EDMOND — Q: My cat is 16 years old and has been diagnosed with kidney failure. I was told I will need to stick a needle under her skin and give her fluids. Is there something else we can do for her besides this? I do not think I can stick her with a needle on a routine basis.
A: Kidney failure or chronic renal failure is a common illness that we see especially in older cats, but occasionally in younger cats, also. There are a number of things that can be done to slow the progression of the disease, but nothing except a kidney transplant will cure it.
The kidneys are responsible for filtering waste products from the blood as it passes through them, especially nitrogen from the metabolism of proteins. The final product is urine, which now contains nitrogenous and other toxins and waste. As cats age, the kidney function begins to decline. We rarely know why or what causes it to decline.
Annually, or better semiannually, bloodwork and a urinalysis should be done by your veterinarian. This testing can be beneficial in diagnosing kidney problems when they first begin. The earlier they are diagnosed, the better the chance for lengthening their life and keeping them comfortable longer. Cats older than seven or eight years of age should be checked semiannually for kidney function since this is the most frequent health problem we see in older cats.
Most cats will start to show a weight loss, which could be for a number of reasons. An increase in water consumption and, of course, increased urination will occur and they may not eat as well as they used to. As the toxins begin to increase in the body, they will cause vomiting.
This course is both progressive and fatal. With good management, however, the time course can be extended for several years. The first thing will be to change your cat’s diet to a prescription kidney failure diet such as Hill’s K/D or Purina’s NF diet. These diets have a decreased protein content they have a high palatability and are more easily metabolized. They also have additional vitamins, lower phosphorus and sodium.
There are several ways to increase additional water intake such as ice cubes in the drinking water, changing it frequently to keep it fresh and feeding canned food which is 60 percent to 80 percent water. Water can be added to dry or canned food. Eventually your cat will need help to maintain an adequate amount of water in her system to flush the toxins with failing kidneys.
Your veterinarian can demonstrate and teach you how to administer the fluids under the skin or subcutaneously. The fluids are given usually two or three times a week and most cats will learn to tolerate the procedure, which only takes a few minutes to do. The skin is tented up between the thumb and index finger and the needle is pushed easily into the tent. Practice with a piece of paper laid flat on the table. Pinch it up gently between your thumb and finger and visualize the pocket that is made under the skin. Push the needle into the pocket and let the fluids drip in. This will cause a bubble of fluid under the skin but it will be quickly absorbed into the body.
If you absolutely cannot do this, ask your veterinarian about surgically placing a more permanent tube called a GIF-tube under the skin along her back.
This can become an easy routine also and the GIF-tube potentially can last for months or more than a year. Once you do it a time or two, it will become easier and your cat will enjoy the extra time you spend with her.
DR. M. MARGARET KING, a longtime Edmond veterinarian, is a guest columnist. If you have any questions for her, send them to 1900 S. Bryant, Edmond, OK 73013.
Columns
August 25, 2008
Fluids necessary to manage feline kidney disease
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