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Healing & Alternative Health
Dr. Carson's Holistic Animal Care:
Kidney Failure in Cats - Diagnosis & Initial Treatment
by Kathleen M. Carson, D.V.M |
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Tiger was a 12-year-old cat. For months now he had seemed very thirsty. He also had produced so much urine that his box had to be changed almost daily. Recently, though, both his water intake and appetite were small, as was the amount he urinated. He seemed to shrink overnight, and his fur looked dull and flaky, and it stuck up in tufts. He started to vomit, sometimes food, but often just liquid. Much of the time he just slept orseemed to be staring into space.
Tiger's family took him to their veterinarian, where they learned he'd lost a lot of weight. They were told Tiger was very weak and dehydrated. Their veterinarian recommended that he be hospitalized on intravenous fluids and other supportive care, while blood tests and a urinalysis were run.
The next day their veterinarian called to say they had a diagnosis: chronic kidney failure, also known as chronic renal failure, or “crf”. At first, they were confused, because they thought a cat in kidney failure would not be urinating. However, they learned that the failure was not in the production of urine but in the elimination of body wastes in the urine. These had built up in Tiger's body, making him very ill. Their veterinarian also said that Tiger’s kidneys had lost the ability to concentrate his urine. Thus, his urine was very dilute and large in volume. This was why his litter pan had been getting soaked so quickly and why he’d gotten dehydrated.
What was being done for Tiger while he was in the hospital? A thin, sterile plastic tube or catheter was inserted into a leg vein and taped in place. Through this catheter, Tiger was given intravenous fluids. These fluids restored the water and electrolytes he'd lost by vomiting, by not eating/drinking enough, and through his voluminous urine. They also provided him with sugar (dextrose) to give him energy, and they helped to correct the acid state his body had gotten into in its starving condition. Last, but not least, they helped to flush out the accumulated body wastes.
His doctor also gave him medication to counteract the nausea and vomiting, and she added B vitamins to his intravenous fluids to help him in this stressful time. He was also given something to bind the phosphorus in his food; as his kidneys had failed, the phosphorus levels in his blood had
become elevated, and these high levels of phosphorus damaged his kidneys further.
Since his veterinarian was holistic, she also gave him dailyacupuncture treatments. These gave him more strength, reduced then ausea, and helped his kidneys in their effort to make a comeback.
Since high blood pressure, or hypertension, is often a part of crf, Tiger’s doctor checked to see if he was suffering from this serious condition, which can lead to blindness from detached retinas caused by bleeding within the eyes and/or heart disease. Luckily, at least for now, his blood pressure was normal.
After two days of this care Tiger was feeling much better. He was no longer dehydrated, and with the nausea under control, he had begun to eat a little food. This further increased his strength and helped him to begin to regain some of the weight he had lost. His doctor felt that one more day of hospitalization would be needed to get him back on his feet enough so that he could go home. She took more blood so that his kidney function tests could be re-evaluated after two days of treatment.
By the third day Tiger was feeling even better. His repeat blood tests showed that his kidney values had improved. His doctor felt it was time for him to go home. The doctor explained to Tiger's family that, while only timewould tell, Tiger's crf didn't have to be an automatic death sentence. With good followup care, careful monitoring, and, most important, lots of love, Tiger could have months or even years of good quality life.
In the following months’ columns I’ll write more about Tiger’s follow-up monitoring and home care.
NOTE: If you or someone you know has a cat with crf, I co-host a support group online for people with crf kitties. We meet Sunday evenings on AOL at 5:00 PM Pacific time. When you go online, under “People” go to “Find a Chat”, then “Find a Private Chat”. Under Private Chat, fill in "crf" in the blank box which asks the name of the chat. People dedicated to the care of their crf kitties come to the chat. They share, help each other with suggestions of what has worked for them, cheer each other on, and sympathize with each other. Come join us!! |
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Dr. Kathleen Carson, DVM
Veterinarian & Author
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Dr. Carson received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of California at Davis in 1968. She's been a small animal practitioner (dogs and cats ) for all the years since, except for a short stint at the San Diego Zoo when she first graduated.
She belongs to the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association.
Since 1974 she's lived and practiced in the South Bay Area near Los Angeles. She started the area's first house call practice in 1976 and the first pet crisis/loss group in 1989. The human-animal bond is of special interest to her.
She started exploring complementary veterinary medicine in 1987. Her practice became 100% holistic in 1996. She utilizes acupuncture, herbs, supplements, Bach Flower Remedies, homeopathic remedies, nutrition and medications for her patients in her practice.
She's currently taking a leave of absence from her house call practice due to health reasons but continues to do phone consultations and to write.
E-mail:
Critterhlr@aol.com
website:
http://www.holistic
vetconsult.com
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