Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) occurs in older pets, particularly cats, where there is long-standing, irreversible damage to their kidneys. This reduces the kidneys’ ability to function and remove waste products from their blood.
Unfortunately CKD isn’t a curable or reversible disease – but the right support and treatment can increase a pet’s quality of life, and slow down the progression of the disease, increasing life expectancy.
If you suspect your pet has CKD, your vet will be able to make a diagnosis by collecting blood and urine samples for analysis.
If your pet does have CKD, there are many thing you can do to manage the disease. You’ll need to take them to the vet for regular check-ups, including blood pressure assessments and blood and urine tests. These will help identify treatable complications as they arise, including anaemia, low potassium, high phosphate, urinary infections, and hypertension.
Cats with CKD benefit from a change in diet to improve their quality of life and slow the progression of disease – ask your vet for more information. A variety of other treatments may also be valuable, depending on each pet’s individual needs.
Make sure you review the clinical history of your new pet and ask for more details on how the disease has been treated. You’ll need to sign a disclaimer to confirm you’ve been made aware of the condition. Any pet who’s had treatment is likely to have pet insurance exclusions, so it’s worth discussing potential on-going costs with your vet.
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