Tanya

 

TANYA'S

COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO

FELINE CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE

24 July 2000 - 24 July 2020

Twenty years online!

(Not tax deductible since I am a private individual)

 

 

 

 

TREATMENTS: WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL, AND WHEN TO USE THEM

 

ON THIS PAGE:


Purposes of Treatment


Which Treatments to Use When


What This Means in Practice


Obtaining Supplies at Reasonable Prices


 

 

HOME


Site Overview


Just Diagnosed? What You Need to Know First


Search This Site


 

WHAT IS CKD?


What Happens in CKD


Causes of CKD


How Bad is It?


Is There Any Hope?


Acute Kidney Injury


 

KEY ISSUES: PROLONGING LIFE


Phosphorus Control


Hypertension

(High Blood Pressure)


Proteinuria


Anaemia


Potassium Imbalances


Pyelonephritis (Kidney Infections) and Urinary Tract Infections NEW


Metabolic Acidosis


Kidney Stones


 

KEY ISSUES: HELPING YOUR CAT FEEL BETTER


Nausea, Vomiting, Appetite Loss and Excess Stomach Acid


Maintaining Hydration


The B Vitamins (Including Methylcobalamin)


Constipation


 

CAT FOOD DATA


Ways of Assessing Food Content, Including What is Dry Matter Analysis


How to Use the Food Data Tables


USA Canned Food Data


USA Dry Food Data


USA Cat Food Brands: Helpfulness Ratings


USA Cat Food Brands: Contact Details


USA Food Data Book


 

SUPPORT


Coping with CKD


Tanya's Support Group


Success Stories


 

SYMPTOMS


Important: Crashing


Alphabetical List of Symptoms and Treatments


Fluid and Urinary  Imbalances (Dehydration, Overhydration and Urinary Issues)


Waste Product Regulation Imbalances (Vomiting, Appetite Loss, Excess Stomach Acid, Gastro-intestinal Problems, Mouth Ulcers Etc.)


Phosphorus and Calcium Imbalances


Miscellaneous Symptoms (Pain, Hiding Etc.)


 

DIAGNOSIS: WHAT DO ALL THE TEST RESULTS MEAN?


Early Detection


Blood Chemistry: Kidney Function, Potassium, Other Tests (ALT, Amylase, (Cholesterol, Etc.)


Calcium, Phosphorus, Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) and Secondary Hyperparathyroidism


Complete Blood Count (CBC): Red and White Blood Cells: Anaemia and Infection


Urinalysis (Urine Tests)


Other Tests: Ultrasound, Biopsy, X-rays etc.


Renomegaly (Enlarged Kidneys)


Which Tests to Have and Frequency of Testing


Factors that Affect Test Results


Normal Ranges


International and US Measuring Systems


 

TREATMENTS


Which Treatments are Essential


Fluid and Urinary Issues (Fluid Retention, Infections, Incontinence, Proteinuria)


Waste Product Regulation (Mouth Ulcers, GI Bleeding, Antioxidants, Adsorbents, Azodyl, Astro's CRF Oil)


Phosphorus, Calcium and Secondary Hyperparathyroidism (Calcitriol)


Phosphorus Binders


Steroids, Stem Cell Transplants and Kidney Transplants


Antibiotics and Painkillers


Holistic Treatments (Including Slippery Elm Bark)


ESAs (Aranesp, Epogen etc.) for Severe Anaemia


General Health Issues in a CKD Cat: Fleas, Arthritis, Dementia, Vaccinations


Tips on Medicating Your Cat


Obtaining Supplies Cheaply in the UK, USA and Canada


Working with Your Vet and Recordkeeping


 

DIET & NUTRITION


Nutritional Requirements of CKD Cats


The B Vitamins (Including Methylcobalamin)


What to Feed (and What to Avoid)


Persuading Your Cat to Eat


2007 Food Recall USA


 

FLUID THERAPY


Oral Fluids


Intravenous Fluids


Subcutaneous Fluids


Tips on Giving Subcutaneous Fluids


How to Give Subcutaneous Fluids with a Giving Set


How to Give Subcutaneous Fluids with a Syringe


Subcutaneous Fluids - Winning Your Vet's Support


Dialysis


 

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Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)


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The Final Hours


Other People's Losses


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MISCELLANEOUS


Prevention


Feline CKD Research, Including Participation Opportunities


CKD Research in Other Species


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Home > Treatments > Essential Treatments

 


Overview


  • If you are in the UK, I can virtually guarantee that the only treatments you will be offered are a therapeutic kidney diet and benazepril (usually Fortekor), an ACE inhibitor which is licensed in Europe and Australia for the treatment of renal insufficiency in cats.

  • If you are in the USA, you will probably be offered a therapeutic kidney diet, sub-Q fluids and possibly a phosphorus binder.

  • For some cats, these treatments will be sufficient, but there are many others which can also help. However, it can be difficult to know which treatments to use and when, particularly if funds are limited.

  • This page aims to explain which treatments are crucial, depending upon your cat's particular problems.

  • It also explains which problems you are most likely to be faced with at the different stages of CKD.

 


Purposes of Treatment


 

There are two main purposes of treatment:

  1. To help the cat feel better

  1. To tackle problems that may make the CKD progress faster

In 2019 Treatment recommendations for CKD in cats (2019) International Renal Interest Society started saying the same thing.

 

There are so many treatments available that people sometimes get confused about which are essential for these purposes, which are optional and which are a waste of time. They also may not know which treatments to use first. I therefore include information about these issues on this page.

 


Which Treatments To Use When


 

These days many vets place CKD into one of four stages according to the International Renal Interest Society's guidelines. You can read about the different stages here.

 

Nutritional management of feline chronic kidney disease (2008) Elliott J, Elliott D Veterinary Focus 18(2) pp39-44 recommends different treatments based on which stage your cat is in, as follows:

 

Stage 2 and early Stage 3:

Creatinine between 2.1 and 4.5 mg/dl or 185 µmol/L and 400 µmol/L international


The goal is to slow progression using the following:

  • Management of high phosphorus levels through dietary phosphate restriction

  • Management of proteinuria

  • Management of hypokalemia (low potassium levels)

  • Management of hypertension (high blood pressure)

Late Stage 3 and Stage 4:

Creatinine over 4.5 mg/dl US or 400 µmol/L


The goal is to control imbalances that lead to higher toxin levels and therefore affect quality of life, as follows:

  • Minimise azotemia (elevated BUN and creatinine levels)

  • Limit hyperphosphatemia by means of dietary restriction and intestinal phosphate binders

  • Fight against anorexia to maintain sufficient energy intake

  • Manage metabolic acidosis

Treatment recommendations for CKD in cats (2019) International Renal Interest Society have more detailed suggestions. They say "The importance of administering treatments which address the clinical signs of CKD and improve the cat's quality of life assume greater importance and exceeds the importance of treatments designed to slow progression by stage 4."


What This Means in Practice


 

Most people read this page shortly after diagnosis when they are feeling overwhelmed. The technical jargon means nothing to them, but they are desperate to help their cat and are vulnerable to the marketing hype found on some websites. Therefore below I have divided treatments into categories, explaining which treatments are essential, which are optional and which are appropriate in some circumstances.

 

The main ways of telling whether a treatment is appropriate are firstly, by checking for symptoms of a problem (e.g. eating litter is often a sign of anaemia) and secondly by seeing what is out of range in test results, then discussing your concerns with your vet.

 

In practice, most people with cats in the early stages of CKD will have to use treatments for appetite loss, nausea and vomiting, and something for phosphorus control. Later on, they may also need to use subcutaneous fluids in order to prevent dehydration, and a potassium supplement if their cat's potassium levels are too low. In due course, they may need to treat hypertension, anaemia and metabolic acidosis. In all cases, any infections should be dealt with promptly.

 

If money is a concern, as it is for most people, you'll be relieved to hear that the most commonly needed treatments only cost about US$5-10 a week. It is only when you need to treat severe anaemia using erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESAs), such as Epogen, Aranesp, Procrit, Eprex or NeoRecormon, that the cost will be higher, but even these products can be obtained relatively cheaply (I give sources for a vial of Epogen costing around US$50, and the frequency of use reduces after a few weeks, which reduces the price further).

 

Try to be proactive - keep a close eye out for symptoms and start treating any that arise as soon as possible. At the same time, you may find that some treatments are too stressful for your cat - they all are individuals, and some cope better than others. Feline CKD therapeutic goals: do not throw away your shot (2018) Wooten SJ DVM360 Magazine discusses the risks of what Dr St Denis (quoted in the article) calls polypharmacy and says "Just because you can prescribe more medication to manage CKD doesn’t mean you should" because this may affect your bond with your cat and your cat's quality of life. Even if you decide not to use some treatments, you should be able to use others, so just do the best you can, and check the Tips on Medicating Your Cat page for tips on how to make medicating your cat easier for both of you.

 

Don't give up hope. Renal dysfunction in small animals (2016) Brown SA Merck Veterinary Manual says "With appropriate therapy, animals can survive for long periods with only a small fraction of functional renal tissue, perhaps 5%-8% in dogs and cats."

 

How to speak for Spot by Dr Nancy Kay is about how to decide which treatments would be the best choice for your dog in your particular circumstances but the principles apply to cats too.

 


Essential Treatments


 

Food


The one essential treatment for all cats is food. Although a therapeutic kidney food can be helpful, if your cat won't eat it, it's not helpful at all.

 

If your cat hasn't eaten for a couple of days, s/he needs food now. Cats who don't eat can develop a lifethreatening liver condition called hepatic lipidosis, which can happen after just a day or two of not eating. The site will help you identify possible causes of inappetence and how to treat them, but right now, this minute, if your cat hasn't eaten today, I want you to stop reading and go and get some food into your cat. Try any cat food you have in the house — at this point, anything is better than nothing.

 

If your cat won't eat what you have in stock and you are in the USA, pop out to the supermarket and buy some Gerbers Stage 2 meat-based baby foods and some Fancy Feast Classic pate-style foods. You can check on what you need to buy here and here. If you're near a pharmacy, also buy some Pepcid AC regular (not Complete or Extra Strength); you want the 10mg size). You are going to ask your vet if you can use the Pepcid AC for your cat.

 

If you are in the UK, it can be trickier to find a really tempting food, but I find my cats like Gourmet Gold pâté varieties, available from most supermarkets. You can also pop to the chippy and buy some fish (give it to your cat without the batter).

 

Baby food and fish from the chippy are not balanced foods and cannot be fed longer term. The Fancy Feast and Gourmet Gold foods are complete foods but are too high in phosphorus for a CKD cat to eat regularly. But using these foods in a crisis should be fine, and your cat will feel better for eating, and you'll feel happier too. Once your cat has eaten, you can read up on how to get your cat to eat, how to get your cat to eat the therapeutic kidney diet, what to do if you don't succeed and the nutritional requirements of CKD cats in the Diet and Nutrition section.

 


Essential Treatments in Some Circumstances


 

These problems are all explained in more detail in the Key Issues section. Don't worry, it is highly unlikely that you will have to deal with all of them — remember, they are only appropriate in some cases.

 

Blood Pressure Control


If your cat's blood pressure is consistently over 160 mmHg, s/he has hypertension. In order to avoid blindness, heart problems and strokes, you need to ask your vet about starting a medication for hypertension called amlodipine (Norvasc or Istin).

 

As a bonus, once your cat's blood pressure is under control, you should see an improvement in your cat's wellbeing (if your cat has already gone blind, s/he may even regain some vision), and you may also see improved blood test results.

 

See All About Hypertension for more information.

 

Phosphorus Control


Many CKD cats have elevated phosphorus levels, which make the cat feel lousy and may make the CKD progress faster.

 

If your cat's phosphorus level is over 6 mg/dl (USA) or 1.9 mmol/L (international), your cat would benefit from a phosphorus binder.

 

See Phosphorus Control for more information.

 

Loss of Appetitie, Vomiting and Nausea


Most CKD cats have one or more of these problems. One common symptom is vomiting, especially white foam. There are some simple, quick, free or cheap treatments that work well for some cats.

 

See Appetite Loss, Nausea and Vomiting for more information.

 

Fluid Therapy


Most CKD cats eventually become dehydrated. If this is an acute situation, the cat will need intravenous fluids (IV fluids, or a drip) at the vet's.

 

Even cats who are not in crisis will eventually need treatment in order to maintain hydration and avoid a crisis developing. In most cases, this will be when creatinine levels are consistently over 3.5 mg/dl (USA) or 300 µmol/L(international), and the treatment is subcutaneous fluids.

 

See Fluid Therapy for more information.

 

Anaemia


Anaemia is relatively common in CKD cats. If your cat's PCV or HCT measurement is below normal, ask your vet about using a Vitamin B supplement.

 

If your cat's PCV or HCT level is below 20%, you will need to consider using a type of treatment known as an erythropoiesis stimulating agent (ESA), such as Epogen, Aranesp, Procrit, Eprex or NeoRecormon.

 

See All About Anaemia for more information.

 

Potassium


Many (but not all) CKD cats have low potassium levels, which can cause weakness (especially in the back legs) and other problems.

 

If your cat's level is below 4 mEq/l (USA) or 4 mmol/l (international), ask your vet about using a potassium supplement.

 

See Potassium Imbalances for more information.

 

Metabolic Acidosis


This means that the acid levels in the body are out of balance. It is not the same thing as stomach acid. It is more common in more advanced CKD.

 

See Metabolic Acidosis for more information.

 

Kidney Stones


If your cat has kidney stones, treatment is essential.

 

See Kidney Stones for more information.

 

Pyelonephritis


If your cat has a kidney infection, treatment is essential.

 

See Pyelonephritis for more information.

 

Proteinuria


Proteinuria means there is excess protein in your cat's urine. This may make the CKD progress faster, so you must try to treat it if possible.

 

See Proteinuria for more information.

 


Optional Treatments


 

Most of these treatments (except benazepril and calcitriol) are not used for a specific purpose, but are attempts to help the cat feel better and perhaps slow the progression of the CKD.

 

B Vitamins


B vitamins can help with appetite, energy levels and anaemia. Any excess is peed out so they are usually a very safe treatment. Although they are optional, I think they are a good choice for any CKD cat, because they may help and should not harm.

 

See The B Vitamins for more information.

 

Azodyl or Renadyl


Azodyl is a type of probiotic specially developed to help with renal toxins. Most people I've heard from who uses it thinks it helps their cat feel better, though some think it makes their cats vomit. However, it is expensive, not available outside the USA (though I've found possible sources), and needs to be shipped cold.

 

If you can afford and obtain Azodyl, I'd  consider using it, though other probiotics may also be of use. If you can't obtain Azodyl/Renadyl, don't worry too much.

 

See Treatments for more information.

 

Astro's Oil


This is a treatment which combines essential fatty acids and antioxidants. Some people find their cats seem to do better overall when taking this, but some cats don't like the taste. If you can get your cat to take it, I think it's fine, but if you can't, I wouldn't worry about it. See Treatments for more information.

 

Benazepril (Fortekor)


This is approved in Europe, Australia and Canada for the treatment of CKD in cats. If you are in the UK, I virtually guarantee you left the vet's clutching some therapeutic kidney food and some Fortekor.

 

Benazepril is actually a heart medication, and the evidence for its use in CKD is not particularly strong; plus in some cases, it may worsen bloodwork, at least initially. It can, however, be effective in treating a problem sometimes seen in CKD cats known as proteinuria (where protein leaks into the urine). Personally, I would use it in a cat with proteinuria, and I would probably use it for additional blood pressure control if amlodipine (mentioned above) was not sufficient, but I probably wouldn't bother with it otherwise.

 

See Proteinuria for more information.

 

Calcitriol


This is a treatment used for a condition known as secondary hyperparathyroidism, which is common in CKD cats. The first step in reducing the risk of secondary hyperparathyroidism is to control phosphorus levels (see above).

 

See Treatments for more information.

 


Save Your Money


 

Kidney Support Gold


This contains ingredients inappropriate for CKD cats on a longer term basis.

 

See Holistic Treatments for more information.

 

RenAvast


I wouldn't buy it.

 

See Holistic Treatments for more information.

 


Obtaining Medications


 

The Obtaining Supplies Cheaply page has tips on obtaining medications at reasonable prices in the UK, USA and Canada.

 

The Medicating Your Cat page has information on how best to medicate your cat with the least stress for both of you. It also has tips on possible drug interactions.

 

 

DO NOT GIVE YOUR CAT ANY MEDICATION

 

WITHOUT FIRST OBTAINING YOUR VET'S APPROVAL.

 

 

 

Back to Page Index

 

This page last updated: 20 July 2020

 

Links on this page last checked: 19 July 2020

 

 

   

*****

 

TREATING YOUR CAT WITHOUT VETERINARY ADVICE CAN BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.

 

I have tried very hard to ensure that the information provided in this website is accurate, but I am NOT a vet, just an ordinary person who has lived through CKD with three cats. This website is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to be used to diagnose or treat any cat. Before trying any of the treatments described herein, you MUST consult a qualified veterinarian and obtain professional advice on the correct regimen for your cat and his or her particular requirements; and you should only use any treatments described here with the full knowledge and approval of your vet. No responsibility can be accepted.

 

If your cat appears to be in pain or distress, do not waste time on the internet, contact your vet immediately.

 

*****

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