Kidney Functions

Remove waste products from the blood.
Control the exchange of water and electrolytes between blood and urine Produce hormones.

Kidney disease in ageing cats is very common

Cats are likely to show symptoms of kidney disease after 75% of the kidney tissue has already been destroyed.
Simple routine tests can detect kidney disease at an early stage before symptoms are shown.
Early detection can result in successful management.

Signs of the disease include :

Weight loss
Excessive drinking/urination
Smelly breath
Loss of appetite
Loss of condition/lethargy
Dehydration
Vomiting
Diarrhoea
Mouth ulcers
Sudden blindness or bleeding eye

Kidney facts:

Cats/Dogs and people have 2 kidneys made up of about 1 million nephrons each.
The nephrons are the functional units.
The kidneys can still work even when severely damaged.
Water, electrolytes and waste products are filtered from the blood into the nephron.
These pass through the nephron and eventually become urine.

Related diseases

High blood pressure
More frequent in cats than dogs
Often unexplained but can also be due to:
Kidney disease
Heart disease
Over - functioning thyroid gland

Can also have tragic consequences, such as :
Sudden irreversible blindness
Strokes

There are specific diets for animals with renal disease
These diets contain -

Low Protein - Reduces accumulation of toxic protein breakdown.
Low phosphorus - Slows down kidney disease.
Low in salt - Controls hypertension (high blood pressure).
B - complex vitamins - combats increased urinary losses.
Non protein calories - Ensues adequate energy.
Dietary buffering acids - helps counteract metabolic acidosis.

Feeding Duration

6 month minimum period, at the end of which a check up must be performed.
When diagnosed, ¾ of the renal mass has been lost and the disease is irreversible, the diet should be maintained for the cats lifetime.
Cats with renal faliure have a reduced appitite so highly palatable food is essential.
Renel faliure occurs mostly in cats over 10years.