Fluid Therapy For Cats With Kidney Failure

The journal of veterinary internal medicine reviewed 132 cases of acute feline kidney failure.

Fluid therapy for cats with kidney failure. Depending on your cat s illness your vet may add medication to the iv fluids. A special diet and medications may also be necessary. It works rapidly removing toxins and providing constant hydration. Administering supplemental fluids can benefit cats with a variety of medical conditions.

Prognosis of acute feline kidney failure. If you decide to euthanize deciding when to euthanize can also be a very difficult and painful decision. Your vet or the vet tech inserts an iv catheter into a vein in your cat s front leg neck or hind leg. Iv fluid therapy benefits cats with kidney failure in several ways.

The earlier acute kidney failure is captured the better the chances of helping the cat. The 2013 aaha aafp fluid therapy guidelines for dogs and cats is the most complete and medically sound compilation of updates insights advice and recommendations ever developed for helping to ensure that your patients receive appropriate individualized fluid therapy. 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.

First iv fluids are used for emergency then for replacing nutrients and finally subcutaneous fluids are used for maintaining hydration. The body s fluid composition is out of balance such as when blood potassium levels are too high hyperkalemia or too low hypokalaemia. Fluid treatments in general are used to flush toxins from your cat s system. Of these 132 cats just 55 survived.

Hyperkalaemia may be seen in particular when a cat has a blockage such as kidney stones or acute kidney injury. Whether or not you decide to euthanize your cat is always a personal decision. Once cats with chronic renal failure are stable enough to continue their treatment at home they can be discharged from the hospital. The remaining 77 died either naturally or through necessary euthanasia.

Most commonly home fluid therapy is recommended for cats with kidney disease or chronic renal failure crf. 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. 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.

However subcutaneous fluid therapy can make a sick cat feel better and. Aaha guidelines review the latest information that helps the veteri. Fluid therapy is administered for three purposes during treatment for renal disease. Cat owners can be alarmed to learn their beloved companions have chronic renal failure also called kidney failure.

Many patients require fluid therapy to combat dehydration. If your cat is diagnosed with a condition that will benefit from fluid therapy your veterinarian can teach you to perform this simple procedure.