Kidney failure in cats and cats

What diseases can be detected by ultrasound of the kidneys? How to prepare for a kidney ultrasound?

Ultrasound examination of the kidneys in cats is carried out as part of the study of the condition of the urinary system. In turn, the urinary system is diagnosed during an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity.

An ultrasound of the kidneys is performed for any symptoms associated with urinary disorders - when the cat has too frequent urination (polyuria), or, conversely, the absence of urine, or the urine oozes drops, there is blood in it - all this is a reason to conduct this study. A cat’s kidneys are also diagnosed if the following symptoms occur:

• vomit;
• lethargy, weakness;
• lack of appetite in the cat;
• cachexia (weight loss);
• constipation;
• increased thirst (polydipsia);
• pain in the abdomen or lower back.

Similar symptoms can occur in a very wide range of pathologies, so an ultrasound scan of a cat is a good aid to the doctor in making a diagnosis.

What is kidney failure and why is it dangerous?

Kidney failure is very common in cats, although most often the disease manifests itself in older pets as chronic. Unfortunately, the kidneys also have their own resource.

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Kidney disease is one of the most common medical problems in cats. Most often they manifest themselves in older animals in the form of chronic kidney disease, when the kidneys gradually exhaust their resources.

The disease comes in two forms:

• acute;
• chronic.

The second type of disease poses the greatest danger. We study:

Chronic renal failure

In the chronic form, gradual death of kidney cells occurs, which leads to a decrease in these organs in size and disruption of their functioning.

“Chronicle” is not curable, but if the correct therapy is carried out, then stopping the symptoms will significantly prolong the life of your beloved cat.

With this diagnosis, the pet’s condition is characterized as severe, and maintenance therapy cannot be avoided: the cat’s life will need to be maintained with special care and a special diet.

The disease requires regular monitoring by a veterinarian.

Acute renal failure

The acute type is reversible, because with timely treatment, success can be achieved with the complete elimination of all consequences of the disease.

Acute renal failure is a sudden dysfunction of the kidneys, or even its complete cessation. All renal functions are impaired: secretory, excretory, and filtration suffer.

Speaking about the condition of a sick cat, we can say that these will be symptoms of the disease that caused the kidney disorder.

It is difficult to express the initial phase in the clinical picture, because there are no characteristic symptoms as such. Secondary symptoms are disguised as the underlying disease, injury or poisoning. If you delay the start of treatment at this important moment, then you can “give” the cat oliguria (decrease) or anuria (when urine production completely stops).

In acute cases, the animal must be hospitalized immediately and proper treatment must begin. Delay will lead to complications or death.

Prevention

Preventing problems in cats is much easier than treating them later. To maintain your pet’s health, the following recommendations must be followed on an ongoing basis:

1. Do not allow the animal to sleep on a cold floor, lie in a draft, etc. Under the influence of low temperatures, vasoconstriction occurs and the blood supply to organs is disrupted. Hypothermia immediately has a negative impact on the functioning of the genitourinary system. The inflammatory process that began as a result of hypothermia can serve as an impetus for the further development of diseases.
2. Protect from heat. In the heat, the animal consumes an increased amount of fluid, the load on the kidneys increases significantly.
3. Monitor your cat's diet. The animal must receive the necessary set of vitamins and microelements during feeding. It is important not to limit the diet only to meat, fish, and dry food. Food should be balanced and varied. It is necessary to give your pet as little fatty, salty foods as possible. Eliminate from the diet all food that is harmful to the animal’s stomach: sausages, baked goods, pasta, fried foods, etc.
4. Give the animal only high-quality water - clean, but not boiled. It is recommended to use filtered water. Unsuitable water can serve as a provoking factor, since the animal’s kidneys are very sensitive to its quality.
5. Monitor the availability of water. A lack of fluid leads to the fact that all its reserves are consumed, and the accumulated breakdown products are not removed from the body in the required quantities.
6. Keep your pet active.

To avoid health problems, give your animal only high-quality water.

Important! Active movements contribute to good functioning of the urinary system, so animals with an active lifestyle have a significantly lower risk of problems.

Causes of the disease

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Owners of some breeds need to be more careful, as the incidence of kidney disease is higher in Persian and Angora cats. But often this is an acquired disorder that occurs for a number of reasons:

• as a result of decreased blood circulation and urine flow to the kidneys;
• high blood pressure levels;
• oncology;
• kidney stones create obstruction;
• poisoning by a number of medicinal and non-medicinal drugs;
• severe oral diseases;
• incorrectly selected diet with a large amount of phosphorus or high protein content.

The following can be said about the acute form. In prerenal acute renal failure, the cause may be shock after bleeding, poisoning, dehydration, or heart failure. There will be a drop in pressure and impaired circulation in the bloodstream of the kidneys. The causes of renal acute renal failure are called bacterial infections, inflammations and infections, poisoning with poisons and chemicals.

In postrenal acute renal failure, urolithiasis develops due to blockage of the urinary tract.

Causes of problems

Often it is not possible to determine the reasons why the disease occurred. The most common reasons:

• age (cats from 7 years of age are most susceptible to diseases, so it is necessary to conduct their annual full examinations: blood test, urine test, ultrasound, blood pressure measurement);
• genetic predisposition (the presence of similar problems in representatives of a certain breed to which the animal belongs);
• congenital anomaly;
• ecology;
• infectious diseases;
• systemic diseases;
• poisoning;
• injuries;
• poor nutrition;
• negative processes in the urinary canals (the problem is more common in cats, since their canals are longer and narrower than those of cats).

Cats over 7 years of age are most susceptible to diseases, so it is necessary to conduct their annual full examinations.

Predisposing factors that provoke kidney diseases:

• lack of fluid consumed by the animal;
• drinking contaminated water;
• excess salt contained in the feed;
• Exceeding the required amount of sugar in the diet;
• frequent feeding of meat and fish;
• large mass;
• lack of weight;
• keeping in dampness, in drafts;
• sedentary lifestyle;
• untimely urination (occurs when an animal is periodically unable to go to the toilet on time due to closed doors or dirty litter);
• oral problems.

Kidney diseases in cats and kittens

Risk group

The risk group includes such factors as the presence of kidney pathology, extensive injuries, serious illnesses, liver pathologies, inflammation of the pancreas, diabetes mellitus, diseases of the cardiovascular system, and hereditary insufficiency.

Cats over 7 years of age are also at risk, especially if they are in a prolonged state of dehydration or fever.

Symptoms of the disease with photos

The symptoms of kidney failure are not so easy to understand. Especially in the chronic form of the disease.

Acute symptoms

If the cause is impaired renal function due to a developing infection, a state of shock, or obstruction of the lower urinary system, then the symptoms and signs of renal failure will be pronounced and the acute form will appear very clearly.

It is especially important if suddenly the cat constantly visits the toilet, but then such visits become rare, although the animal drinks water willingly and a lot.

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At the same time, the cat may experience diarrhea, nausea or vomiting. This all leads to weight loss.

Externally, the pathology manifests itself in a deterioration in the quality of wool. The mucous membranes may turn red, swelling appears, and appetite disappears.

All these symptoms should immediately alert the owner and it would be best to take the patient and go with him to a veterinary hospital to make an accurate diagnosis.

Symptoms of the chronic form

The insidious variety is characterized by a hidden course, which greatly complicates the diagnosis without veterinary experience.

Signs of chronic renal failure include increased thirst with an increase in urine volume, simultaneous loss of body weight and loss of appetite. Vomiting may occur, and the general condition is lethargic. An unpleasant odor will be heard from the mouth.

Skin turgor becomes weak, folds do not straighten out for a long time. The temperature is lowered, the kidneys can be felt by palpation due to their increased size.

The danger of kidney disease

The danger is as follows:

• late diagnosis caused by the absence of symptoms in the initial stages;
• inability of kidney tissue to recover;
• the possibility of severe complications;
• the presence of a genetic predisposition factor in a number of breeds;
• males are prone to problems due to the structural features of their genitourinary system;
• high risk of death due to serious types of illnesses.

Only a veterinarian can prescribe the correct treatment

Diagnostics

Renal failure in cats can be reliably diagnosed if clinically possible. For diagnosis, you need to take a urine and blood test and undergo an ultrasound.

Laboratory studies are indicative. Blood biochemistry will reveal increased levels of creatinine, urea and other components, but calcium, on the contrary, will be reduced and acidity increased.

If this is acute renal failure, then a urine test will reveal protein and the presence of dead renal epithelium, glucose, and red blood cells. With chronic renal failure, urine will have a low specific gravity and density, protein will be very difficult to determine, but dystrophic cells of the tubular epithelium will be noticeable.

The results of a general blood test in the acute form will not show any peculiarities, but in the chronic form, anemia and an increased number of ESR will be revealed.

An ultrasound of the kidneys will show a changed structure of the organ, stones and tumors. If the form of the disease is acute, then the kidneys will be enlarged with edema, and in the chronic case, on the contrary, a strong decrease in the size of the organs and an uneven and clear contour will be shown.

It happens that a veterinarian suggests examining a pet for possible kidney problems even though there seem to be none. You shouldn’t refuse, because you can detect problems at an early stage, which significantly simplifies the situation and gives many chances for a cure.

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At home, an accurate diagnosis cannot be made based only on symptoms.

How to prepare for a kidney ultrasound?

As before an abdominal examination, it is advisable to fast for 10-12 hours before an ultrasound examination of the kidneys, since gas and intestinal contents will make visualization difficult. If your cat has contraindications to a starvation diet, and if it is necessary to perform an ultrasound on your kitten, consult your doctor. Since kidney examinations are rarely done without examining the bladder, it is important that the bladder is full before the ultrasound. Therefore, when preparing, remove the cat's litter box or close access to the toilet 4-5 hours in advance. If urination has been recent, the bladder will be empty, deflated, and it will be impossible to assess the condition of its walls, the presence or absence of urine.

Video with a visual diagnostic veterinarian about ultrasound of kidneys in cats:

When performing a kidney ultrasound, owners place the cat on its back on a special table and hold the front and back legs. The doctor shave the examination site, apply alcohol and acoustic gel to the skin. In large or obese animals, the doctor may apply pressure to the area being examined with a probe for better visualization due to the anatomical location of the kidneys. This may not be very comfortable for the animal, so restraint is important.

Kidney ultrasound is not the only method for diagnosing the disease. The attending physician makes a comprehensive diagnosis, based on the medical history, general condition of the animal, clinical symptoms, examination, ultrasound and laboratory diagnostic results.

Treatment of cat kidney failure

Since the condition of a cat with acute renal failure is different from the condition with chronic renal failure, the treatment processes will be different.

The most common sense decision if you suspect kidney failure in cats is to visit a veterinarian. Do not ignore the advice of a veterinarian:

If we are talking about an acute form, then intensive therapy will be carried out to remove toxins and combat dehydration.

If a chronic form is detected with damage to two-thirds of the kidneys, then treatment is prescribed only by a specialist.

Hospital treatment is prescribed for acute renal failure, as it is life-threatening. The process is designed for 10-14 days. Veterinarians will eliminate the main cause of the disease. If this is a blockage of the outflow of urine by a stone, then it will be removed by a catheter.

After this, the underlying pathology will be treated with intravenous infusions, which will eliminate problems with water-salt metabolism and acidosis. At the same time, cardiac activity, which suffers from excess potassium, is maintained.

Diuresis is stimulated, and sometimes peritoneal dialysis is performed to remove toxins. The abdominal cavity and drainages are involved in this - this will significantly reduce the load on diseased kidneys.

With inpatient treatment, the result can be the most positive with complete preservation of the functionality of the organs, but it is not particularly rosy if the patient gets to the doctors late. In this case, the cat faces a chronic form of the disease. The chronic form is treated in a hospital during relapses or complications.

In case of severe damage, kidney transplantation is possible.

A therapeutic diet will be prescribed, which will need to be strictly followed throughout the pet’s life. Even with serious damage, you can extend your pet’s life by three years, while alleviating its condition.

At home

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At home, you will need to maintain your body and kidney function in the best possible condition. You will need to study the recommended cat diet and create a strict diet where the phosphorus content is minimal.

Everything else is done strictly according to the veterinarian’s recommendations, with frequent visits to the clinic, examinations and tests.

Drugs for renal impairment

It cannot be assumed that there is a general treatment regimen for everyone; it is selected taking into account the individual characteristics of each pet. Therefore, such schemes are changeable and aimed at precisely eliminating symptoms and causes.

In case of uremia, high intoxication from nitrogen metabolism products, a low-protein diet is introduced. In between meals, Ringer's solution or saline solution (0.9% NaCl) should be administered with a volume of up to 40 ml per 1 kg of body weight. Three administrations per day will be required.

If an excess of phosphorus levels in the blood is detected, then not only a diet is needed, but also the intake of phosphate binders that bind phosphorus. The drug is given with meals.

When the level of parathyroid hormone is elevated, calcitriol medications are prescribed.

Uncontrollable vomiting can be treated with Cerucal, but not on a permanent basis. It will be necessary to include histamine receptor blockers in the regimen: this is taking Famotidine, Cimetidine.

If there is acidosis, then the regimen cannot do without sodium bicarbonate and potassium citrate.

If high blood pressure is expressed, it is reduced in the absence of dehydration with Amlodipine, Enalapril.

The potassium balance is also brought back to normal; for this purpose, potassium preparations are introduced into the menu.

The kidneys are supported with drugs containing amino acids such as Lespenefril, Ketosteril, Chophytol, Canephron.

You can’t do without a vitamin component, sedatives, and if indicated, corticosteroids and diuretics.

Cat anatomy – internal organs of cats

Does a pet owner need to be aware of the anatomy of their body? Basic knowledge of physiological principles will not hurt, because it will help to understand the animal, and in some cases, protect it from serious problems. For example, information about the anatomy of cats will help you understand what hurts your cat and how you can help it.

Components of the skeleton

Cats are elegant and graceful, everyone knows this. These are very active animals that make a huge number of movements and can take a variety of poses due to the complex structure of the skeleton.

The cat skeleton consists of 230-240 bones, their number directly depends on the number of vertebrae. The skeleton is divided into two parts: the periphery (paws) and statics (spine and skull). The spine is also divided into sections according to the area of ​​location. Each department is responsible for performing specific movements.

Anatomy of cats in pictures

For example, the cervical region is responsible for movements made by the head; in cats it has great elasticity, so the angle of rotation is almost equal to 180 degrees.

Next comes the thoracic region, which consists of 12 pairs of ribs that form the chest. The movements of the hind legs depend on the lumbar region, thanks to which cats can jump.

The caudal region contains the largest number of vertebrae, which make up the animal's tail.

Cat limbs also have a rather complicated structure. Many have heard stories where a cat fell from a great height, but survived by falling on its paws. During flight, these animals are capable of turning over very quickly, in order to then fall on their paws.

Muscles

The cat's muscular system includes about five hundred muscles, thanks to which the animal has elegance and flexibility.

Cat muscles have a complex structure and amazing elasticity, which allows pets to run fast and jump high. Each muscle includes two parts responsible for performing different functions: work and support.

In addition, muscles have nerve connections and blood vessels. Another muscle function is to maintain the skeleton in the correct position.

Digestion

The length of the intestines of a predatory animal is quite small - about two meters. The system is responsible for performing complex functions.

The most important part is the teeth, which crush food. The crushed and moist food then enters the stomach through the esophagus. Here it is processed, which takes three stages: grinding, entering the duodenum, absorption.

Breath

Cats pant frequently, and this is normal. A healthy cat inhales and exhales between 17 and 100 times per minute.

The lungs are the basis of the entire respiratory system. The air ends up in the nasal sinuses, cleansed of impurities, heated and humidified, and then enters the blood vessels.

It is also worth paying attention to the cat’s larynx, which is responsible for the pleasant purring.

Circulatory system

Includes the heart muscle and a network of blood vessels. A small heart does not allow a cat to run long distances. Therefore, when an animal hunts, the main factors for a successful outcome are dexterity and cunning.

urinary system

Normalizes the balance of fluid and salt in the cat's body. The function of the system is to remove metabolic products, that is, urine. The kidneys are very important in this work.

Visual

The “glowing eye effect” that is so often observed in cats is due to the anatomy of the cat's eye , namely the cellular layer located behind the retina (also called the speculum). The unabsorbed light is reflected from the mirror and amplified, so the cat can see well in the twilight.

Auditory

The outer cat ear has a complex structure. It is mobile and consists of cartilage. A cat's hearing is more acute than a human's due to the presence of 52,000 nerve endings.

Flavoring

Cats perceive sweet tastes worst of all. In general, these animals are considered good tasters and even gourmets. All thanks to Jacobson tubes, which do not allow the absorption of low-quality food.

Olfactory and tactile

A cat's sense of smell is stronger than a human's, but weaker than a dog's. The number of receptors is from 60 to 80 million.

The tactile organ includes the skin, components of the musculoskeletal system and mucous membranes. With the help of the senses of touch, the cat feels touch, pain and environmental temperature.

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Cat diet and nutrition

Proper nutrition for kidney failure will significantly alleviate the cat’s condition, improve the pet’s quality of life and increase its duration. It is best to contact your veterinarian for a specific list of permitted products.

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Special food is available for cats with this disease. Their composition is optimal as a food product. The phosphorus component must be limited, which will have a positive effect on the rate of organ destruction.

From ready-made food for kidney failure, you can purchase:

• Royal Canin Renal low phosphorus and protein;
• Hills Prescription Diet K/D Feline Renal Health with Omega-3;
• Farmina Vet Life Renal with the required protein content as a medicinal feed.

The composition of such feeds is balanced and optimal in content. You can purchase wet or dry food to suit your pet's taste. The advantage of this choice will be a ready-made selection of the amount of phosphorus and protein, which is very difficult to do when feeding natural products.

When a pet is fed natural food, the intake of sodium, which contributes to arterial hypertension, is limited. A cat can eat chicken breast, turkey, rabbit meat, and vegetables.

Forecasts

If the disease is detected in a timely manner and treatment is started on time, the prognosis is more favorable. If we are talking about the acute variety, then the situation is better: hospital treatment and a therapeutic diet can really work a miracle.

When they talk about the chronic variety, they immediately notice that everything depends on the pet’s immunity, supportive therapy, timeliness of treatment and the causes of the disease.

That is why it is important to realize the full responsibility for his life and follow all the veterinarian’s recommendations. In this case, the cat is able to live a longer life, full of love and care.

Video on the topic: