How To Prevent, Recognize & Deal With Feline Kidney Disease
Sometimes customers come to ThirstyCats because their cats have been diagosed wtih Feline Kidney Disease. Dehydration is both one of the causes as well as one of the symptoms and their vets have recommend a fountain for their cats. On the preventative side, many vets now recommend a fountain at the outset of the cats’ lives, before there are any symptoms.
The purpose of this article is to help cat owners prevent kidney disease in their cats, recognize when it may be beginning and to provide suggestions on what to do.
The content for this article was taken from:
- Metropolitan Veterinary Associates
- Blue Pearl Pet Hospital
- HillsPet
- PetHealthNetwork
- PetMD
- Customer reports (sometimes expressed in their reviews)
- Personal Experience
Possible Causes Of Feline Kidney Disease
Causes of feline kidney malfunction can be many, from a genetic predisposition, injury to the kidneys, bacterial infections and dental disease, with ingestion of toxins and dehydration as two common causes. So the good news is that two of the most common causes of feline kidney disease are preventable; ingestions of toxins and dehydration. A few of the more common toxins are human medications, antifreeze and lilies (true lilies such as those seen at Easter). Here is a long list of potential toxins which can cause kidney disease. Many of these are common household items so it’s worthwhile to look it over.
Prevention and Recognition
Because kidney disease in cats doesn’t show up until the disease has well progressed, taking the proper steps from the beginning is important. There are several areas we can attend to from the time we bring a cat home that may well ensure her kidneys remain healthy.
- It is vital that our cats have comfortable litter boxes well located with no obsticles to using them. Retaining urine is not good for the kidneys so complete and constant access to a good litter box our cats can easily use is absolutely necessary. If kidney disease does begin, regular use of the litter box will help.
- Nobody likes to go to the vet but occasional and regular visits for a check up is always a good idea. Early diagnosis will not likely lead to an elimination of the disease but can greatly slow it down and give your cats greater comfort and quality of life.
- Attend to their dentistry. Oral diseases can contribute to kidney disease.
- Encourage your cats to drink lots of water. This is considered to be the most direct and proactive step you can take in preventing kidney disease. Most vets recommend a cat fountain.
- Give wet food. Even if only a part of your cats’ diet, wet food insures water is being taken in. A fountain will reduce the need of this.
- Don’t let your cats get overweight. As with humans, obesity leads to diabetes and kidney damage.
Conditions that can contribute to feline kidney disease are vomiting and diarrhea (because that dehydrates them) and they may also be symptoms of the disease. Other symptoms may be decreased appetite, greater thirst, more frequent urination and lethargy.
Older cats are more likely to develop the disease more readily though it may also be that in older cats the disease has been developing longer to the point of showing visible symptoms. If we notice our elderly cats drinking more, a vet check is a good idea.
Key Points
As with all living things the key to health is maintaining balance within all systems. If any function is weakened, trouble can show up anywhere and will show up somewhere. In plants, for example, a damaged root system will show up in tip die-back somewhere in the canopy; a lack of moisture in the soil will show in browning leaves. An overall weakened plant will invite insect infestation. A strong overall constitution is a great preventative of illnesses of all kinds. And so with cats.
A cat needs a comfortable, safe and enjoyable environment in which to live, with loving care, good nutrition, abundant hydration and a minimum of stress. Provide this and an occaisional vet visit and you have done all you can to help ensure a healthy and happy cat, free of feline kidney disease.