The case of Kidney Disease in Cats.

Kidney disease is a disease that man dreads greatly, there have been so many published articles on how we can protect our kidneys to avoid medical issues, and the good thing is, so many people are taking their time to adhere to the set rules/advice. Even our feline friends have the possibility of getting kidney disease if not managed properly.

source

A normal healthy kidney is known to perform several healthy functions, they are responsible for the filtering for the filtering of waste from the body. They also regulate the balance of fluids, electrolytes, and minerals. The kidney happens to be the body's system for filtering impurities out of the blood. This means, that when the kidney is affected, then something also gets wrong with the body.

A cat has two kidneys, with each of them performing these roles efficiently, then our cat is in good condition. But, there are different types of kidney disease, and this means something is wrong with either one or two of the kidneys, each coming with underlying causes, there are two categories of the disease, we have the; acute and chronic stages.

Examples of acute kidney disease are; Tick-borne diseases, parasitic infections, viral infections, bacterial infections, toxins, shock and hypertension, and obstructive uropathy.

source

Examples of chronic kidney disease are; Clotting disorders, stroke-like events, amyloidosis, polycystic kidney disease, congenital kidney dysplasia, and other consequences of acute kidney injury.

I am sure you are wondering why your innocent-looking cat would develop kidney disease, could it just be out of the blue? Not exactly so, as kidney disease could be caused by one of these factors;

• Underlying immune-mediated diseases, clotting disorders, the presence of cancers like lymphoma, as well as stroke-like events.

• Some kidney diseases are inherited.

• Kidney injury from a serious infection, ingestion of a toxic substance, and after-effects of certain medications.

The clinical signs that accompany kidney disease in cats are usually dependent on how severe the kidney diseases are, as well as their underlying causes. Most cats will show symptoms such as; reduced appetite, dehydration, increased thirst and urination, foul breath, vomiting, mouth sores, urinary accidents or inability to urinate, edema, and lower back pain.

Most cases of kidney disease are managed with the help of medications, hydration, and diet. Specific management is directed towards the underlying causes and the stage of the disease. At any stage of the disease, a cat could have an increased high blood pressure which will most likely be treated with medications.

What if it is a Chronic Case?

When a cat has a chronic kidney disease, it is usually a result of the buildup of waste products and other compounds in the bloodstream that are usually removed or regulated by the kidneys. It is this accumulation that makes the cat feel very ill and appear lethargic, unkempt, and lose weight. When a cat is affected, it may also lose the ability to appropriately concentrate their urine, therefore generating greater volumes of urine, and more water is required for its compensation.

In a chronic case, the cat may also experience elevated blood pressure, which could affect the function of important systems in the body, including the brain, heart, and eyes. The life span of a cat with kidney disease varies depending on the underlying cause of the disease and the stage at which it was diagnosed. If the disease is detected on time, and treatment commences appropriately, it is possible for the cat to still live a normal life.

---

---

References.

---

---

webmd.com/pets/cats

petmd.com/cat/conditions/

vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet

vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers