Cat with acute renal failure and chronic CKD

Cat with acute renal failure when acute kidney damage/decompensation occurs

Cat with acute renal failure

Renal failure in cats and dogs can be acute or chronic:

1. Acute kidney injury (AKI)
2. Chronic kidney disease ( CKD )

1. AKI, why does a young, healthy animal develop acute kidney failure?

Acute kidney injury generally manifests itself due to taking drugs such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), accidental ingestion of poisons or ingestion of food contaminated with toxins, urinary obstruction caused by stones, inflammation such as cystitis, but also renal ischemia or anesthesia can lead to reduced blood flow to the kidneys and cause acute kidney failure.

In the presence of cystitis or kidney stones, blood tests can detect very high urea and creatinine, urinalysis shows the presence of blood and leukocytes.

Acute renal failure has a sudden onset and is classified into

• Prerenal (glomerulus, tubule, or vascular damage)
• Postrenal (stone obstruction, reduced urinary flow)

ANGER/AKI if diagnosed and treated in time, is reversible. On the contrary, if therapy delays or is not adequate, irreversible damage to the kidney can lead to the development of chronic renal failure.

Diagnosis of acute renal failure

In the case of acute renal failure, it is necessary to intervene promptly, often during a blood test there are high levels of urea, very high creatinine, potassium and phosphorus and electrolyte imbalances. In the examination of urinary sediment, the detection of cells and crystals and blood in the urine is frequent.

Always at risk: URINARY INFECTIONS AND CYSTITIS

Animals with chronic renal failure are more predisposed to urinary infections,

bacterial cystitis can cause PIELONEPHRITIS (bacterial infection of the kidney), this is thought to be due to poorly concentrated urine.

If we see our cat urinating outside the litter box, if he has difficulty urinating or if we notice the presence of blood in the urine we should be alarmed, cystitis can greatly increase creatinine levels and seriously damage the kidney.

Acute heart failure in chronic kidney failure is referred to by the acronym (ACKD)

(Acute chronics kidney disease)

Clinical signs:

• Anorexia
• Vomiting
• Lethargy
• Urethral obstruction
• Renal ischemia
• Pyelonephritis

Acute kidney injury damages the renal parenchyma causing reduced kidney function. During chronic acute kidney failure, abdominal ultrasound can detect

• An increase in renal cortical echogenicity, irregularities
• Reduced renal size
• Renal cysts

Since the health of the kidney must be preserved as much as possible, my advice is to do periodically, even in the absence of symptoms, a urine test with antibiogram. I write this because more than once I have discovered cystitis by performing a quick test with test strips that allow you to carry out a first urine test at home.

In the presence of recurrent infections, it is necessary to restore intestinal dysbiosis with the addition of prebiotics and probiotics in the diet.

Supplementation in cycles with D-mannose (It is a simple sugar (a monosaccharide), which is excreted unchanged in the urine. Its use prevents the adhesion of bacteria (E. coli, Klebsiella Pneumoniae and Salmonella) to the bladder wall. (Fine powder Very palatable, it can be added to pet-food).