Diagnosing kidney disease in Cats
Since the symptoms of kidney disease in cats are common with other medical
problems, a full assessment will be conducted. This way they can be sure they
are getting a very accurate diagnosis. Then the treatment options can be
examined and pursued after they have been discussed with the cat’s owner.
Blood Work
Blood work is the most common place to start when kidney disease is suspected.
This will also help the veterinarian to determine which stage it is in for your
cat. In many instances such blood work also helps to determine what the
underlying causes of it are. All of this information helps to ensure the best
course of action is taken for the cat’s overall well being.
The amount of Albumin in the blood will help to make a very early diagnosis
about kidney disease. The blood count is done as well so that it can be
determined if your cat is producing enough red blood cells. If not, then they
may be categorized as being anemic as well.
Chemistry Panel
The body of a cat should have certain chemistry components found in it. Testing
what is going on in that area can help to determine if kidney disease is evident
or not. With such procedures it will be easy to find out if there is enough
Nitrogen and Creatinine in the kidneys. In order for the chemistry panel to be
accurate your cat will have to be fasting for twelve hours before it takes
place. If there is too much Creatinine found then there will also be Azotemia in
the chemical make up. Calcium levels can also be tested at this time.
Urinalysis
The urine is a very valuable way of testing for kidney disease. The
concentration of it is evaluated because water is lost when the kidneys are
damaged. The amount of protein that is found in it can offer valuable
information as well.
Ultrasound
Through the use of an ultrasound, the density of the kidneys can be evaluated. A
biopsy may be necessary in order for that to be fully determined. However, many
veterinarians find that an ultrasound provides them with valuable information so
this test is becoming a common practice.
X-Rays
An X-ray is also very useful because it allows the size and the shape of the
kidneys to be evaluated. They may be smaller than normal which can indicate that
chronic kidney disease is present. They may be larger than normal too which
means that acute kidney disease or cancer may be a concern.
In order to make an accurate diagnosis, a veterinarian will need to take a look
at many things before making an evaluation. The medical history for your cat,
your information about symptoms you have observed, and the test results will
help to form a good diagnosis. From that point you can be included in
discussions about if the problems are treatable and what you can choose from in
order to make your cat more comfortable.