Understanding the stages and signs of kidney disease can help to extend your cat s life and keep them comfortable for as long as possible through this stage of their life.
Iv fluid therapy for cats with kidney disease.
Cat owners can be alarmed to learn their beloved companions have chronic renal failure also called kidney failure.
Similarly discovering chronic kidney disease at its very onset will prolong a cat s life.
With lifestyle changes and treatment cats can live as long as a decade with kidney disease.
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.
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.
Administering supplemental fluids can benefit cats with a variety of medical conditions.
However subcutaneous fluid therapy can make a sick cat feel better and can extend his life.
If your cat is diagnosed with a condition that will benefit from fluid therapy your veterinarian can teach you to perform this simple procedure.
This will both allow the vet to easily locate the vein and make it more straightforward to attach the iv drip to the cat.
Fluid therapy is administered for three purposes during treatment for renal disease.
Acute renal failure can be reversed if treated early enough.
The body s fluid composition is out of balance such as when blood potassium levels are too high hyperkalemia or too low hypokalaemia.
A special diet and medications may also be necessary.
Subcutaneous fluids are generally only part of treating feline kidney disease.
To begin intravenous iv fluid therapy the vet will give the cat a mild sedative and shave the area around the vein being targeted for injection.
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.
Any cat can suffer from acute kidney failure which is usually caused by the consumption of poisons.
Most cats with chronic kidney disease feel best when sub q fluid administration is repeated every one to three days.
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.
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.
Hyperkalaemia may be seen in particular when a cat has a blockage such as kidney stones or acute kidney injury.
Fluid treatments in general are used to flush toxins from your cat s system.
Most commonly home fluid therapy is recommended for cats with kidney disease or chronic renal failure crf.
The reason for hydrating the cat is kidney disease which is common in.