Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Changing the diet of your cat / cat
• Method 2 of 3: Giving Medicine
• Method 3 of 3: Checking Your Cat's / Cat's Health
• Tips

Renal failure is a fairly common problem, especially among older cats / cats. A weakened kidney is unable to effectively cleanse the blood of toxins (such as digestive by-products, urea and creatinine). As a result, toxins accumulate in the blood of cats / cats with kidney failure, which can lead to inflammation of the stomach lining, which causes nausea and reluctance to eat in cats and cats. Fortunately, early diagnosis and intervention can slow kidney damage and prolong the life of the cat / cat. In some cases, adequate therapy can help prolong the cat's life by two or even three years.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Changing the diet of your cat / cat

1. 1 Think about a prescribed diet. If your cat / cat has kidney failure, talk to your veterinarian. He or she may prescribe a special kidney diet that contains limited amounts of high quality protein and minimal amounts of phosphates and certain minerals. It is very difficult for the kidneys to filter out proteins, phosphates and minerals, so prescribed diets limit these substances to reduce the stress on the organ.
   • Studies show that phosphate can cause scar tissue in the kidney, so limiting phosphate in the cat's / cat's diet is doubly important.
2. 2 Talk to your veterinarian about the best sources of protein and nutrients if you are going on a homemade diet. Veterinarians generally advise using mostly white meats such as chicken, turkey, and white fish because they are easier to digest and less stressful on the kidneys than other foods. However, a cat / cat with kidney failure should eat a balanced diet, including enough sources of vitamins and certain minerals, especially calcium, which is vital for the heart, bones and eyes. Accordingly, your veterinarian may recommend a more balanced food list.
   • Over time, a diet based solely on white meat can lead to joint inflammation in the cat / cat, brittle bones, blurred vision, or heart failure.
3. 3 Give food your cat / cat loves. The most important thing in caring for a cat / cat with kidney failure is to make sure the animal is eating at least something. Some cats / cats will starve if you give them food they don't like. Thus, it makes no sense to prescribe a renal home diet if this food is left uneaten. It is best to compromise and give the cat / cat some food of his / her taste.
   • If your cat is not eating, it can lead to a form of liver failure called hepatic lipidosis, which is as dangerous as kidney failure. Talk to your veterinarian if you think there is such a problem.
   • If your cat / cat has a poor appetite (a common symptom of kidney failure), try hand-feeding - many cats / cats will eat if the owner offers them food from his palms.
   • Alternatively, try hanging a piece of food on the cat's / cat's whiskers so that he / she licks the whiskers and tastes the food in his mouth. Sometimes this technique increases the desire to eat in the cat / cat.
   • You can also try microwaving food for a stronger flavor and a much more attractive temperature. Some cats / cats refuse to eat cold food, but will eat if you reheat it.
4. 4 Give your cat / cat phosphate binders. Phosphate binders stick to the phosphate in food, and it remains in the gastrointestinal tract without entering the bloodstream. Giving your cat / cat phosphate binders will lower blood phosphate levels and reduce kidney scar tissue formation. Talk to your veterinarian about the best phosphate binder for your cat / cat. One of the most common, Renalzin, is sold as an ointment. You simply mix it with your cat / cat food and the substance works from the first bite.
   • For most cats and cats, one squeeze of Renalzin ointment twice a day will be the optimal dose. If you have a large cat / cat and give him / her large portions, your veterinarian may advise adding two Renalzin squeezes twice a day.
5. 5 Make sure your cat / cat is drinking enough water. The damaged kidney loses its ability to retain water and produces weak urine. This fluid loss must be compensated for, so make sure your cat / cat drinks plenty of water.
   • If your cat / cat loves to drink flowing water, consider purchasing a feline drinking fountain. Or try putting the water in a very wide bowl, because some cats and cats don't like having their whiskers touching the edge of the water.

Method 2 of 3: Giving Medicine

1. 1 Give your cat / cat antacids. Cats and cats with kidney failure usually develop inflammation of the stomach lining, which causes heartburn and sometimes stomach ulcers. To provide relief and increase the pet's appetite, your veterinarian may recommend antacids. The usual prescription is omeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor that is very effective in reducing stomach acid production. Small cats and cats are usually given 1 mg / kg once a day by mouth, large cats and cats are usually given half a 10 mg tablet once a day.
   • If you don't have a prescription for omeprazole, you can try famotidine, which is sold over the counter called Pepsid. Pepsid blocks histamine-induced gastric acid production. Unfortunately, getting the right dosage right can be tricky. Large cats and cats usually need a quarter of a 20 mg tablet, but small cats and cats usually need to give one-eighth of a tablet, which can be very impractical.
2. 2 Give B vitamins. B vitamins are important for healthy digestion and good appetite. This group of vitamins is water-soluble and your cat's increased thirst may wash them into urine too quickly. Therefore, your veterinarian may advise a course of shots, usually one shot per week, for four weeks, to maintain adequate levels of B vitamins in your cat's / cat's blood.
3. 3 Consider appetite stimulation medication for your cat. If your cat / cat has no appetite, then even if you are giving antacids and the animal is not dehydrated, you may need an additional appetite stimulant. Ask your veterinarian for a small dose of IV diazepam, which sometimes increases the urge to eat. Another way to increase appetite is Periactin, an antihistamine, with side effects in the form of appetite stimulation. The usual dosage is 0.1-0.5 mg / kg twice a day. Large cats and cats may need to give half a tablet twice a day.
4. 4 Give ACE inhibitors. If angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors) are given in the early stages of kidney failure, it will prolong the life of the kidney. These drugs alter the circulation of blood through the kidney by decreasing the pressure gradient to reduce the damage done to the microcirculation within the kidney itself. The usual dose is a 2.5 mg tablet of forticor once a day every day. Talk to your veterinarian about the most appropriate choice for your cat / cat.
   • Please note: ACE inhibitors will not cure kidney failure, but they will protect your cat's kidney from wear and tear. These medications are not effective in advanced kidney failure.

Method 3 of 3: Checking Your Cat's / Cat's Health

1. 1 Be aware of the problems associated with high blood pressure. Cats and cats with kidney failure often develop high blood pressure (also known as hypertension). This problem increases the likelihood of blood clots and strokes in animals. In addition, hypertension can lead to a buildup of fluid between the retina and the back of the eye, causing retinal detachment and unexpected blindness.
2. 2 Check your cat / cat's eyesight regularly. Since hypertension is a serious enough problem, you should make sure that your veterinarian checks your cat's blood pressure regularly.
   • If your cat's blood pressure is slightly higher than normal, an ACE inhibitor can lower it by 10%.
   • If the hypertension is severe, your veterinarian may recommend an antihypertensive drug such as amlodipine. The average dosage of amlodipine is 0.625-1.25 mg once a day. This is about an eighth of a 5 mg tablet.
3. 3 Watch for urinary tract infections. Because cats and cats with kidney failure have weak urine, they are prone to urinary tract infections. Mild or chronic infections may not produce symptoms, but they still need to be treated because bacteria can travel from the bladder to the kidney, increasing kidney damage.
   • Your veterinarian should do a urine culture at least twice a year to identify infections. He or she may prescribe antibiotics if the culture is positive.

Tips

• If your cat / cat suddenly looks very sick, he may have a uremic crisis. This can happen if a cat or cat with kidney failure becomes dehydrated or sick. Contact your veterinarian right away - your cat / cat may need intravenous fluids.