Chronic Renal Failure in cats, sometimes referred to as CRF cats, occurs when the kidneys stop working properly. When this occurs, there is an excess buildup of toxic wastes in the blood stream that can be fatal. Some people may wonder how to tell whether or not their cat is suffering from this disorder. There are some general symptoms that may be indicative of renal failure in your cat. The most common indicator is an increase in urination. When you notice your cat is filling the litter box excessively and even needs to urinate outside of the litter box, you can infer that your pet may be experiencing disorder in her kidneys. The best thing to do is to speak to your veterinarian immediately upon noticing the first signs of illness.
There are two main types of kidney dysfunction that may manifest in your pet. The first type is kidney failure that is triggered by an event such as injury to the abdomen region or by ingestion of a toxin. This is a sudden occurrence that can be treated in order to restore full functionality to the kidneys. In contrast, CRF cats experience an ongoing disorder where the only treatment is to maintain the functionality of the kidneys instead of attempting to restore them to their previous state of full function.
Some symptoms your cat may display other than increased urination are vomiting, stiffness of gait, diarrhea, weight loss and decreased appetite, high blood pressure, anemia, poor coat, mouth lesions and ulcers and other symptoms. Even though these symptoms often indicate a disorder of the kidneys, the best way to know for sure is to have conclusive tests performed by a qualified veterinarian. Laboratory tests can help in making a definitive conclusion about whether or not your cat is suffering from a kidney disorder. Testing for CRF in cats is performed by a blood to test for toxemia. However a blood test alone will not suffice and a urinalysis must also be performed to properly diagnose your pet.
Some pet owners may wonder what the causes of kidney disorder are and why their cat is experiencing this. The truth is there are a variety of different causes. In older cats, the most common is simply old age. When cats age, they become more susceptible to illnesses and disorders that didn’t plague them in their younger years. Research has shown that a vaccine for distemper in cats may also lead to kidney inflammation, followed by Chronic Renal Failure. Another consideration is that kidney failure may be attributed to long term feeding of a diet consisting of only dry food. Eating only dry food causes long term dehydration in cats and results in a high urine concentration that stresses the kidneys to the point of failure.
If you think your cat may be experiencing a disorder or failure of the kidneys, contact your vet right away to discuss treatment options.
For More Information Click Here.