Feline Kidney Disease - There is Hope

Many cats, especially the elderly, develop a life-threatening disease called renal kidney failure. Some of the symptoms include difficulty urinating, weakness, and a thinning in the hindquarters in the kidney area.

Consult your vet immediately. The cat may need to be treated with Clavamox or Clyndamicin for infection, but drugs will not cure the disease. Cats rapidly dehydrate when their kidneys are degenerating, and they must have fluid with electrolytes to replenish them. At some point, drinking water is not sufficient to sustain them and they will need subcutaneous hydration. A homecare fluid solution is now available.

Your veterinarian clinic may have a fluid kit on hand. If not, they may be purchased online from trusted sites such as www.vetsupplys.com , Costco and www.valleyvet.com with a prescription from your vet. Solutions such as Normosol-R are widley used to treat this disease and can add years to your beloved cat's life. Your vet will show you how to administer the fluids and will prescribe the treatment schedule and amounts necessary for your cat. Most treatment sessions are spaced between 2 and 4 days as prescribed. The economical fluid packs are normally sold in 1 liter sizes, which will give you several treatments per pack.

If you choose to purchase your subcutaneous fluids online, be aware that you will need one catheter tube per one liter fluid bag, and the needles must match the size to fit the tubing. One needle per administration is recommended and you are not permitted to discard medical waste from your home. Take the used products to your veterinarian clinic for proper disposal.

Additional equipment, such as an IV rack, is not necessary to give fluids. Any elevated hook is sufficient to hold the IV bag, just be sure it is high enough for the fluids to drain. My cat is placed on the kitchen counter on a cushy towel. Her Normosol-R dosage is only 2ml and she's done in about three minutes. Your cat will get used to the treatment and may even correlate the fluid with feeling better. Though the needle is ominous in size, there is no blood-letting and it's surpisingly comfortable for the animal. But, be sure you get training from your vet when you begin these treatments, and you will gain greater dexterity with the needle over time.

For added instructions on how to administer subcutaneous fluids, go to www.fabcats.org using keywords:
"giving subcutaneous fluids to cats". You will find photos to put your mind at ease that this is easier to do than you think. The IV is not inserted into a vein, but, rather, just under the loose skin above the shoulder blades.