Kedilerde Kronik Böbrek Hastalığı: Belirtileri, Beslenme ve Bakım

What happens in the kidneys

Healthy kidneys filter waste from the blood and keep water and salts in balance. They also help control blood pressure and make a hormone that tells the body to produce red blood cells. When kidney tissue is lost, the healthy part works harder to make up for it. Signs usually appear only after a large share of kidney function is already gone. This is why the illness can seem to start suddenly, even though it has been building for a long time.

Age is the biggest risk factor. In many cats the exact cause is never found. Known causes include long-term kidney infections, stones that block the flow of urine from the kidneys, earlier kidney injury from poisons, and some cancers, such as lymphoma. Polycystic kidney disease, where fluid-filled cysts grow in the kidneys, is inherited. It is seen most often in Persian cats and now and then in a few other breeds.

Dikkat edilmesi gereken belirtiler

Early on, most cats look healthy. The first change owners notice is often thirst. The cat drinks more, visits the water bowl more often, and leaves larger clumps in the litter box. Some cats start looking for water in new places, such as the sink.

As the disease moves forward, other signs appear. The cat eats less and loses weight. The coat looks dull or unkempt. Some cats vomit, become constipated, or sleep more than usual. The breath may smell of ammonia, and sores can form in the mouth. Pale gums can point to anemia, which is common in cats with CKD and leaves them tired and weak.

These changes come slowly, so they are easy to miss. Weight loss in a senior cat is a good reason for a vet visit, even when the cat still seems content.

Ne zaman acil durumdur

Cats with CKD can have sudden setbacks, and some problems cannot wait. Contact your vet or an emergency clinic right away if your cat shows any of these signs.

• Refuses food for more than a day, or vomits again and again
• Seems very weak, collapses, or hides and will not get up
• Suddenly bumps into things, or has wide pupils that stay large in bright light
• Has a seizure, walks unsteadily, or seems confused
• Strains in the litter box and passes little or no urine
• May have chewed a lily plant or licked antifreeze

In older cats, sudden blindness is often caused by high blood pressure, which can detach the retina. Sight can sometimes be saved if treatment starts very quickly. Lilies and antifreeze cause acute kidney injury, a separate illness that needs treatment as fast as possible. With true lilies and daylilies, a small bite of a leaf or petal, a little pollen licked from the fur, or water from the vase can poison a cat.

How vets diagnose it

Diagnosis starts with an exam and questions about what you have seen at home. Blood tests measure waste products the kidneys should remove, such as creatinine and urea. Many labs also measure SDMA, a marker that tends to rise earlier in the disease. A urine test shows how well the kidneys concentrate urine, whether protein is leaking into it, and whether there are signs of infection.

Your vet will usually check blood pressure too, since high blood pressure is common in cats with CKD. Ultrasound or X-rays can show the size and shape of the kidneys and look for stones or cysts. Tests are often repeated after a few weeks to confirm the change is lasting.

Vets then give the disease a stage from 1 to 4, using a system from the International Renal Interest Society. The stage helps guide treatment and gives a rough idea of what to expect. Cats found in the earlier stages tend to live much longer than cats diagnosed in stage 4.

Treatment and the kidney diet

There is no cure for CKD. Treatment aims to slow the damage, ease symptoms, and keep the cat eating and well hydrated. The plan depends on the stage and on each cat's test results.

A kidney diet is usually the first step. These prescription foods are lower in phosphorus and contain a reduced amount of high-quality protein. Studies show that cats with CKD who eat a kidney diet tend to live longer than cats on regular food. Your vet will tell you when to start. It usually works best to begin early, while your cat still has a good appetite.

Switch slowly over several weeks, mixing the two foods and adding a little more of the new one as you go. Try not to start the new diet while your cat feels sick, since a cat can link a food with feeling unwell and refuse it later. For the same reason, give pills in a different treat or food. Kidney diets can taste less appealing, and there are several flavors and textures to try.

Keeping your cat eating matters most. If your cat will not accept the kidney diet, tell your vet, who can suggest other options.

Depending on the tests, the vet may also recommend medicines. These can calm nausea, improve appetite, reduce the phosphorus absorbed from food, add potassium, control blood pressure, reduce protein loss in the urine, or treat anemia. Some cats need extra fluids given under the skin. Many owners learn to do this at home after the clinic shows them how. A cat that eats too little may benefit from a feeding tube. The tube also makes it easier to give water and medicine.

Care at home

A few daily habits help your cat take in more water and help your vet spot changes early.

• Offer wet food, which adds water to the diet
• Place several water bowls around the home, and try a pet fountain
• Keep litter boxes clean and easy to reach, since cats with CKD pass more urine
• Weigh your cat at regular intervals and write the numbers down
• Note appetite, vomiting, and litter box changes, and share them at checkups
• Give medicines as prescribed, and ask the vet before adding any new medicine or supplement

Human pain medicines are not safe for cats. Some are toxic to cats, and some can damage the kidneys. Keep rechecks on schedule. Your vet will repeat blood, urine, and blood pressure tests to see how the disease is changing and to adjust the plan.

Prevention and regular checks

Most chronic kidney disease cannot be prevented, because age plays the largest part. Early detection is the best tool owners have. For cats over 7 years old, feline medicine specialists recommend a health check every 6 months, including weight and blood pressure, with blood and urine tests at least once a year. Tests can find kidney changes before the cat looks ill, when diet and other care can do the most good.

You can also lower the risk of sudden kidney injury. Keep lilies out of any home with cats, and that includes cut flowers. Store antifreeze and other chemicals out of reach, and clean up spills right away. Wet food and plenty of fresh water are sensible habits for any cat.

Chronic kidney disease is not contagious. It does not spread from one cat to another, to dogs, or to people. A cat with CKD can live safely with other pets.

Adopting an older cat

Many rescued cats come with little known history, and their age is often an estimate. At Paw Squadron, the first stops after every rescue are the vet and a bath, and every animal gets a checkup, treatment, vaccinations, and a microchip before adoption. If you adopt an adult or senior cat, ask your own vet at the first visit whether blood and urine tests make sense. The results give a baseline to compare with in later years, so small changes are easier to see.

With the right food, regular checks, and an observant owner, many cats with CKD do well for years. You can find more care guides in PawPedia, or visit our Adoptions page to meet cats looking for a home.