Polycystic kidney disease in cats: treatment and prevention

The excretory system is one of the most important in the human body and animals. It is due to the kidneys that the removal of excess fluid and many toxic products from the body occurs. Any diseases of the excretory system are extremely dangerous for their complications, and therefore require immediate medical correction.

Cystitis, urethritis - these diagnoses are often found in veterinary practice. However, today we will pay attention to a more rare and terrible disease, namely polycystic kidney disease in cats. The sooner the disease is discovered, the more effective the therapy will be, therefore, each owner needs to be attentive to his pet and timely treatment to the veterinarian as necessary.

Basic information about the disease

Before we should consider what this disease is. Polycystic kidney disease in cats is a very unpleasant phenomenon, in which a certain part of the renal parenchyma is replaced by multiple cysts.

If we talk about statistics from veterinary practice, then usually the area of damage is very large. At the first stage of development, your pet's ailment is not disturbed by any symptoms, it continues to live normally. However, cysts increase in size and exert serious pressure on other tissues of the organ. As a result, its functionality gradually worsens, mediated nephroses and nephritis develop, and other complications appear.

Unilateral and bilateral cysts

It should be noted that the disease progresses very quickly. Polycystic kidney disease in cats can lead to nephrosclerosis, which is accompanied by the gradual dying off of the functional cells of this organ. They are replaced by a connective tissue that is unable to filter the fluid. Such a change in the structure of the organ is irreversible.

The cyst at the initial stage is a small ball or a vial whose contents are liquid, less often a dense substance. Cysts are also dangerous because they can develop on the renal tubule. Veterinarians from their practice are well aware that in the overwhelming majority of cases both organs are affected. Even if at the time of the examination the cyst was diagnosed only from one side (left or right polycystosis), the appearance of such formations in the tissues on the other hand is just a matter of time.

What threatens the disease?

Polycystic kidney disease in cats develops rapidly, but does not lead to the immediate death of the animal. Usually the host has enough time to take action. The sooner you start therapy, the more likely that you will avoid multiple complications. The fact is that these neoplasms alone do not carry a mortal danger.

It is much more dangerous that this disease can lead to sepsis, which often develops when the cyst is ruptured. Secondary infection greatly undermines immunity. Prolonged and ineffective treatment with antibiotics in this case will lead to the fact that the burden on the kidneys will be even higher, and the lost time will not be able to catch up. Another important point is the risk of intoxication of the body due to a decrease in the functionality of the kidneys. Hence, there is a deterioration in appetite, and weight loss, as well as a poor condition of the coat, nausea, general weakness and drowsiness.

Problems of heredity or breed?

This question often arises from the owner, when his pet is diagnosed with "polycystic kidney disease". Cats can be treated successfully, but still leave their imprint on the further life of the pet. Diet and drinking regimen, the level of activity of the animal, the frequency of visits to the veterinary clinic - everything is drastically changing. What is the cause of the development of the disease?

According to statistics, all members of the feline are ill, that is, it can not be unequivocally said that a particular age or sex is more susceptible to polycystic disease. However, there are breeds that fall with this diagnosis to the clinic much more often than others. They are Persians, Himalayan and Scottish Fold cats. A little less often this ailment is found in British cats.

If you take yourself a luxurious Persian cat, you should know that it is likely that by 3-5 years he will develop polycysticosis. There are often cases when to this age the animal simply does not have kidneys in the normal sense of the word. And if your pet is thoroughbred, the probability of developing a dangerous disease for him is much higher.

What contributes to the development of cysts? Main Risk Factors

On this issue, veterinarians and scientists have been racking their brains for many years. In the process of research, hereditary regularity was revealed. However, other cats are not at all protected from such a disease, even if they did not have sick individuals in their family.

Hence, there are still some factors that play a significant role, but so far they have not been officially recorded. Doctors can only assume that heredity and endocrine diseases lead to the formation of cysts in the tissues of the kidney. Content and feeding can indirectly affect the development of the disease, although it has not been proven to date. There is no diet that could be considered a 100% protection against polycystosis.

How does the disease manifest itself?

This is another extremely important issue, because the speed of the treatment depends on how quickly the owner understands that his pet is not all right. How to suspect polycystic kidney disease in cats?

Symptoms in the initial stages can hardly be noticed. The animal does not show any concern. The period of relative well-being lasts until the formations become too large and they begin to squeeze the tissues of the organ, causing pain.

Against the backdrop of the development of the disease, there is a gradual but noticeable increase in the abdominal cavity. Unfortunately, if the disease has gone so far that cysts can be detected with a simple palpation of the abdomen, it is almost impossible to save the animal, from the functional kidney tissues by this time there is practically nothing left.

It is because of the absence of symptoms that polycystic kidney disease in cats is detected so late. How long will the animal live? It depends on the stage at which you applied for help.

What else can tell the owner that it is necessary to undergo an emergency examination? This is the appearance of blood in the urine. Of course, this symptom may indicate a number of problems, but in any case, the animal requires consultation with specialists. In addition, veterinarians can suspect such a disease on the basis of urine analysis. To confirm the diagnosis, a biopsy and ultrasound is required. It is ultrasonography to see the neoplasm, determine their number and size.

Why then a biopsy is needed, if on the basis of ultrasound it is possible to determine polycystic kidney disease in cats? The prognosis in this case is very important for the owner, which means that a complete examination is necessary. Cysts can provoke a malignant degeneration of tissues, so a biopsy is necessary. In addition, samples taken during the procedure are used for sowing on a nutrient medium. This allows you to determine the presence of a secondary bacterial infection and prescribe an effective antibiotic.

Therapy

This is the most painful issue, because there is simply no specific method for getting rid of this illness. Since the treatment of polycystic kidney disease in cats is often already in the late stages, the only way out is drug therapy, which can support the life of your pet. The term of life in this case depends on what complications the animal has. Some pets may well live a few more years.

If the call to the veterinarian occurred in the early stages, it makes sense to perform the operation and remove the cysts along with the affected area.

Life under supervision

Prepare for the fact that at least once a month you will have to undergo examinations in the veterinary clinic. This is how you can keep the pet's condition under control and notice any deterioration in time. Even in the absence of sepsis and a small amount of cysts, the prognosis is favorable only in the short term. On the fate of the animal veterinarians speak with caution.

If the cysts are large and inoperable, they will exert strong pressure on the organ. To reduce it, pump out the liquid with a needle. Additionally, antibiotics are prescribed. In fact, this is all that a veterinarian can do when a cat has polycystic kidney disease.

Has she stopped eating, refuses water, does not go to the tray? All these symptoms are serious worsening, so you need to immediately notify the specialist. Perhaps, he will be able to prolong the life of his native fuzzy.

The Right Diet

Unfortunately, this is only remembered when the diagnosis has already been made. Each owner considers it his duty to ask a veterinarian what to feed a cat with polycystic kidney disease. Of course, for a sick animal this is very important. If you remember about a healthy diet from the first day, when the kitten has crossed the threshold of your home, many problems with the kidneys can be avoided. This applies primarily to the use of cheap and substandard feed, such as Kitekat.

Specialists recommend using only super premium foods, and during therapy - therapeutic mixtures (for example, "Hills"). If you follow a natural diet, the pet is shown only light food, in particular, boiled beef and chicken, broths. Completely eliminate from the diet of the animal fish and fatty foods. Clean water should be in the pet's bowl constantly. If the cat drinks a little, then transfer it to canned, medicinal food.

Prevention

Unfortunately, there are no specific measures that could hinder the development of the disease. For a long time this problem was tried to solve due to genetic selection for reproduction of animals, but it only got worse.

So if you decide to buy a Persian, a British or a Scotsman, then be prepared to regularly visit a veterinarian, have an ultrasound examination, take a urine test and carefully monitor any changes in the animal's condition and behavior. If you live a cat of another breed, it is equally important to regularly monitor your pet's condition and take preventive examinations.