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Welcome to September! This months newsletter
will include an article about Chronic Renal Failure in
Cats,
Pet Facts, and the
monthly trivia question. Remember, we love
input on the newsletter so any recommendations or
suggestions of article topics are very welcome. I hope
you enjoy the newsletter and I thank you for your time!
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Chronic Renal Failure in Cats
Kidney Disease
Chronic renal failure(CRF) is a progressive and
incurable kidney disease common in older cats. The
causes of kidney disease and failure are many.
Damage to the kidney structure occurs after lengthy
and excessive stimulation of the immune system. For
example, dental disease, diabetes, chronic skin
allergy or infections, or inflammatory bowel disease
could also cause damage to the kidneys. By
the time a cat shows symptoms of CRF, 70 percent of
kidney function has already been lost. Loss of kidney
function results in a build-up of blood toxins, and
anemia.
Some of the symptoms of kidney
disease are:
- increased thirst
- frequent urination
- vomiting
- weight loss
- lethargy
- poor hair coat
- oral ulcers
An annual physical exam is highly
recommended
for all cats! Annual or geriatric blood work is
highly recommended for all cats (and dogs) age 7
years and older. For a cat who may have kidney
disease
your veterinarian will probably recommend
blood work, a urinalysis, x-ray, ultrasound, or biopsy,
in
addition to the annual exam.
The earlier CRF is
detected the easier it is to stabilize and maintain a
good quality of life for the cat, through special diet,
fluid therapy, medication and supplementation. Many
renal failure cats can still live long comfortable lives
with proper management.
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Thank you for your time and I wish you a fantastic and
safe month. We constantly strive to provide the best
care for your family pets and exceptional service to our
clients. I offer appointments while parked locally at
Tractor Supply Company on Gull Road near
Walmart
and offer
neighborhood and individual house calls as
available. If I
can be of service to you, please give us a call at
731-PETS to schedule an appointment
for your pet today. If you refer a friend or family
member to our clinic, both of you are entered in our
2008 referral prize drawing. Our next drawing is
December 2008. Please see our website for more
information on our prize drawing. Our previous
newsletters can be found on our website. Thank
you!
This newsletter is not intended to replace
professional consultation, diagnosis, or treatment by
a licensed veterinarian. If you require any veterinary
related advice, contact your veterinarian promptly.
Information provided by the Visiting Vet newsletter is of
a general reference nature. Do not disregard
veterinary advice or delay treatment as a result of
accessing information from the Visiting Vet
newsletter.
Sincerely,
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