but you can really slow down the development of the disease and help the pet cope with the disease, due to the remaining intact tissues.

If they did not have time to identify the disease in the initial stage, and take prompt measures, then the forecasts are not very favorable, in most cases, the hope for full recovery miserably small. But good treatment and diet can give your cat several years of quite a happy life.

Video: diet therapy for chronic renal failure in cats

Renal failure is a serious pathology of the urinary system. It is accompanied by an inability to produce urine, and if left untreated, it leads to the development of other health problems. Today's post will look at the causes and signs of kidney failure in cats.

Provoking factors

This disease may result from several different reasons. Most often, it occurs as a result of poisoning with stale food, low-quality medicines and other substances. It can also develop against the background of viral diseases, polycystic or nephritis.

The cause of renal failure in cats is often the incorrect administration of anesthesia during surgical intervention. The so-called autointoxication, or poisoning with substances synthesized by one's body, can also start the mechanism. In addition, the occurrence of this disease is associated with vascular pathologies and obstruction of the urinary tract. But, according to the observations of veterinarians, most often the disease develops under the influence of not one, but several factors at once.

At-risk groups

Most often, signs of kidney failure in cats begin to appear after they are eight years old. In this case, the natural age-related changes that occur as a result of aging lead to the development of the disease. Therefore, owners of older pets need to carefully monitor the health of their four-legged wards.

But that doesn't mean that this pathology cannot be detected in young pets. Because another an important factor, triggering the mechanism of the development of the disease, is a hereditary predisposition. Therefore, before buying an animal, you need to carefully study its pedigree and find out if there were any cats with signs of kidney failure among its ancestors.

Among other things, experts managed to find out about the existence of a relationship between the breed of an animal and a predisposition to this disease. According to ongoing studies and surveys, Persians, Angoras and other long-haired cats are more likely to suffer from kidney failure. Also at risk were sterilized individuals and animals suffering from diabetes, not receiving good nutrition or who have had the plague.

Existing Forms

Veterinarians distinguish between acute and chronic renal failure in cats. Symptoms and treatment at home will depend on the form in which the disease proceeds and how advanced it is. Acute renal failure has a more rapid onset and is amenable to complete healing. In turn, it is divided into three types:

• Prerenal, developing due to jump pressure in the vessels of the kidneys caused by poisoning, infection, bleeding, sunstroke or pathologies of cardio-vascular system.
• Renal, occurring as a result of exposure to poisons, toxins or drugs, and progressing against the background inflammatory processes.
• Postrenal, appearing due to obstruction of the urinary ducts caused by neoplasms in the pelvic organs.

Left to chance, the acute form quickly develops into a chronic one. This is an irreversible process severe defeat kidneys. Over time, this body decreases in size and can no longer fully perform its functions. Because cats with chronic renal failure, which should be treated by a veterinarian, require special nutrition, special mode and drug therapy.

Stages of development of chronic renal failure

Chronic renal failure is accompanied by an increase in the level of creatinine in the blood. Depending on the amount of this nitrogen compound, experts distinguish several stages in the development of this pathology.

Hidden CRF is almost asymptomatic. It can be identified from the results laboratory tests showing a slight increase in creatinine. As a rule, owners skip this stage and do not turn to specialists.

The initial stage of CRF is accompanied by certain symptoms, which any attentive owner can notice. At this stage, the cat begins to lose weight and appetite. She becomes lethargic and sleepy. The animal is periodically tormented by vomiting. This stage lasts several months and is detected using laboratory blood tests.

Conservative stage of CKD, accompanied by sharp increase creatinine levels and loss of most of the kidney function. The cat has severe dehydration, a significant decrease in hemoglobin and severe vomiting.

Terminal ending with the death of the animal. At this stage, it is almost impossible to save the cat, since all existing treatment turns out to be ineffective. In this case, the only way to prolong the life of a furry patient is with a kidney transplant. This stage is characterized by a critical increase in the level of urea and creatinine in the blood. A sick cat has seizures. A well-tangible smell of acetone emanates from the animal's mouth, and the kidneys practically cease to cope with their functions.

Clinical picture

Symptoms this disease quite non-specific. It may also indicate the presence of other health problems. Therefore, in case of certain suspicions, it is better to consult a specialist. He will conduct the necessary studies, make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe proper treatment.

At home, a cat with signs of kidney failure can be recognized by a change in behavior. An active and cheerful animal suddenly turns into an apathetic, sleepy and inactive creature. You should also be alerted if your shaggy ward began to refuse the usual food and began to lose weight sharply. Loss of appetite is often accompanied by repeated bouts of vomiting that do not bring relief.

Common signs of kidney failure in cats include increased thirst, abdominal pain, diarrhea, urinary retention, change in color and amount of urine. Some individuals have sudden onset of convulsive seizures, leading to loss of consciousness. From oral cavity a furry patient may give off an unpleasant odor. The appearance of one or more of the above symptoms should be a reason to contact your veterinarian.

Diagnostic methods

A cat with signs of kidney failure should be examined by a specialist. After collecting an anamnesis, he can prescribe several additional research, the results of which will allow us to put correct diagnosis. To determine the presence of toxins in the body of an animal, blood and urine must be taken from it. Based on these tests, it is possible not only to determine the stage of the disease, but also to calculate the concentrating function of the kidneys. Knowing the CFP coefficient will allow you to find out how advanced the disease is and whether there is real threat life of a shaggy patient.

In addition, to clarify the diagnosis and make a prognosis, a cat with signs of renal failure can be sent for an ultrasound scan. This simple procedure will allow the veterinarian to determine which disease caused the pathology. To confirm or exclude the presence of stones in urinary tract the animal is prescribed an x-ray with contrast. The results of all these studies will allow the veterinarian not only to make the correct diagnosis, but also to prescribe adequate treatment.

Therapy

with renal failure occurring in acute form depends on how advanced the disease is. Immediately after contacting the clinic, the animal is given first aid. As a rule, it consists in setting a special catheter to help empty the bladder. To normalize the water-salt balance, a furry patient is intravenously injected with special solutions that eliminate acid-base disorders.

As for medications, they are prescribed on an individual basis, based on the results of laboratory tests and data from a personal examination of cats with signs of illness. Acute renal failure is accompanied by severe pain. Therefore, the animal must be prescribed analgesics or novocaine blockades. To lower blood pressure and improve the patency of the kidney vessels, four-legged patients are prescribed antispasmodics. If an infection is detected, cats are additionally given antibiotics. And bouts of vomiting are stopped by “Tserukal”.

When chronic renal failure is detected, which is not subject to complete treatment, supportive therapy is carried out. The set of palliative measures includes conservative methods treatments and special diets. But the basis of maintenance therapy that improves the prognosis for cats with chronic renal failure is infusion infusions aimed at restoring electrolyte balance and reducing intoxication. On the final stages Animals are treated with hemodialysis. And in special occasions veterinarians recommend kidney transplant surgery. However, this is a very complex and rather expensive method of treatment, practiced in a limited number of clinics. It is shown exclusively to young cats and significantly prolongs their life.

Non-traditional methods

For the treatment of cats in which CKD has been identified, it is often used traditional medicine homeopathy. But such methods have a number of contraindications. Therefore, before using them, be sure to consult a veterinarian.

As additional funds, aimed at combating this disease, decoctions of birch buds, oats, rose hips, flax seeds and burdock root have proven themselves well. No less effective pomegranate juice, lime tea with honey, echinacea tincture, bee venom, eel blood serum and herbal collection of St. John's wort, chamomile, oregano and lemon balm.

Nutrition

Sick animals are recommended a special diet, including foods low in protein and phosphorus. This diet reduces the burden on the kidneys and helps the cat recover faster. The energy value daily ration four-legged patient should be no more than 70-80 kcal per 1 kg of body weight. At the same time, it is important to ensure that offal, poultry fillets, natural yogurt, kefir, low-fat cottage cheese, egg whites, vegetable puree and cereal porridge.

Especially for those who are not sure that they can provide their sick cat with proper nutrition, high-calorie industrial feed. They take into account all the characteristics of the organism of such animals and contain a lot of water, calcium and bicarbonates. They are very low in sodium, phosphorus and protein, but there is a sufficient amount of all vital essential vitamins and micronutrients. At the same time, it is extremely important to provide the animal unhindered access to clean drinking water.

Consequences and prognosis

Cats with kidney failure produce very little urine, resulting in toxicity throughout the body. In addition, this pathology is fraught with other, more serious consequences. It results in an inability to absorb useful material, violation of acid-base and water-salt balance. All this worsens the already weakened health and may result in a malfunction. endocrine system.

However, not everything is as bad as it seems at first glance. Timely prescribed therapy leads to complete relief from acute renal failure. But chronic form practically untreatable. In this case, all the recommendations of veterinarians are aimed at stabilizing general condition body and relieve severe symptoms.

Prevention

In order to prevent the appearance of signs of kidney failure in cats, their owners will have to adhere to several simple recommendations. They need to monitor the safety of their furry wards and do everything to prevent accidental injuries. Also, in order to avoid the development of kidney pathology, it is important to treat your animal for various infections in a timely manner.

Do not allow the cat to regularly overeat and gain excess weight, because obesity is considered one of the main factors provoking the occurrence of chronic renal failure. Animals suffering urolithiasis or diabetes, you need to periodically show the veterinarian.

It is desirable to feed cats with high-quality industrial food or fresh dietary meat with a low fat content. Experts recommend limiting fish consumption. Because it has too much phosphorus. For general strengthening of the body, cats can be periodically given vitamin and mineral complexes.