What Is Feline CKD?
Feline CKD is a disease in which cats gradually lose their kidney functions. According to the findings of Greycoat Research, 68% of all cats over the age of 7 end up being diagnosed with feline CKD. There have even been instances of cats being diagnosed with CKD at ages as young as 2. This is because cats are genetically vulnerable to CKD, meaning that it is a question of when, and not if.
IRIS Staging of Feline CKD
Greycoat Research's Guide to Feline CKD Care
As kidney cells are (mostly) incapable of regenerating or recovering, damage done to the kidneys is generally permanent. Thus, cats with damaged kidneys must live with them forever.
Of course, proper and dedicated kidney management can lead to a temporary improvement in blood test results. But these results do not indicate actual regeneration or recovery. However, proper care can prevent kidneys from taking further generation, and keep them functioning at their current level, allowing cats to retain their energy levels.
Greycoat Research’s aim is to prevent damaged kidneys from taking even more damage, thereby preserving kidney functions so that afflicted cats can still enjoy a happier and more energetic quality of life.
*The supplements and care your cat needs may differ depending on their current stage of kidney disease and health conditions.
*As feline CKD continues to progress and worsen, each higher stage necessitates more careful management and the administration of more supplements. As symptoms of feline CKD only really become prominent once a cat is in Stage 2 of the disease, it is imperative that owners begin providing preemptive care even if their cats have yet to show any tangible symptoms of CKD.
Stage 2 Feline CKD
“Don’t lose hope! Just remember to switch to a renal diet!”
By the time most cats are diagnosed with CKD, they are already at stage 2 of the disease.
The reason why so many cats are diagnosed at stage 2, as opposed to stage 1, is because the symptoms of the disease are very vague and unclear in the early stages. The main symptoms of CKD are reduced appetite and activity, increased sleep time, weight loss, increased water intake, and increased urination. Many of these symptoms can and sometimes are overlooked by their owners, due to their hard-to-quantify nature.
A failure to take the proper steps at this stage can result in the disease rapidly growing worse. As such, owners need to take a more active role in managing their cat’s health to prevent them reaching high stages of CKD.
As kidney levels change drastically between early and late stage 2 CKD, owners must vigilantly monitor their cat’s energy and activity levels so they can spot and respond to possible changes. The most important criteria for management are the cat’s weight, appetite, and energy levels. To that end, more aggressive tactics may be required to keep your cats from losing weight. This includes giving your cat appetite stimulants or forcing them to eat.
So, What Can You Do?
Stage 2 CKD care can be considered a constant fight to delay the progress of the disease and maintain your cat’s overall health.
Regular Exercise and Hunting Sessions
Regular exercise and play-hunting sessions not only keep cats active and fit, but also gets cats to drink water more frequently. A diverse and balanced set of activities can help cats maintain their kidney functions. Therefore, it is important to engage in daily activities with your cats and keep an eye on how they respond to playtime (e.g. their interest levels).
Switch to Renal Diet
As excessive protein and phosphorus can overstrain the kidneys in cats with CKD, a renal diet is low in protein, phosphorus, and sodium.
Supplements
At this stage, administering AIM and antioxidant-based supplements is crucial for cats with CKD.
- AIM Dr. Toru Protocol helps your cats remove the accumulated waste in their kidneys, thereby reducing inflammation.
- Intensive Protocol helps keep your cat’s cells healthy and helps their kidney functions with its antioxidant effects.
- Probiotics Protocol is a probiotic supplement that aims to manage inflammation and reduce your cat’s ammonia and uremic toxin levels.
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Omega-3 can enhance kidney cell functions to reduce inflammation and prevent kidney damage. The recommended dose varies depending on your cat’s weight.
< 4kg: EPA/DHA 100mg
≥ 4kg: EPA/DHA 200mg - Kremezin, Renamezin, and Chitosan are taken to adsorb phosphorus and uremic toxins, which allows the body to remove and expel toxins from within. While not mandatory, these supplements can help cats with stage 2 CKD depending on their condition.
Administering Greycoat Research’s supplements alongside other prescribed medications or supplements may result in a mutual interaction between their ingredients. As such, we advise owners to contact us for a free consultation so we can work with you to come up with the ideal feeding schedule for your cat.
Strict Symptom Monitoring
If your cat shows symptoms such as loss of appetite, reduced weight, vomiting, increased urination, etc. that may indicate CKD, please contact your cat’s veterinarian immediately for a consultation.
Restrict Feeding While Maintaining Food Intake
As your cat transitions from a regular diet to a renal one, it is also crucial to put them on a restricted feeding regimen to avoid overstraining their kidneys, and to ensure they consume a balanced diet of calories and nutrients.
As a common symptom of CKD is a loss of appetite, your cat may end up losing weight. As such, you should take steps to ensure that your cat finishes their meal to ensure their weight stays at a consistent level.
Stem Cells or Exosome Therapy
It is recommended that cats with stage 2 CKD receive either stem cell or exosome-based therapy. You should consult your cat’s veterinarian and go over the effectiveness and safety of both treatment options before making the choice you believe is best for your cat.
Manage Living Environment
One thing to be on the lookout for is scented products. Daily lifestyle products that are imbued with scents, such as perfumes, diffusers, room sprays, or scented detergents can be harmful for your cat and should be avoided if possible. You should choose unscented or minimally scented products and/or ventilate your cat’s surroundings to keep the air fresh. This also applies to cat products, such as scented cat litter.
Greycoat Research’s Guide to Stage 2 CKD Care
- Transition to renal diet
- Strict food intake and weight management to ensure your cat doesn’t lose weight
- Limit snacks (limited feeding to entice your cat into taking supplements/prescribed medications)
- Proper administration of supplements
- Health checkups
1) After the initial diagnosis, cats should receive checkups once every 2 weeks or month for a while to monitor the progress of the treatment and care.
2) Once owners are able to provide stable care for their cats, health checkups should be conducted anywhere between once a month to once every 6 months to monitor the progress of the treatment and care.
* Please make sure your cat periodically receives basic checkups, such as blood tests. (In particular, blood tests should include SDMA, BUN, and creatinine levels for a more accurate analysis of your cat’s kidney functions. If possible, proBNP tests should be taken too.)