Fluid Therapy For Cats With Kidney Disease

Reasons for iv fluids cats diagnosed with chronic renal or kidney failure don t have a great prognosis but you can help extend fluffy s life with iv fluid therapy at the veterinary hospital and then regular subcutaneous fluid therapy at home.

Fluid therapy for cats with kidney disease.

However acute renal disease usually. This can be achieved by increasing the water content of a pet s diet e g feeding canned food only and through intermittent subcutaneous fluid treatment. Subcutaneous fluids are generally only part of treating feline kidney disease. However subcutaneous fluid therapy can make a sick cat feel better and can extend his life.

If kidney disease is found treatments can range from surgery to remove blockages to iv fluids to a special diet and medications. Talk to your vet about the best options. Most commonly home fluid therapy is recommended for cats with kidney disease or chronic renal failure crf. First iv fluids are used for emergency then for replacing nutrients and finally subcutaneous fluids are used for maintaining hydration.

The body s fluid composition is out of balance such as when blood potassium levels are too high hyperkalemia or too low hypokalaemia. A kidney diet is low in both phosphorus and protein and is enriched with vitamin d and omega 3 fatty acids. Administering supplemental fluids can benefit cats with a variety of medical conditions. 2013 aaha aafp fluid therapy guidelines for dogs and cats 2013 davis h jensen t johnson a knowles p meyer r rucinsky r shafford h.

Most cats with chronic kidney disease feel best when sub q fluid administration is repeated every one to three days. Fluid therapy for cat kidney disease. Iv fluid therapy can help keep a cat hydrated when his kidney function isn t what it used to be. If the sub q fluids improve astro s quality of life talk with your veterinarian about making a gradual transition to a prescription diet for cats with chronic kidney disease these diets help cats feel better and live longer.

Chronic renal failure is progressive and can affect a cat s life for months even years. Hyperkalaemia may be seen in particular when a cat has a blockage such as kidney stones or acute kidney injury. I ve been giving my friend s cat patches a fluid treatment 2 time a day now for over a month after treatment his one of his legs would swell up the vet said this sometimes happens. Fluid treatments in general are used to flush toxins from your cat s system.

You may also be able to inject fluids under your cat s skin at home. Appropriate treatment for chronic kidney failure depends on the specific symptoms and biochemical abnormalities a cat has. The reason for hydrating the cat is kidney disease which is common in older cats patches is about 14 yrs old and is an indoor cat. Although kidney disease typically is diagnosed in older cats it occasionally affects younger cats as well.

But providing fluid therapy in a home environment is a vital part of older cat care for many pets and pet owners and it s truly a lifesaving gift of love to a special pet. If your cat is diagnosed with a condition that will benefit from fluid therapy your veterinarian can teach you to perform this simple procedure.