Fluid Therapy For Cats With Kidney Disease

However subcutaneous fluid therapy can make a sick cat feel better and can extend his life.

Fluid therapy for cats with kidney disease.

Fluid therapy alone is not enough to treat renal disease. Your vet or the vet tech inserts an iv catheter into a vein in your cat s front leg neck or hind leg. Most cats with chronic kidney disease feel best when sub q fluid administration is repeated every one to three days. Kidney disease in cats is an illness that nearly 30 of senior cats will face.

Instead of placing a slow drip of fluids into the cat s vein as happens with intravenous iv fluids the fluid is injected just under the skin with a needle. Aaha guidelines review the latest information that helps the veteri. Your vet will likely prescribe a new stricter diet for your cat. Depending on your cat s illness your vet may add medication to the iv fluids.

Fluid treatments in general are used to flush toxins from your cat s system. Fluid therapy for cat kidney disease fluid therapy is administered for three purposes during treatment for renal disease. In this irreversible condition the kidneys no longer effectively eliminate wastes causing a potentially fatal buildup of toxins. It works rapidly removing toxins and providing constant hydration.

Appropriate treatment for chronic kidney failure depends on the specific symptoms and biochemical abnormalities a cat has. Iv fluid therapy benefits cats with kidney failure in several ways. A special diet and medications may also be necessary. Many patients require fluid therapy to combat dehydration.

The fluid then gradually disperses throughout the cat s body and helps him or her to maintain hydration at the correct level. The 2013 aaha aafp fluid therapy guidelines for dogs and cats is the most complete and medically sound compilation of updates insights advice and recommendations ever developed for helping to ensure that your patients receive appropriate individualized fluid therapy. But providing fluid therapy in a home environment is a vital part of older cat care for many pets and pet owners and it s truly a lifesaving gift of love to a special pet. You can either follow your vet s advice or opt for making your cat a healthy raw diet.

First iv fluids are used for emergency then for replacing nutrients and finally subcutaneous fluids are used for maintaining hydration. If the sub q fluids improve astro s quality of life talk with your veterinarian about making a gradual transition to a prescription diet for cats with chronic kidney disease. Subcutaneous fluids are generally only part of treating feline kidney disease. Just note not all vets are right or know everything.

Use your best judgment.