Fluid Therapy For Cats With Kidney Disease

Iv fluid therapy benefits cats with kidney failure in several ways.

Fluid therapy for cats with kidney disease.

Most cats with chronic kidney disease feel best when sub q fluid administration is repeated every one to three days. It works rapidly removing toxins and providing constant hydration. Fluid therapy for cat kidney disease fluid therapy is administered for three purposes during treatment for renal disease. Fluid treatments in general are used to flush toxins from your cat s system.

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. Aaha guidelines review the latest information that helps the veteri. Your vet will likely prescribe a new stricter diet for your cat. 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.

These diets help cats feel better and live longer. The fluid then gradually disperses throughout the cat s body and helps him or her to maintain hydration at the correct level. 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. Many patients require fluid therapy to combat dehydration.

Fluid therapy alone is not enough to treat renal disease. A special diet and medications may also be necessary. Kidney diet for cats. In this irreversible condition the kidneys no longer effectively eliminate wastes causing a potentially fatal buildup of toxins.

Kidney disease in cats is an illness that nearly 30 of senior cats will face. However subcutaneous fluid therapy can make a sick cat feel better and can extend his life. Appropriate treatment for chronic kidney failure depends on the specific symptoms and biochemical abnormalities a cat has. Your vet or the vet tech inserts an iv catheter into a vein in your cat s front leg neck or hind leg.

Depending on your cat s illness your vet may add medication to the iv fluids. You can either follow your vet s advice or opt for making your cat a healthy raw diet. 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. Use your best judgment.

First iv fluids are used for emergency then for replacing nutrients and finally subcutaneous fluids are used for maintaining hydration.