Treatment of renal failure in cats. Acute and chronic forms: differences? Clinical signs of acute renal failure

The kidneys are very important for the cat's body, as well as for the human. With the help of these organs, a lot of substances harmful to the body are brought out - waste products, they play a significant role in the work of metabolic processes. The presence of pathological processes in these organs - serious breach metabolism and the development of various diseases.

Renal failure in a cat as a pathology

One of these pathologies is kidney failure.

Renal failure is a complex of pathological processes that lead to disruption of the usual work of the entire genitourinary system, simply put - a violation of homeostasis.

On the left is shown healthy kidney The cat has kidney failure on the right.

Due to the inability to produce urine or bring it out, the water, saline, acid and alkaline balances, which, in turn, is fraught with lesions of all body systems.

Acute and chronic form

Allocate acute form and chronic . The development of the acute form occurs spontaneously, accompanied by damage to the renal tissues, first manifested oliguria- a sharp decrease in the amount of urea, and subsequently, its complete cessation - anuria .

With anuria, the cat's tray remains empty.

Symptoms of kidney failure in cats

There are several stages in the development of the disease.

At the onset of the disease, there is a decrease in the amount of urea, a sharp decline blood pressure.

Further, the process of a decrease in the level of urine alternates with its complete cessation.

There is an increase in the concentration of nitrogenous metabolites in the blood.

After the start of treatment, urine output is restored, often it is even excreted. large quantity than it was originally, but only a liquid with a small content of salt and water comes out, and metabolic products remain in the body.

intensive treatment leads to the normalization of metabolic processes, but this happens only if the intensity of therapy is not stopped and, after a sufficiently long period of its use, up to about three months.

Side effects

When sick, the cat has bouts of nausea.

Despite the many factors that cause pathology, the chronic form is characterized by a decrease in healthy renal tissues that can participate in normal metabolic processes.

It leads to increase in protein breakdown products in the blood – uric acid and creatinine. Due to the failure of the kidneys to perform their intended functions, the decay products of vital activity enter the mucous membranes of other organs to go outside - digestive system or respiratory.

The organs of these systems are not intended to perform such functions, which fraught with. This is expressed in bouts of nausea and vomiting, insatiable thirst. There are yellowness of the skin,. The alternation of the amount of urine - an increase and a decrease.

Chronic renal failure

Exacerbation of the disease is more often observed in animals older than 8 years.

Causes chronic kidney failure can be:

chronic renal pathological processes: glomerulonephritis, MCD, amyloidosis;

systemic ailments: diabetes mellitus, gout;

renal polycystic;

poisoning various substances: lead, mercury, drugs.

These reasons are a guarantee of the growth of connective tissues in the kidneys, replacing the parenchymal ones.

The chronic process develops over a fairly long time, lasting years. An exacerbation occurs most often in animals older than eight years and the changes that have occurred in the kidneys are usually already irreversible.

In view of the extensive internal reserve bodies, for a long time pathological processes are asymptomatic. The manifestation of symptoms occurs after the defeat of more than seventy percent of the renal parenchyma and a decrease in the work of most functions.

infections

In the presence of an infection, the cat experiences pain during probing.

The presence of primary infections often becomes provoking factors for the occurrence this disease. Characteristic features are uremia, the presence of protein in the urine, erythrocytes, various sediments, a decrease in the total density of urea. The affected organs become enlarged or reduced in size, lose their clear contours.

The cat experiences pain when probing, anemia or yellowness of the mucous membranes is manifested.

Additional Features

Food refusal and lethargy are some of the symptoms of kidney failure.

Diagnostics

According to the structure of the fundus, the veterinarian will be able to determine the disease.

It is impossible to accurately determine the diagnosis on your own due to the similarity of symptoms with other diseases.

Only a veterinarian can prescribe the correct treatment.

To eliminate hypertension, disorders of the heart and vascular systems, reducing anemia. Might have to apply blood purification – hemodialysis or even transplantation. The acute form first of all requires elimination primary cause. First of all, they fight shock, dehydration, intoxication.

Diet and food

For weight gain, the intake of B vitamins is prescribed.

The animal is transferred to a low-protein diet. Appointed anabolic steroid in combination with B vitamins for weight gain. The use of an agiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor is recommended, which prolongs the life of a sick animal. Use intravenous infusions saline solutions to eliminate intoxication.

conclusions

With timely detection of the disease, the prognosis is favorable. running case allows a cat to live for about a year.

It is important to detect the disease in time!

Video about kidney failure in a cat

Sourced from www.icatcare.org

Chronic renal failure(CKD) is one of the most common diseases that develops in older cats and gradually progresses over time. The rate of increase of changes in each cat varies widely.

The kidneys are important body responsible for maintaining fluid balance in the body, producing certain hormones, regulating the concentration of many electrolytes in the cat's body, and removing waste products (in the urine). In chronic renal failure, all these processes can be disturbed, which leads to the appearance of many clinical signs.

Although chronic renal failure is incurable and irreversible, appropriate care and treatment can greatly improve the quality and length of a cat's life by slowing down the progression of the disease.

The role of the kidneys in the body of a cat.

Like all mammals, a cat has two kidneys located in the abdominal cavity, which perform a number of important tasks:

Removal of toxins from the blood;
Maintaining fluid balance;
Regulation salt balance(and concentrations of other electrolytes);
Regulation of acid balance;
Blood pressure management;
Production of hormones;

The blood is constantly filtered by the kidneys to remove toxic substances from it. metabolic processes body to form urine. The kidneys also concentrate urine, returning water to the cat's body, which prevents dehydration.

Fortunately, the kidneys have a significant margin of safety. It is well known that healthy people and animals, one kidney can be removed without fatal consequences. In fact, signs of chronic renal failure in cats only begin to show when they have lost two-thirds to three-fourths of their functional tissue kidneys.

Causes of chronic renal failure in cats.

CRF begins to develop in cats if there are long-term, irreversible changes in the kidneys that limit their functionality and ability to remove waste from the blood. In most cases, the cause that triggers the development of renal failure remains unknown. Biopsy specimens of affected kidneys often show both fibrosis and inflammation. This state is referred to as chronic interstitial nephritis . This is a non-specific condition that does not allow us to judge the cause that caused it. Although most cases are idiopathic (have an unknown cause), in some cases the cause can be identified. It can be:

Polycystic kidney disease. hereditary disease, characteristic mainly of cats of Persian and related breeds, in which normal tissues kidney is gradually replaced by several fluid-filled cysts.
Tumors of the kidneys. Tumors (for example, lymphoma - a tumor of white blood cells) can affect the kidneys of a cat, replacing its tissues.
Infectious diseases. bacterial infection kidney disease (pyelonephritis) significantly increase the chance of developing CRF in cats.
Poisoning. Certain toxic substances and medications can be harmful to the kidneys.
Glomerulonephritis. Inflammation of the glomeruli (glomeruli) that filter the blood. Inflammation can occur in various reasons. If treatment is not started on time, chronic renal failure may develop.

Other causes such as congenital kidney defects, trauma, hypokalemia ( reduced concentration potassium ions in the blood) can also lead to chronic renal failure, but in most it is impossible to determine the exact cause of the disease.

If you still manage to determine the cause of the disease, sometimes with the help of appropriate treatment it is possible to stop the development of chronic renal failure. In most cases, however, treatment is aimed at maintaining the cat and managing complications.

How common is chronic renal failure in cats?

CRF is possible in cats of any age, although it is more common in mature and older animals (over 7 years old). With age, the likelihood of the disease increases. It has been found that 20 to 50% of cats over 15 years of age suffer from CRF. varying degrees. Chronic renal failure is three times more common in cats than in dogs.

Symptoms of chronic renal failure in cats.

CKD usually develops gradually. Often at first the clinical signs are imperceptible or weak, they gradually increase over a long time. Much less often, symptoms appear and rapidly worsen (often as a result of decompensation or sharp deterioration conditions, for example, if a cat with CRF does not have enough water).

Many signs are subtle and non-specific - some appear due to the accumulation of toxins in the blood, others - as a result of the body's attempts to adapt to the disease. The most commonly observed symptoms are:

Weight loss ;
poor appetite;
lethargy;
Increased thirst (polydipsia);
Frequent urination (polyuria);

Urine production increases due to the fact that due to CKD kidneys cats begin to lose the ability to concentrate urine. To compensate for the loss of fluid, the cat begins to drink more.

In addition, the following symptoms may be observed:

Poor coat condition;
Hypertension ( high pressure blood);
Nausea;
Bad breath (halitosis)
Weakness;

Diagnosis of chronic renal failure in cats.

CKD in cats is usually diagnosed by testing blood and urine samples. Two substances in the blood are analyzed - urea and creatinine, since they are metabolic products excreted by the kidneys. In chronic renal failure, their concentration in the blood increases. However, since some other diseases can also increase their content in the blood, urinalysis is carried out at the same time. CRF is characterized by an increase in the concentration of urea and creatinine in the blood and at the same time a decrease in their concentration in the urine. Specific gravity measurement ( in the original - specific gravity) to estimate the concentration for cats with kidney disease usually gives a value below 1.030.

A blood test can also detect abnormalities that develop as a result of CRF, such as hypokalemia (low concentration of potassium ions in the blood), anemia and hyperphosphatemia (increased concentration of blood phosphates). Since high blood pressure is a relatively common consequence of chronic kidney failure in cats, the blood pressure can be measured by a veterinarian. Sometimes an x-ray, ultrasound, or even a biopsy is additionally performed to clarify individual characteristics cat diseases.

Measuring the ratio of protein to creatinine in the urine may be important for cats suffering from CRF. Increased content protein (proteinuria) may serve as a marker of progressive renal failure. In humans, proteinuria-lowering drugs can significantly slow the progression of CRF, and this is likely to be true in cats, although there is no firm evidence yet.

Early diagnosis of chronic renal failure in cats.

Since CKD is quite common in cats, periodic examinations of adults and older animals may help. early detection diseases. This, in turn, will help keep good quality life. One or two visits to the veterinarian per year, urine collection for analysis and weighing will allow you to track changes in the cat's condition. A decrease in urine concentration or weight loss may be early signs of the onset of the development of chronic renal failure and the need for an in-depth examination.

Kidney failure in cats often occurs in old age. This is a condition in which the kidneys are unable to excrete toxic substances with 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 already lost great amount cells renal tissue(nephrons).

What animals are at risk?

Several factors influence the possibility of developing the disease. Causes of CRF 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.

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Urolithiasis often leads to the development of renal failure.
If the animal suffers from pyelonephritis or glomerulonephritis, then such diseases can be complicated by kidney failure.
Improper feeding and lack of water lead to the formation of kidney stones, and then to insufficiency of the excretory organs. Nutrition contributes to this poor quality feed economy class, monotonous food, insufficient drinking when using dry food.
Severe food poisoning or toxic substances can impair kidney function. Kidney failure can also occur due to side effects some veterinary drugs.
The disease can also occur as a complication after injuries, for example, due to a fall from a window or from a dog attack.
An animal can get sick after an infection (distemper or viral peritonitis).
Cats with diabetes are at increased 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:

The cat loses its appetite, refuses to eat. going on sudden loss weight, sometimes up to anorexia.
Seals become lethargic, sleepy, move little.
going on frequent vomiting 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.
The cat begins to drink a lot, it torments intense thirst. Excessive drinking worsens well-being, as it creates additional load on the kidneys.
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.
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.
May be observed seizures. Sudden involuntary contractions different groups muscles. With severe intoxication, loss of consciousness is possible.
An unpleasant odor comes from the mouth of the animal. 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:

Latent (hidden) CKD stage. 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.
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.
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 from severe vomiting, the level of hemoglobin drops, and dehydration occurs.
The end stage of CRF leads to the death of the animal. The level of creatinine and urea in the blood reaches high performance. There are seizures. A strong smell of urine or acetone comes from the cat's mouth. 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:

Disorders of the heart (rapid or rare heartbeat).
High blood pressure.
Violation of blood clotting.
Seizures resembling those of epilepsy.
Formation of ulcers in the mouth and on the tongue.
Weakened immunity, susceptibility to colds.
Dullness of the coat.
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 the veterinary clinic for a diagnosis.

Diagnosis of CRF in cats

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

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.
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.
An ultrasound of the kidneys may be prescribed. This makes it possible to determine which kidney disease may have caused the failure.
A biopsy of the kidney tissue is performed to identify the cause of the disease.
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.

Bladder catheterization. This method is used as first aid for CRF. AT bladder a tube is inserted to remove urine. Catheterization helps clear the body of urine.
infusion therapy. The cat is given droppers with saline solutions. It helps to cope with dehydration and restore water-salt balance in the body. Also, with the help of droppers, they cleanse the blood of toxins. Infusion of saline solutions is the main method of dealing with kidney failure.
Remedies for vomiting. If the animal is tormented by bouts of vomiting from poisoning with toxins, Cerucal is prescribed. This helps to tame nausea.
Antispasmodic drugs. Drugs such as Papaverine or No-shpa relieve spasm of the kidney vessels.
ACE inhibitors (Captopril, Enalapril) are used to lower blood pressure.
Painkillers. Analgesics are used and severe pain blockade with novocaine.
Antibiotics. Antibacterial drugs are prescribed to prevent the development of infection.
Hemodialysis. At severe stages diseases carry out the cleansing of the body with the help of an "artificial kidney".
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.
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 CRF in a cat with folk remedies? 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 a cat has chronic renal failure, 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 apply feeding through a tube. This is done in a hospital setting. As soon as the animal can eat on its own, the veterinarian prescribes a diet.

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.
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.
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.
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. Protein is severely limited in these foods, but they are nutritious, and the pet gets enough calories and useful substances. What to do if the pet is not used to medicated food? Then add a small amount diet food into 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:

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.
It is necessary to strictly follow the diet.
The course of treatment must be completed. Even if the pet's condition has improved, the prescribed therapy should be continued.
Make sure your cat is drinking enough fluids.
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.
Vitamin and mineral complexes should be included in the diet for general strengthening organism.
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:

If the cat is suffering overweight then obesity must be treated. Excess weight is one of the risk factors for chronic renal failure in cats.
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.
Infections in cats should be treated promptly so that there are no complications to the kidneys.
If you have diabetes, be sure to follow the instructions of your veterinarian. This disease is one of the risk factors for kidney disease.
should be under the supervision of a veterinarian. You should not self-treat urolithiasis.
The cat should be fed high-quality, high-quality food. 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.

Animals, like people, are susceptible to a number of diseases. A common problem among pets is kidney failure in cats. This is a serious illness that needs to be treated because running may cause irreparable harm to the animal.

Kidney failure is a disease excretory system. When the kidneys fail, they stop producing urine. required quantity. Toxins accumulate in the body general poisoning organism. At in large numbers toxins in the blood, failures begin in other systems and organs: the acid-base, water-salt balance is disturbed.

It is impossible to determine the exact cause of kidney failure in a cat. The disease can be caused various violations in the body:

kidney disease: urolithiasis disease, inflammation, polycystic;
malfunctions of the cardiovascular system;
chronic inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract;
malfunctions of the thyroid gland;
tumors;
transferred poisoning;
injuries accompanied by heavy bleeding.

To identify the cause of the disease, it is necessary to determine the level at which the focus of the disease arose. There are three types of kidney failure:

prerenal. Localized outside the kidneys.
Renal. Directly in the kidneys.
Postrenal. The focus develops in the lower urinary organs.

The cause of the prerenal form is often the transferred shock. The main condition for its occurrence is sharp drop blood pressure and impaired blood supply to the kidneys.

hemorrhagic shock develops against the background heavy bleeding, which can be both internal and external;
toxic shock can develop as a result of poisoning the body with toxins, as well as with their sharp release into the blood due to illness;
pain shock;
with severe dehydration, hypovolemic shock is observed;
vasospasm in diseases of the cardiovascular system.

The renal form develops with inflammatory processes in the kidneys, poisoning them with toxins or medicines, as a result of infections.

The postrenal form is typical for affected ureters, their blockage, as well as for urolithiasis.

Forms and stages of the disease

Like any disease, kidney failure in cats develops gradually. The onset of the disease is divided into stages:

The first stage is characterized a sharp decline excreted urine. Also, there is often a sharp jump in blood pressure, a decrease in it.
At the next stage, the excretion of urine completely stops, nitrogenous compounds begin to be released into the blood.
This is followed by a large influx of "useless" urine - it does not fulfill its purpose.

Kidney failure is divided into two forms:

Sharp. It is characterized by severe kidney damage. With timely provision medical care considered reversible.
Chronic. It develops slowly and gradually. Tissue damage is serious, so it is almost impossible to recover. Over time, the affected cells are replaced by connective tissue, which does not perform any functions.

The chronic stage can develop over several years and is usually diagnosed at a stage when 75% of the kidney tissues are already unable to perform their functions. In such cases, therapy is prescribed that can prolong the life of the animal by several years, and also alleviate the course of the disease.

Chronic renal failure has several stages:

during the compensation period, the disease does not manifest itself externally. This is a "hidden" period that can last for a long time;
the stage when the first symptoms begin to appear is called subcompensation;
with the progression of symptoms, a stage of decompensation is observed;
the end stage occurs when most of tissue is affected, and the treatment will no longer give results.

Symptoms of kidney failure in cats

At acute form disease symptoms appear rapidly. Signs of kidney failure:

Breath with the smell of acetone. Toxins that have entered the bloodstream provoke an unpleasant odor from the cat's mouth.
The animal loses interest in what is happening. It is sluggish and sleepy.
Constant thirst. The cat drinks a lot, while it may urinate little or stop altogether.
Lack of appetite, repeated vomiting is possible.
The urine may contain blood.
The cat often tries to go to the toilet, but to no avail.
Muscles contract chaotically, uncontrollably, convulsions are possible.
AT rare cases coma is observed.

At chronic stage the disease does not manifest itself in any way during the compensation period. Only at a later stage, symptoms such as:

the cat drinks a lot. In this case, there is excessive excretion of urine, which is colorless and odorless;
apathy reaches such an extent that the animal is practically exhausted. Appetite is completely absent, the body is dehydrated, the animal is rapidly losing weight;
vomiting and diarrhea may occur;
mucous membranes become covered with wounds, the smell of urea may come from the mouth. If the supply comes from the animal as a whole, this clear sign poisoning the body with decay products;
general state the animal worsens: the coat becomes dull, bald spots form;
along with convulsions, tremors can be observed;
body temperature drops;
darkening of the mucous membrane of the tongue.

The stage of decompensation is characterized by damage to other organs and systems. At this stage, the animal can still be cured. The terminal phase is considered incurable. When it occurs, the death of the animal is inevitable.

The chronic stage of renal failure often goes unnoticed by the owners for a long time. Exacerbation of symptoms is observed only after the stress that the cat's body tolerates. It can be medication, anesthesia, accident, falls, injuries, physical overexertion.

Diagnosis of kidney failure in cats

Depending on the correct diagnosis further fate animal. Therefore, if even a few symptoms are detected, it is urgent to conduct an examination for renal failure in a cat. Only a veterinarian can confirm or deny the disease.

First of all, if a disease is suspected, biochemical analysis blood. Even if the symptoms are mild, or there are no signs at all, such an examination will help identify impaired kidney function. In the chronic form, such an analysis is extremely important. With it, the level of nitrogenous compounds, potassium, phosphorus, urine and creatine is measured.

The degree of disease is determined by the level of creatinine:

140 ml / mol and below is considered the norm;
the indicator does not exceed 250 ml / mol - a weak stage;
440 ml/mol - elevated level creatinine;
with an increase in the level of 440 ml / mol, they diagnose acute stage chronic renal failure.

Also, a blood test will help to find out the level of leukocytes and possible development anemia.

Another important analysis- Analysis of urine. According to its results, the level of protein, red blood cells and the presence of pus in the urea (for infectious diseases) are monitored.

An ultrasound examination will make it possible to determine the lesion, also exclude or confirm the presence of tumors, and indicate the cause of the insufficiency.

In order to examine the patency of the ureters using pyelography, a contrast agent is introduced into the body.

Kidney function

In order to assess the current state of the kidneys, to trace the dynamics of their work, and also to predict the survival of the animal, an analysis is carried out to determine the concentrating function of the kidneys - CFP.

In a healthy animal, a CFR of 100 or higher is considered normal. A score below 80 indicates the presence of pathology.

In acute renal failure, the prognosis is quite encouraging: even with a rate of 0% (with complete cessation urine formation) the animal can be cured. chronic insufficiency more dangerous. For life, a cat needs a CFP of at least 15%. At a mark below 5%, the animal soon dies.

Main indicators normal operation urinary system are considered creatinine and urea, which are contained in the blood. But the level of these substances begins to exceed the norm only when 70% of the kidney tissues fail. The analysis of CFP makes sense for diagnosing insufficiency on initial stage when urea and creatinine levels are within normal limits.

What to do if you suspect a disease

If symptoms of kidney failure are detected, the first thing to do is to examine the animal. Only the results of tests and examination by a specialist will be able to confirm or deny the presence of the disease.

If deficiency is suspected, the first thing to do is emergency detoxification: hemodialysis, hemosorption, intestinal dialysis. Carrying out these procedures is possible only in the clinic and under the supervision of a veterinarian.

The task of physicians during an exacerbation of the disease is to normalize the condition of the animal and the work of all body functions. Appointed special diet measures are being taken to prevent dehydration, prevention internal bleeding, the cardiovascular system is under special supervision.

Feeding a sick animal is carried out in small portions (up to 5 ml at a time) hourly, and sometimes every 10 minutes. Proteins and phosphorus are excluded from the menu.

Also introduced into the body saline solutions to prevent dehydration and normalize the production and excretion of urine. Along with antibiotics, drugs are used to improve vascular patency and lower blood pressure. For decreasing pain syndrome painkillers are used. And when pain shock carry out novocaine blockade.

Efficiency in taking measures in acute renal failure prevents the transition of the acute form of the disease into a chronic one. Therefore, if even a few symptoms are detected, it is necessary to seek help from a veterinarian. Self-treatment and application traditional medicine may be worth the pet's life.

Life extension and cat care

If chronic renal failure has been diagnosed in a cat, the owner must understand that the pet's health depends on further living conditions. The main goal is to maintain the remaining healthy cells kidneys. The earlier the diagnosis is made, the greater the likelihood that the animal will return to normal life.

The most important step in maintaining a cat's condition is proper nutrition. Feeding plays essential role in the metabolic processes of the body, in particular, the level of toxins and the body's ability to get rid of them directly depend on it.

With renal failure, feeding the animal with dry food is contraindicated. The best choice will become a quality diet food super premium. Sometimes there is a need for drugs that stimulate appetite and improve digestion.

fish is not best food for a cat

A sick animal needs to be periodically given droppers to reduce the load on the kidneys. The drugs are prescribed by the doctor, and the treatment regimen is adjusted depending on the patient's condition. Regular check-ups at the veterinarian are necessary to observe the picture of the disease.

The weight of the animal must be constant control. A sharp jump in body weight should be alarm signal for the owner.

When the condition of the animal is stable, it is necessary to conduct an examination every three months. With an exacerbation of the disease, sometimes it is necessary to conduct tests every three days.

It is also necessary to monitor blood pressure animal.

Who is at risk

Most often, renal failure occurs in older animals. Statistics say that every third elderly cat suffers from impaired renal function. After the seventh year of life, kidney function weakens, therefore, to control from work, it is necessary to conduct periodic examinations with a doctor.

Animals that have suffered injuries and long-term drug treatment are also susceptible to the disease. Dehydration is extremely dangerous for the kidneys, so animals that have suffered this nuisance are at risk.

The owner is responsible for the health of the pet. Therefore, it is extremely important to monitor the well-being of the animal and conduct periodic examinations with a specialist. Kidney failure in cats is a common ailment. It is necessary to monitor the nutrition of the pet and avoid stressful situations.

Domestic cats are prone to kidney disease. In order to prevent the disease, or eliminate its symptoms in sick pets, owners need to know all the information about kidney failure, which in a neglected state is a deadly threat. To understand the scale of the problem, it is worth understanding the functions that the kidneys perform in the animal's body. This organ is part of the excretory system and is involved in many vital processes.

At healthy cat The kidneys provide the following functions:

stabilization of blood pressure;
removal of toxins from the blood, mineral salts and other toxic substances;
production of hormones and enzymes;
involved in the creation of red blood cells.

The main task of the kidneys is to filter the blood. It occurs as follows - the entire blood flow passes through the nephrons located in the kidneys. In the process of circulation, all harmful substances, which are excreted from the body with urine, and the purified blood flows back to the heart.

It is important for the pet owner to understand why kidney disease occurs in cats, the symptoms of which and the treatment of which are negotiated with the veterinarian. In most cases, the risk of the disease is high for older pets who have reached the age of 8-10 years. In such animals, as a result of kidney failure, the filtration system is disrupted, and toxic waste accumulates in the circulating blood. In the future, this leads to problems with other organs. However, chronic and acute renal failure in cats, the treatment of which is selected on an individual basis, can also be diagnosed in young cats.

Several factors provoke the disease at once:

bad heredity;
genetic predisposition (there is a high risk of disease in cats - Persians, Angoras, etc.);
improper conditions of detention;
violation of the drinking regime;
unbalanced or low-quality diet;
trauma;
infections;
the formation of stones in the excretory organs.

Symptoms of the disease

Only a qualified veterinarian can correctly recognize the disease, prescribe a complex of treatment and recommend good therapeutic food for cats with kidney failure. The task of the owner is to monitor the condition of the cat and fix anxiety symptoms which may indicate the presence of kidney disease.

Upon detection the following symptoms the owner should not postpone the visit to the veterinary clinic:

loss of appetite;
vomit;
the cat rarely goes to the toilet in a small way, while urination occurs in unusual places;
the pet looks lethargic and lethargic;
impaired coordination of movements;
the cat experiences pain when urinating;
the animal loses weight;
violation of normal stool;
refusal of water.

If the owner has seen at least one symptom, for example, noticed that the cat does not go to the toilet for a little, he should contact the veterinarian for advice. The symptoms listed above can be observed in other diseases, such as nephritis in cats, the symptoms and treatment for different diseases are very different, therefore accurate diagnosis disease should be entrusted to the veterinarian.

Diagnostic methods

Specialist in veterinary clinic will examine the animal and assign him a series of tests. Traditionally, a complete chemical analysis of blood and urine is prescribed for cats to detect problems with the kidneys. The purpose of the tests is to detect the presence of toxins in the blood, which must be excreted from the body in the urine. If the toxin level is high, it is a detector that the animal's kidneys are unable to filter the waste products of metabolism.

Additional clinical researches, which will help to identify the cause of the disease: ultrasound, biopsy of the renal tissue, x-ray, urinolysis.

Treatment of kidney failure

If the diagnosis of renal failure is confirmed, then therapy is prescribed by a veterinarian in accordance with the stage of the course of the disease. If the disease manifests itself in an acute form, then treatment should occur immediately. Because acute renal failure is triggered by any type of blockage urinary tract, then the obstruction of the channels must be urgently eliminated. On the early stage the course of the disease is reversible, and with the adoption of an appropriate set of measures, the cat will be able to live a long and full life.

In the early stages of the disease, the owner of the animal should not engage in self-treatment cats and give her drugs with a dubious spectrum of action. Competent therapy will appoint a veterinarian. Therapy may consist of intravenous solutions, which will correct the imbalance of substances in the blood and help stabilize the condition of the pet. When diagnosing chronic renal failure - CKD in cats, treatment by stages should be carried out under the supervision of a veterinarian.

It should be understood that chronic renal failure in cats, the treatment of which is very different from the treatment of the disease at an early stage, can haunt pets throughout their lives.

The disease at this stage is incurable and mainly affects adult and older cats. Chronic renal failure is diagnosed by a veterinarian if more than 70% of the kidney tissue is affected or scarred.

To eliminate the symptoms and reduce the suffering of the cat in such cases, veterinarians prescribe a set of palliative care. Medical treatment CKD in cats may consist of the following measures:

Introduced into the pet's diet medicinal food for cats with renal failure from a good manufacturer.
Infusion therapy is prescribed.
Conservative methods of treatment are used that do not stop, but slow down the degradation of the kidneys.

AT severe cases, therapy involves surgical removal a non-functioning kidney, but this decision is made by a veterinarian after tests confirm that a pet with one kidney can live full life. Also, if CKD is diagnosed in cats, kidney transplantation can be performed. This complex procedure became available to veterinarians not so long ago and is currently carried out only in a narrow circle of clinics with the equipment of the appropriate level.

Veterinary drugs

After the veterinarian has determined the cause of the disease, studied the medical history and assessed the general physical state cat, he can prescribe the application of a number medications. The appointment of therapy is made on an individual basis, since all animals have their own characteristics of the body and need certain drugs and appropriate dosages.

Basically, the following types of veterinary drugs are used to treat the disease:

Sometimes prednisolone for cats, a catabolic drug with immunosuppressive properties, may be prescribed. For the treatment of metabolic disorders, a pet may be prescribed Ketosteril for cats, which must be taken in accordance with the instructions. This medicinal product contains artificial analogues essential amino acids and helps in the fight against CKD.

In addition to the veterinary medicines listed above, CKD treatment can be used Ipaketine for cats, which you can buy at a veterinary pharmacy. The drug Ipaketine for cats, the price of which is about 300 rubles per 50 grams, is a nutraceutical drug. It improves functional state kidneys and allows to achieve long-term remission.

Pet diet

In order for a cat with kidney failure to have the right to a full life, its diet must be properly balanced. Sick cats are recommended a diet characterized by low content phosphorus and protein. These products provide heavy load on the excretory organs and can provoke a further deterioration in the condition of the pet.

A small amount of protein, which is included in the cat's diet to maintain its muscles and tissues, must be extracted from quality products. The best sources of lean protein are egg whites, liver, and chicken and turkey fillets. In the diet of a pet struggling with an illness, there should be an optimal balance of vitamin D and fatty acids omega 3.

Apart from natural food, the owner can use in the cat's diet prepared feed. There are many commercial brands currently on the market working on the creation of veterinary food lines. Among them, the owner can choose food for cats with kidney failure, which has a special low-fat recipe. Best Choice will be products with a low phosphorus content. It can be Renal cat food developed by the Royal Canin brand, in which the composition is carefully selected and balanced, or another high-class food. Read about Royal Canin's veterinary feed line.

Has good reviews feed additive Renal for cats Advanced, which contains flavonoids, vitamins and medicinal plant extracts. This supplement has an anti-inflammatory effect and helps animals cope with the manifestations of the disease. In addition to the main action, the feed product has an antioxidant function, reduces hyperazotemia and controls non-regenerative anemia, and also contributes to the normalization of the digestive system. You can buy it in a specialized veterinary pharmacy.

The contents of the pet's bowl will not help him heal severe illness kidney disease, but a well-formulated diet that is low in protein, phosphorus, and sodium will reduce symptoms and improve your pet's overall health. It should be understood that changes in the cat's diet should not be drastic. It is desirable to specify the features of the transition to a new medical diet with a veterinarian. The specialist will tell you how to properly prepare the cat for a new diet and not provoke complications.

Despite its serious nature, kidney disease in cats is not a death sentence for an animal. With the proper level of care, the owner will be able to make the life of his pet as comfortable and long as possible. However, for this you should carefully consider the recommendations of veterinarians and take care of the correct maintenance of the cat.

It is important to strictly control the pet's diet, provide him with access to drinking water, minimize the amount of stress and emotional trauma.

Sick animals need periodic veterinary examinations, so owners of cats with kidney disease should make an appointment in advance at the veterinary clinic.