Can chronic kidney disease lead to heart failure?
Complications of CKD and heart disease High blood pressure: Damaged kidneys may release too much of an enzyme called renin, which helps to control blood pressure. This increases the risk for heart attack, congestive heart failure and stroke.
What does it mean when a cat has chronic kidney disease?
In many cases, this means that the damage to the kidneys has been occurring over a number of months or years (chronic) before failure is evident. Chronic renal failure (CRF), or chronic kidney disease (CKD) is mainly a problem in older cats.
Can a cat with a heart problem have a kidney infection?
In most cases, the heart problem must take precedence (the kidneys may have to take precedence, at least temporarily, in cats with acute kidney injury and/or a kidney infection or CKD cats who are crashing).
What happens when a cat has heart failure?
When your cat’s heart is unable to pump adequate amounts of blood, the body normally compensates. This means that tissues continue to receive the required oxygen and blood. As the heart disease becomes more severe it overwhelms the abilities of these compensatory mechanisms.
What to do if your cat has kidney failure?
Blood-pressure lowering drugs – significant numbers of cats with kidney failure have high blood pressure, which can lead to further damage to the kidneys. In some cases, lowering their blood pressure may be necessary.
How long can cats live with kidney failure?
When it comes to acute kidney failure, a prompt reaction usually results in full recovery, but otherwise, a cat can die in the next 48 hours. Chronic kidney failure is usually manageable. Depending on the severity of disease, a cat can live from a few months to a couple of years after the diagnosis.
What are the symptoms of a cat with kidney failure?
Symptoms. The most common symptoms of kidney failure in cats include increased thirst and urination. However, as the disease progresses, the cat will likely experience a loss of appetite, nausea, dehydration, weight loss, vomiting, lethargy and emaciation, among others.
What is the prognosis for kidney failure in cats?
Kidney failure in cats is a life-threatening condition. While the prognosis for most cases is poor, many cats can continue to live with kidney failure for some time if they receive prompt and appropriate care. If the cause of your cat’s kidney failure can’t be identified, your vet can still treat the symptoms.
What is the best diet for a cat with kidney disease?
Natural remedies for cats with kidney disease can treat the condition and will improve the quality of your cat’s life. Feed your cat a special kidney diet. Feed a protein rich diet of human-quality raw meat plus small quantities of a variety of herbs, fruit, grain and vegetables.