Chronic renal failure long term management

Caring for cats with chronic renal failure

Source: Feline Advisory Bureau, Volume 39 (4) 2001
starts page 115, 2 pages long

Chronic renal failure (CRF) occurs when there is decreased blood filtration or glomerular filtration rate (GFR), which results in increased nitrogenous waste products in the blood. Treatments are aimed at maintaining the cat in stable CRF whilst preventing progression of the disease, although many treatment recommendations have been extrapolated from other species. There are many causes of CRF, including lymphoma, amyloidosis, polycystic kidney disease, glomerulonephritis and urinary tract infections. Some of these can be reversed but others are progressive. Reducing protein in the diet is useful in animals in renal failure, although there is no conclusive evidence that restricted protein diet can slow the rate of progression in early CRF. ACE inhibitors such as benazepril and enalapril reduce systemic blood pressure and studies have shown that they have a renal protective effect. Renal secondary hyperparathyroidism (RHPTH) is a complication of CRF. It is implicated in progression and uraemia, and treatment involves reducing dietary phosphate.
CA,HD