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Cats/My cat has inflamed Kidney's
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QUESTION: How can you tell if your cat is in pain when she has both inflamed Kidney's? She's eating alittle and drinking but she looks very lethargic. I don't want her to be in pain.
ANSWER: Randi,
My eldest resident cat has some ongoing kidney issues since she became ill as a result of eating tainted cat food during the Menu Foods pet food recall a few years ago so I can offer some of my experience as a way of helping you and your cat out, but first I need to have a clearer picture of what exactly is happening, what's been done already in terms of testing and treatment and what the diagnosis is according to your vet if there is a working diagnosis at this point.
What makes you think that your cat's kidneys are inflamed?
Has she had a kidney issue diagnosed by your vet?
If you have any reason to believe that your kitty has a kidney problem and she hasn't seen a vet yet it's important to get her checked out ASAP because some kidney issues can cause permanent and/or potentially life threatening complications for cats. If this hasn't been done already I'd suggest that your cat has a urine sample sent off to the lab and cultured for bacteria as well as a full pre-anesthetic blood profile. If your cat is dehydrated the veterinarian may recommend IV or subcutaneous fluids as an initial step to flush out any toxins from her kidneys.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: We took her to the vet today and both Kidney's are inflamed. She has a slight fever and they took blood. She wasn't dehydrated. We'll have the results tomorrow. If nothing from the blood results reveal anything, they suggest an ultrasound which we have scheduled already. What indication to us would we know that she is in pain? Does your eldest cat show signs of being in pain?
Thank you :-)
Randi,
Sometimes cats with kidney ailments will have a hunched over appearance. My eldest cat actually starting vomiting and behaving oddly - her eyes were very dilated and she'd jump as though frightened or painful while hissing. The vet told us that she might have had a headache, but kitties with renal issues shouldn't be given pain meds if at all possible because they can be tough on the kidneys if they're damaged. For the most part my cat hasn't been painful, she seemed like she might have been in pain the day before she was diagnosed, but other than that she's been good. What possibilities has your vet discussed with you in terms of the possible reasons for the kitty's kidneys to be inflamed?
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Answers by Expert:
Ali
Expertise
I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.
Experience
I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.
Education/Credentials
I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.
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