Preparing For Kidney Disease In Cats
Posted on: 26 August 2015
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If you have a cat, it can be alarming to learn that kidney disease is one of the most common illnesses older cats develop. Unfortunately, there's no cure for the disease in cats, so treatment generally focuses on prolonging an afflicted cat's life as long as possible. While there's no way to be certain whether your cat will develop kidney disease, there are steps you can take now to reduce the risk and make treatment more affordable if they do develop the disease in the future. This guide will explain what you can do now to make kidney disease less devastating in the future.
Try A Kidney-Healthy Diet
Cats need protein and amino acids like taurine, which are found in meat, in order to survive. However, excessive amounts of protein can be difficult for your cat's kidneys to process, and can cause undue stress on the body.
While veterinarians typically prescribe diets for cats with kidney disease once they've developed it, you can start feeding your cat specially-formulated food for kidney health at any age. Since the kidneys will work less to process the nutrients in the food, they may take longer to develop kidney disease if your cat is genetically predisposed to it. Work with your vet to make sure your cat is getting adequate nutrition, but lower levels of protein.
Sign Up For Pet Insurance
Medical bills can quickly add up if your cat develops kidney disease or kidney failure. Regular veterinary visits, subcutaneous fluids, blood tests, and medications can potentially leave you in debt. Another way to prepare for whatever the years may bring is to sign your cat up for health insurance right away. Pet health insurance often covers almost all of your veterinarian's fees, but only if you sign up before the condition begins. The vast majority of pet insurance providers will not cover diseases or illnesses that have already started prior to signing up for the service.
By signing your cat up now, if they develop kidney disease further down the road, you can rest easy knowing that the insurance company will cover the medications, treatments, and visits to the veterinarian to keep your cat healthy.
Unfortunately, cats can't receive dialysis like humans do for kidney failure, and kidney transplants are extremely rare. While curing the disease isn't possible, planning far in advance can help you to prolong your cat's life and prevent a financial disaster if they do develop the disease.
Contact a clinic like Bearss Animal Clinic to learn more.