End-stage CKD in cats: signs, treatment and life expectancy

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

Chronic kidney failure is not unique to humans - it often occurs in cats as well. The peculiarity of this disease is such that it begins its development from the first years of the animal's life. After that, it gradually and completely imperceptibly progresses until the moment when changes in the internal organs become irreversible. Renal failure in cats is an age-related disease, so many animals in old age show end-stage renal failure, which is considered incurable.

The essence of this disease is that there are gradual changes in the tubular and glomerular functions of the kidneys and they cannot fully maintain normal water-electrolyte, as well as osmotic homeostasis. As a result, the cat develops uremia. With timely detection of this manifestation and treatment started in the early stages, the cat has a good chance of living a long feline life and dying of old age. But for this you need not miss the appearanceanxiety symptoms and prevent such a point of no return as the end stage of chronic renal failure.

What is chronic renal failure? What are its causes and symptoms? More on this later in the article. We will also talk about the role of prevention in development.

Description of disease in cats

Let's consider the mechanism of kidney function in cats. The waste products of their feline life are promoted by the bloodstream and reach the kidneys, where they are filtered from toxins. The toxins are then evacuated from the body in the urine. In this case, the nephrons of the kidneys act as filters. When they cease to cope with their main activity, the cat's body is poisoned by the products of its own metabolism. This phenomenon is called chronic renal failure. And the latest stage of this disease is called "terminal stage of CRF".

Options for the development of the disease

The development of the disease can occur in two scenarios:

• When the number of normally functioning nephrons decreases, and those that remain receive an increased load, forced to do the work of the missing nephrons.
• When the very structure of nephrons is broken, which slows down the filtration rate.

Features of the disease in a cat

In order not to miss the signs of kidney failure, you must regularly visit the veterinarian and conduct laboratory tests of the urine and blood of the animal, if necessary, make him an ultrasound. If in the bloodbiochemical analysis will show an increased content of creatine and urea, this indicates the presence of chronic renal failure in the cat. At the same time, a general study will show a noticeable decrease in hemoglobin, platelets, lymphocytes, but an increase in the level of leukocytes. Urinalysis will show the presence of protein, decrease in density of isosthenuria, and the reaction will be acidic.

In order for a cat not to be diagnosed with end-stage chronic renal failure, you need to be very attentive to your pet. At the slightest doubt in the work of the kidneys, you should contact the veterinarian. There are so many factors that can lead to this dangerous diagnosis, and the problem is that in the early stages of the disease they are almost invisible. The development of kidney pathology occurs gradually, until suddenly end-stage renal failure is diagnosed in cats. The life span of animals at the onset of this severe stage is not predicted. Since sick cats are in for a lot of suffering, owners are offered to simply euthanize them to put them out of their misery.

For this reason, cat owners should pay attention to the behavior of their wards in their normal, he althy state, so that changes in behavior can be seen the first signs of end-stage renal disease in cats at the very beginning of the process, when everything is still responding well to treatment. What are the hallmarks of this insidious disease? Consider further.

Signs of illness in cats

Watching the behavior of domestic cats in everyday life, pay attention to such previously uncharacteristic signs:

• frequent scanty urination;
• intense thirst;
• lack of interest in food;
• weight loss and haggard appearance;
• manifestations of diarrhea and vomiting;
• fading and painful dullness of the coat;
• pale color of ears, nose, tongue, gums;
• appearance of mouth ulcers on mucous membranes;
• bad smell from the animal's mouth, sometimes with profuse salivation.

Cat owners need to understand that all of these signs of chronic kidney disease do not appear at the same time. And if at least one was seen in your pet, rather take it to the veterinarian and start treatment. This is his chance for a he althy life, and the sooner you start treatment procedures, the higher the likelihood that the cat will not have end-stage CRF. Next, let's talk about the stages of the disease and what are the symptoms for each of them.

Stages of disease severity in cats

Depending on the severity of the disease, the international classification provides for 4 stages. Among them:

• compensation;
• subcompensation;
• decompensation;
• terminal.

Description of stages

The two initial stages of kidney failure are almost asymptomatic. In such cases, it is possible to diagnose the disease only with the help of regular tests for research. With the onset of decompensation, the symptoms of renal failure are already expressed quite clearly. However, life expectancy is stillcan be beneficial with timely treatment and continued therapeutic support. But the terminal stage of CRF in a cat is already a verdict. Almost always, veterinarians offer euthanasia, so as not to prolong the suffering of the animal and relieve the owner of the moral suffering.

Causes of chronic renal failure

A few words should be said about the causes of this disease, since old age is not the only factor influencing the development of CRF. The onset can be laid by exposure to toxic substances, an infectious disease of the kidneys, usually viral peritonitis, trauma to the kidneys. These can also be diseases of the immune system, nephrolithiasis - kidney stones, congenital defects of the kidneys of an anatomical nature, neoplasms in organs that are not only malignant, but also benign. All these reasons can provoke the development of chronic renal failure. Let us consider in more detail each of the stages and what symptoms are characteristic of them.

Characteristic symptoms for the first two stages of the disease in cats

Kidney failure in cats is a very insidious disease. And its danger lies in the fact that obvious symptoms appear only at a time when the disease is deeply rooted and the effectiveness of its treatment becomes not very high, and in some cases it completely reduces to zero. However, the symptoms that appear at each stage of chronic kidney disease progressiondeficiency, you need to know, and this may help to recognize the alarming signals of the cat's body in a timely manner.

Compensation and sub-compensation pass almost without any pronounced symptoms, except that attentive owners will pay attention to the general state of weakness of their cat. During this period, only the inception and weak, very gradual development of pathology in the kidneys occurs. This is a latent period during which there may be some ailments, less activity than usual, and poor appetite. An increased level of creatinine is observed in the blood. The compensatory stage can last for many months, during which the cats lose weight and show an increased need for water and, as a result, its increased excretion. Owners should understand that such manifestations are characteristic already when the kidneys have lost 65 percent of their functions.

Decompensation stage. How does the disease manifest itself?

At the stage of decompensation there is already a more progressive accumulation of decay products. At the same time, cats look very lethargic and indifferent, eat poorly and react little to environmental stimuli. But the cat begins to drink a lot and voraciously, showing all the signs of severe dehydration, since everything he drinks is immediately excreted in the urine. Often there are constipation, diarrhea and vomiting. In a blood test, the level of creatinine reaches 400 µmol / l. An ultrasound scan will show pronounced structural changes in the kidneys. In addition, cats have high blood pressure.

Terminal stage. Signs of kidney failure

If all the previous symptoms were ignored by the owners, the end stage of CRF in a cat comes. During this period, the symptoms are gaining strength and manifest themselves very clearly. But unfortunately, this is the last stage at which it is no longer possible to help the animal. Symptoms of end stage CKD in cats are:

• strong apathy;
• complete lack of appetite;
• significant weight loss;
• matted wool and increased shedding;
• putrid smell from the mouth;
• severe dehydration with frequent diarrhea and vomiting.

Now they appear very well, but this cannot change anything. All these symptoms of the terminal stage of chronic renal failure indicate only that the last phase of the disease has come. The animal begins to lose weight quickly and refuses food. In addition, the degree of poisoning of the body with metabolic products increases, which is manifested by severe uremia. Analyzes show serious disturbances in the composition of the blood - an increase in the concentration of potassium and phosphate ions, a decrease in the level of calcium and creatinine. An x-ray can reveal a decrease in the density of skeletal tissues. At the same time, the amount of urine is significantly reduced.

How many people live with such a disease and is it possible to cure it at this stage?

The most terrible and impressive is the terminal stage of CRF. Treatment in this case is already useless -liver function is irretrievably lost. It remains only to state the last stage and follow the increasingly rapid failure of the genitourinary system. You can help your pet at this stage only by being kind to him. But how long the terminal stage of CRF lasts, no one can say for sure. This period is individual for each individual cat and depends on the general state of he alth, age, previous treatment received and much more. At this time, irreversible damage to other organs and systems occurs - dystrophy of the heart muscle, circulatory failure, edema in the lungs. On the part of the nervous system, inhibition of processes, drowsiness, convulsions, tremors and other difficulties are manifested. Possible sudden loss of vision.

How long can this last and how long do they live in the terminal stage of chronic renal failure, at its last stage, no one has conducted accurate studies. With such a severe course of the disease, for humane purposes, sick animals are simply euthanized.

Prevention and diagnosis of disease in cats

To prevent such a gloomy scenario in the life of your pet, you should take care of his he alth in advance. And in order to prevent the disease, the diet of the animal and its drinking regimen are very important. Domestic cats, especially older ones, should be slowly transitioned to a therapeutic diet. A diet for the prevention of chronic renal failure should do with foods with a minimum amount of protein and phosphate. Such food can be bought ready-made, but this step must first be agreed with the veterinarian.

In order to avoid a tragic ending, pets must be subjected to annual medical examinations, and those who have reached advanced years and have been living in the family for more than ten years must undergo a thorough check twice a year. Give your cat plenty of water and watch her behavior so she can live a he althy and happy long life with you.

Small conclusion

Now you know how chronic renal failure manifests itself at each stage. From the above article it is clear that in order to timely help a domestic cat with kidney disease, you just need to be attentive to her and provide her with the right, he althy diet and drinking regimen.