Managing a CRF Cat
CRF (Chronic Renal Failure) should not be confused with acute renal failure, which caused so many deaths in the 2007 tainted pet food recall tragedy.Extremely common in older cats, CRF is a serious condition evidenced by gradual, irreversible deterioration of kidney function over a period of months or years. The kidney consists of tiny funnel-shaped tubes called nephrons, which filter and reabsorb the fluids that balance the body. When an individual nephron is damaged by any cause, (aging, poison, infection, etc.) it stops functioning.Fortunately the kidney can still function with as few as twenty-five percent of its original nephrons, as other nephrons can grow larger to "fill in the blanks."
Learn more about the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and management of CRF in your cat.
Subcutaneous (SQ) Fluid Administration Tip
From Janet Crosby, D.V.M., Guide to Veterinary Medicine:
Giving fluids under the skin (SQ fluids) is something that many pet owners learn to do at home. Fluids are usually given when their pet is suffering from an illness such as chronic kidney failure or general failing health due to age or disease. Here are some tips to make fluid giving more pleasant for your pet and for you.
Feline Hepatic Lipidosis (Fatty Liver Disease)
Fatty Liver Disease sometimes accompanies other diseases in cats, including CRF, feline diabetes IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) and feline hyperthyroidism.
Whatever the related cause, the symptoms are common: A previously overweight older cat suddenly becomes anorexic (quits eating), loses weight, and may salivate excessively or vomit. The cat may become very lethargic and may show jaundice (yellowing of eyes and skin) The good news is that Fatty Liver Disease is completely reversible, if caught in time. Learn more about the symptoms and treatment of this "hitch-hiker" disease in cats.
Photo Credit: Shannon, CRF/FIV+ Cat © Franny Syufy
Comments
Good article and links. My 17 year old Raleigh was diagnosed with CRF when she was 14. It was a pretty scary diagnosis, but it’s been manageable and she still has a great quality of life. Just want to encourage everyone to do frequent blood testing of your senior cats, since catching CRF and other senior diseases early makes them much easier to manage.
Hi what a useful article…If only just only i knew about this before….I own 3 bengals and unfortunatley was never aware of this condition…My cat was a big drinker but he was always a big drinker since we got him so i never thought any different..Unfortunatley he passed away 2 days ago with this condition.I am passing this on to all cat lovers I know…I always used to look at my cats to see if they urinated but my cat was still urinating so i thought he was ok…I never realised he had a problem as well..he was still running round and playing but in one day he went down hill the next down we had to put him down….I noticed his weight did come down in couple weeks. His kidney did fail…I do not want people to go thru what we went thru..If people see these signs please get a test done…We have a lot of heart ache now…but I have learned a hard lesson now…I will look out for this in near future….
My 5 year old Turkish Angora, Tyson is in CRF, also has pancreatitis and hyperthyoidism….he had been vomitting for a while and then when it got to be a daily occurence i had his blood tested to find highly elevated levels of urea and creatinine.
I live in India where homeopathy is widely used and this has worked for a few weeks but the last 2 days he has lost his appetite and i fear he is going downhill….vomitting again even after a couple of mouthfuls of liquid….and has lost a shocking amount of weight.
Any help or suggestions will be gratefully received.