Treatment for Kidney Disease in Cats

Diet and Supplements

• A prescription kidney diet not only reduces symptoms, it also slows the progression of damage to the kidneys. Prescription kidney diets are low in protein and phosphorous. Damaged kidneys cannot remove the breakdown products of protein, and a high phosphorous level accelerates kidney damage. A study published in the Journal of Small Animal Practice in 2001 by J. Elliott and colleagues titled "Survival of Cats With Naturally Occurring Renal Failure: Effect of Dietary Management" showed that cats fed a prescription renal diet lived longer than those fed a normal diet.

  Cats with chronic kidney failure pass large amounts of dilute urine, and this can result in loss of water-soluble vitamins. Prescription renal diets are often supplemented with vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids. A study conducted by E.A. Plantinga and colleagues, published in 2005 in the Veterinary Record, titled "Retrospective Study of the Survival of Cats With Acquired Chronic Renal Insufficiency Offered Different Commercial Diets," showed that although cats fed a renal diet lived longer, the greatest survival was in renal diets supplemented with an omega-3 fatty acid.

Potassium

• Thirty percent of cats with chronic renal failure have a low potassium level caused by excessive urination. Low potassium levels accelerate kidney damage, causes muscle weakness and in extreme cases can lead to death. Potassium supplementation can be done using tablets, granules, liquids or powders. A cat must be monitored when administered potassium supplements, as high levels of potassium can also result in severe problems, including death.

Fluid Therapy

• Cats with renal failure produce a lot of urine and eventually they are unable to maintain their own hydration. Dehydration can accelerate the progression of kidney damage. Though cats can be encouraged to drink more, often additional fluids need to be given by subcutaneous administration. The need for subcutaneous fluids is based on each cat and how well they can maintain their own hydration.

Protein Loss

• The amount of protein lost through kidneys is linked with survival. The ACE inhibitor benazepril significantly reduces protein loss through urine. J.N. King and colleagues from Novartis showed in a study published in 2006 in the Journal of Internal Veterinary Medicine, "Tolerability and Efficacy of Benazepril in Cats with Chronic Kidney Disease," that using benazepril appeared to increase survival and slow kidney failure progression in cats.

Blood Pressure

• A large portion of cats with chronic renal failure have high blood pressure. High blood pressure causes further damage to the kidneys. High blood pressure can also cause damage to the cat's brain, eyes and heart if not identified and controlled. All cats with chronic renal failure should have their blood pressure regularly checked and treated if necessary.

Nausea and Vomiting

• There are a number of reasons that a cat with renal failure can suffer from nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite. These include high phosphorous and toxin levels. Also, as the kidneys fail they release a hormone, gastrin, which causes the stomach to produce too much acid. This increased acid causes nausea, vomiting and ulceration. Medications can be prescribed to reduce stomach acidity. Appetite stimulants can also be administered, though some result in sleepiness.

Anemia

• Kidneys produce the hormone erythropoietin, which stimulates the body to produce new red blood cells. As kidney damage progresses, the body produces inadequate amounts of the hormone, resulting in anemia. Treatment is either by blood transfusion or the administration of a manufactured human form of the hormone. However, because this hormone is not feline in origin, the cat can produce antibodies against it, resulting in severe anemia that must be treated with blood transfusions.