Fluid Therapy For Cats With Kidney Failure

Hyperkalaemia may be seen in particular when a cat has a blockage such as kidney stones or acute kidney injury.

Fluid therapy for cats with kidney failure.

What to expect at home. 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. Administering supplemental fluids can benefit cats with a variety of medical conditions. It works rapidly removing toxins and providing constant hydration.

Fluid therapy for cat kidney disease. A special diet and medications may also be necessary. If your cat is diagnosed with a condition that will benefit from fluid therapy your veterinarian can teach you to perform this simple procedure. Your vet or the vet tech inserts an iv catheter into a vein in your cat s front leg neck or hind leg.

Of these 132 cats just 55 survived. Depending on your cat s illness your vet may add medication to the iv fluids. Fluid therapy is administered for three purposes during treatment for renal disease. The remaining 77 died either naturally or through necessary euthanasia.

The journal of veterinary internal medicine reviewed 132 cases of acute feline kidney failure. Whether or not you decide to euthanize your cat is always a personal decision. Iv fluid therapy benefits cats with kidney failure in several ways. Prognosis of acute feline kidney failure.

You can treat kidney failure in cats to extend a cat s life but unfortunately a time will come when you have to let your cat go. Appropriate treatment for chronic kidney failure depends on the specific symptoms and biochemical abnormalities a cat has. Cat owners can be alarmed to learn their beloved companions have chronic renal failure also called kidney failure. Subcutaneous fluids are generally only part of treating feline kidney disease.

In this irreversible condition the kidneys no longer effectively eliminate wastes causing a potentially fatal buildup of toxins. The body s fluid composition is out of balance such as when blood potassium levels are too high hyperkalemia or too low hypokalaemia. If you decide to euthanize deciding when to euthanize can also be a very difficult and painful decision. Aaha guidelines review the latest information that helps the veteri.

First iv fluids are used for emergency then for replacing nutrients and finally subcutaneous fluids are used for maintaining hydration. Many patients require fluid therapy to combat dehydration. 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. Once cats with chronic renal failure are stable enough to continue their treatment at home they can be discharged from the hospital.

However subcutaneous fluid therapy can make a sick cat feel better and. The earlier acute kidney failure is captured the better the chances of helping the cat.