Understanding Feline Nephritis: Causes, Symptoms, and T

The Primary Functions of the Kidneys

Filter metabolic waste products produced by the body (mainly urea and creatinine)

Regulate the balance of electrolytes (potassium, calcium, phosphorus, sodium)

Encourage the production of red blood cells in the bone marrow

Produce kidney hormones that help control blood pressure

Causes of Feline Kidney Disease

The kidneys play a crucial role in filtering blood and excreting waste. After the blood delivers waste to the kidneys for filtration, the filtered water is reabsorbed back into the body, resulting in concentrated urine to prevent excessive water loss. There are numerous factors that can affect kidney disease, some of which are congenital or inherited. Among older cats, the most common cause is chronic kidney disease, which can also be referred to as chronic renal failure. As cats age, healthy kidney tissue can gradually deteriorate, become fibrotic, and shrink, leading to a decline in kidney function.

Symptoms of Feline Kidney Disease

Only 30% of kidney function is needed in daily life, so unless more than 70% of kidney function is lost, symptoms may not be very noticeable. It is crucial to seek treatment promptly once the first symptom is detected.

Here are the symptoms of chronic kidney disease to observe:

Stage 1: No symptoms

Stage 2: Increased thirst and urination, mild anemia, weight loss, etc.

Stage 3: Decreased thirst and urination, decreased appetite, intermittent vomiting, weight loss, anemia, dry hair, etc.

Stage 4 (Uremia): Vomiting, diarrhea, and other digestive system symptoms, drowsiness, seizures, etc.

Observation Tips

To check for anemia: Look at the color of the gums. Healthy gums are pink and moist.

To check for dehydration: Notice if the cat's gums are sticky, dry, and lack moisture. Also, observe the cat's skin elasticity. Try pinching the skin on the cat's neck and back; if it quickly bounces back, the cat is okay. If it doesn't, the cat may be severely dehydrated.

Preventive Measures for Feline Kidney Disease

Develop a dental hygiene routine

Cats that do not brush their teeth can lead to bacterial growth, causing gingivitis. These bacteria can spread throughout the body via the bloodstream. If they reach the kidneys, they can damage the kidney organs, significantly increasing the risk of kidney disease.

Ensure adequate water intake

Inadequate water intake in cats can also lead to kidney disease. Find ways to encourage your cat to drink more water, such as adjusting the number, height, and shape of water bowls.

Pay attention to diet

For the care of animals with kidney disease, it is essential to provide sufficient water. In addition to choosing wet food and canned food to supplement water in the diet, sometimes, if the cat's water loss is too severe, additional intravenous fluid therapy may be necessary to keep up with the loss.

Keep your cat away from toxic and harmful substances

In daily life, some things are toxic to cats, such as lilies. If a cat ingests them, it can cause poisoning and lead to kidney failure.

Obesity is the root of many diseases

Manage your cat's weight well; avoid obesity. Otherwise, it can lead to urinary tract diseases in cats, and repeated urinary tract diseases can also cause kidney disease.

Regular health checkups to detect abnormalities early

After the cat turns 8, it is important to have regular health checkups, including four major tests.

To confirm whether your cat has kidney disease, the most common method is to perform blood and urine tests. Xrays and ultrasounds can also be used for diagnosis. In urine testing, checking the urine specific gravity can help determine the kidney's ability to concentrate urine. If the urine specific gravity is significantly reduced, it indicates that the urine is very dilute, and the kidney's ability to concentrate urine may be insufficient. Another key point is to test blood kidney indices, with blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (CREA) being the most commonly used indicators. Since both of these are waste products that should be excreted by the kidneys, if they accumulate in the blood instead of being properly excreted, it may indicate kidney function issues.

Don't worry too much about your beloved cat's health. As long as you detect, diagnose, and treat early, you can control the condition well and extend your cat's lifespan.