Polycystic kidney disease in cats: treatment and prevention

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

The excretory system is one of the most important in the human and animal body. It is due to the kidneys that excess fluid and many toxic products are removed from the body. Any diseases of the excretory system are extremely dangerous due to their complications, and therefore require immediate medical correction.

Cystitis, urethritis - these diagnoses are often found in veterinary practice. However, today we will turn our attention to a rarer and more formidable disease, namely polycystic kidney disease in cats. The sooner the disease is detected, the more effective the therapy will be, therefore, each owner is required to be attentive to their pet and promptly contact the veterinarian as necessary.

Basic information about the disease

First, consider what this disease is. Polycystic kidney disease in cats is a very unpleasant phenomenon in which a certain part of the kidneyparenchyma is replaced by multiple cysts.

If we talk about statistics from veterinary practice, then usually the affected area is very large. At the first stage of development, your pet's illness is not bothered by any symptoms, it continues to live as usual. However, cysts increase in size and put serious pressure on other tissues of the body. As a result, its functionality gradually deteriorates, mediated nephrosis and nephritis develop, and other complications appear.

Unilateral and bilateral cysts

It should be noted that the disease progresses very quickly. Polycystic kidney disease in cats can lead to nephrosclerosis, which is accompanied by the gradual death of the functional cells of this organ. They are replaced by connective tissue, which is unable to filter the fluid. Such a change in the structure of the organ is irreversible.

A cyst at the initial stage is a small ball or vesicle, the contents of which is a liquid, less often a dense substance. Cysts are also dangerous because they can develop on the renal tubules. Veterinarians from their practice are well aware that in the vast majority of cases both organs are affected. Even if at the time of the examination the cyst was diagnosed only on one side (left- or right-sided polycystosis), the appearance of such formations in the tissues on the other side is only a matter of time.

What threatens the disease?

Polycystic kidney disease in cats develops rapidly, but does not lead to immediatedeath of the animal. Usually the owner has enough time to take action. The sooner you start therapy, the more likely you are to avoid multiple complications. The fact is that these neoplasms themselves do not carry a mortal danger.

Much more dangerous is that this disease can lead to sepsis, which often develops when a cyst ruptures. Secondary infection greatly undermines the immune system. Prolonged and ineffective treatment with antibiotics in this case will lead to the fact that the load on the kidneys will become even higher, and it will not be possible to make up for lost time. Another important point is the risk of intoxication of the body due to a decrease in kidney functionality. This leads to a deterioration in appetite, and weight loss, as well as poor condition of the coat, nausea, general weakness and drowsiness.

Problems of heredity or breed?

This question often arises from the owner when his pet is diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease. In cats, treatment can be successful, but it will still leave its mark on the pet's future life. Diet and drinking regimen, the level of activity of the animal, the frequency of visits to the veterinary clinic - everything changes dramatically. What is the development of the disease?

According to statistics, all felines get sick, that is, it is impossible to say unequivocally that a specific age or gender is more prone to polycystic disease. However, there are breeds that come with this diagnosis to the clinic much more often than others. These are Persians, Himalayan and Scottish fold cats. A little less often this disease occurs in British cats.

If you adopt a luxurious Persian cat, you should know that it is highly likely that by the age of 3-5 he will develop polycystic disease. There are frequent cases when by this age the animal simply does not have kidneys in the normal sense of the word. Moreover, if your pet is purebred, the likelihood of developing a dangerous disease for him is much higher.

What contributes to the development of cysts? Major Risk Factors

Veterinarians and scientists have been scratching their heads over this question for years. In the process of research, a hereditary pattern was revealed. However, the rest of the cats are not at all protected from such an ailment, even if there were no sick individuals in their genus.

So, there are some other factors that play far from the last role, but so far they have not been officially recorded. Doctors can only assume that heredity and endocrine diseases lead to the formation of cysts in the tissues of the kidney. Maintenance and feeding can indirectly affect the development of the disease, although it has not yet been proven. There is no diet that can be considered 100% protection against PCOS.

How does the disease manifest itself?

This is another extremely important question, because the effect of the treatment depends on how quickly the owner realizes that his pet is not all right. How to suspect polycystic kidney disease in cats?

Symptoms in the initial stages are almost impossible to notice. The animal does not show anyanxiety. The period of relative well-being lasts until the formations become too large and begin to compress the tissues of the organ, causing pain.

Against the background of the development of the disease, there is also a gradual, but noticeable increase in the abdominal cavity. Unfortunately, if the disease has gone so far that cysts can be detected with a simple palpation of the abdomen, it is almost impossible to save the animal, there is practically nothing left of the functional tissues of the kidneys by this time.

It is because of the lack of symptoms that polycystic kidney disease in cats is detected so late. How long will the animal live? It depends on the stage at which you asked for help.

What else can tell the owner that they need to urgently undergo an examination? This is the appearance of blood in the urine. Of course, this symptom may indicate a number of problems, but in any case, the animal needs to be consulted by specialists. In addition, veterinarians may suspect a similar ailment based on a urinalysis. A biopsy and ultrasound are required to confirm the diagnosis. It is ultrasound that allows you to see neoplasms, determine their number and size.

Why then do you need a biopsy, if on the basis of ultrasound it is possible to determine polycystic kidney disease in cats? The prognosis in this case is very important for the owner, which means that a complete examination is necessary. Cysts can provoke malignant degeneration of tissues, so a biopsy is necessary. In addition, samples taken during the procedure are used for seeding on a nutrient medium. This allows you to determine the presencesecondary bacterial infection and prescribe an effective antibiotic.

Therapy

This is the most painful question, because there is simply no specific method of getting rid of this disease. Since polycystic kidney disease in cats is most often treated in the later stages, the only way out is drug therapy, which can keep your pet alive. The life span in this case depends on what complications the animal has. Some pets may well live a few more years.

If the appeal to the veterinarian occurred in the early stages, then it makes sense to perform an operation and remove the cysts along with the affected area.

Life under surveillance

Get ready for the fact that at least once a month you will have to undergo examinations at a veterinary clinic. This is how you can keep your pet's condition under control and notice any deterioration in time. Even in the absence of sepsis and the small size of cysts, the prognosis is favorable only in the short term. Veterinarians speak with caution about the further fate of the animal.

If the cysts are large and inoperable, they will put a lot of pressure on the organ. To reduce it, fluid is pumped out with a needle. Additionally, antibiotics are prescribed. In fact, this is all the veterinarian can do when a cat has PCKD.

Stopped eating, refuses water, doesn't go to the tray? All these are symptoms of a serious deterioration, so you need to immediately notify a specialist. Perhaps hewill be able to extend the life of his native fluffy a little more.

Proper diet

Unfortunately, this is only remembered when the diagnosis has already been made. Each owner considers it his duty to ask the veterinarian how to feed a cat with polycystic kidney disease. Of course, this is very important for a sick animal. By remembering a he althy diet from the first day your kitten enters your home, many kidney problems can be avoided. This applies primarily to the use of cheap and low-quality feed, such as Kitekat.

Specialists recommend using only super-premium food, and during therapy - therapeutic mixtures (for example, "Hills"). If you stick to a natural diet, then only light food is shown to the pet, in particular, boiled beef and chicken, broths. Completely eliminate fish and fatty foods from the animal's diet. Clean water should be in the pet's bowl at all times. If the cat does not drink enough, then transfer it to canned, medicinal food.

Prevention

Unfortunately, there are no specific measures that could prevent the development of the disease. For a long time, they tried to solve this problem through genetic selection for animal reproduction, but it only got worse.

So if you decide to buy a Persian, British or Scottish, then be prepared for the fact that you will have to visit the veterinarian regularly, undergo ultrasound, take a urine test and carefully monitor any changes incondition and behavior of the animal. If you have a cat of a different breed, it is equally important to regularly monitor the condition of your pet and undergo preventive examinations.