Cats can become infected with many diseases. Some diseases are more common than others. One disease that appears to be very common is Kidney Failure also known as Renal Failure. Kidney Failure is a disease common in cats. This disease if left untreated can be fatal. Once a cat is diagnosed with kidney disease, it cannot be cured, but can be treated with a combination of medication and a high protein diet.
Symptoms of this disease are vomiting, increased urination, and increased water intake. If these symptoms occur, seek veterinarian help. The veterinarian may put the cat on intravenous fluids to help flush out the kidneys, and keep the cat hydrated. Cats can become dehydrated very quickly. To diagnose the cat with kidney failure, a urine and blood sample are required. A cat with this disease lose protein and white blood cells through their urine. So testing the urine is the first step. The second step is a blood test which will test each level of organ function and also to indicate infection.
Kidney Failure is a disease that gets progressively worse as times go on. With the help from medications and protein diets, the cat could live a few more years. Research shows that Omega-3 fatty acids can also help cats with this disease. The veterinarian might also teach the owner how to give subcutaneous fluids to their cat at home. Subcutaneous fluids is a procedure where a needle is place directly under the skin, usually starting between the shoulder blades, and fluid from an IV bag pours through the needle into the space between the skin and muscle. A lump like mass will form in the area indicating that the fluid is building up. Some owners might be required to do this to keep their cat hydrated.
Cats can die from all sorts of diseases, but this is the most common. If any change is noticed the cats behavior, then seeking help from the veterinarian is recommended. Letting this diseases go untreated could and will have a fatal outcome. The only thing the owner can do is keep the cat hydrated, comfortable, and make sure to administer the cats medications. Some cats that go untreated for too long become untreatable and usually the owner will then elect euthanasia.
