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Weekend <strong>Times</strong> Question Categories to be covered are: -all about Dogs. -all about Cats. -all about Exotics. -all about pet ownership. -all about nutrition. 26 We will be focusing on the following; allergies avian/Exotics Behavior Boarding Dental Digestive system Diseases Ears General heart hormones husbandry medications musculoskeletal Neoplasia Nervous system Nutrition reproductive system respiratory skin surgery travel Urinary Vaccinations Ask The Vet by Dr Ruan Du Toit Bester Please send all your questions to globalveterinary@gmail.com or mail to; Dr ruan Du toit Bester rua, D.r, L, P, marquest 2/F, Flat B, Ponte 6a, macau sar. tel: +852 66706906 ask the Vet - is a service that allows you to ask questions about your pets’ health and behavior. my goal is to help you, the pet owner, improve the knowledge of your pet’s everyday needs and health care in macau through a variety of pet services and veterinary resources that where never available to pet owners before. Pets have become a very important part of our families. in many cases they have become as much a part of our lives as children or grandchildren. and, in certain ways, just as complicated. think of all the questions raised by wanting a pet. Pet ownership has definitely become more complex. Everybody seems to have an opinion on what pet you should get and what being a good pet owner means. my goal is to answer your questions and try making things simpler for you. i want to give some of the basic information that will help you to raise a healthy, happy and family compatible pet. and, of course, have fun while you are doing it. the ideas listed in this column come from many years of studying and practicing veterinary medicine in south africa, australia, hong Kong and macau. and they are just that, my ideas and opinions. they are not meant to be all-encompassing or correct for every situation. Use this information as a tool, along with the advice from your veterinarian, to help you make the interaction between you and your pet a wonderful experience. as far as i am concerned, there are two kinds of people; those who really love animals, and those who have never owned any. People who say they do not love pets have usually never owned one. and for those who say they hate them, well, let’s just not talk about them! the picture above is of a 150kg sea turtle at australia Zoo that i did abdominal surgery on after it ingested a ball of fishing line. indiscriminate and over fishing causes this to happen too often. i hope this section helps you enjoy that perfect life with your pet. and i would love to hear the stories of how you came to own your particular pet and any interesting experiences you have had. W Kidney fa treat you I rECENtLY lost my cat to kidney failure and is unfortunately the most common condition i see in cats. Kidney failure in cats is a grim diagnosis that is incurable, but the concerned pet owner can help make life more comfortable for his or her cat as it copes with the disease. Cats can live months or even years after diagnosis, so owners facing the reality of a cat with renal (kidney) failure should understand the reasons behind and treatment of the disease. Symptoms of Kidney Failure When owners suspect kidney failure, the cat should be taken to the vet. the symptoms of kidney failure include: Excessive thirst/drinking Excessive urination Loss of energy Loss of appetite Excessive licking of lips Vomiting Weight loss Excessive drooling Dry, coarse coat of fur Oral ulcers halitosis (bad breath) Chronic versus Acute Cats may be diagnosed with either acute renal failure or chronic renal failure. Chronic kidney failure in cats is a long-term, progressive shut down of the kidneys, while acute kidney failure is abrupt and more quickly fatal. Chronic kidney failure is more often seen in older cats and may be attributed to a poor diet or a lifelong diet of only dry food (which lacks sufficient moisture to keep the cat properly hydrated over its lifespan). it may also be related to genetics, environmental stresses, high
ilure: r cat with care blood pressure, dental disease and low potassium levels. acute kidney failure can occur at any age and can be due to a blockage in the urinary tract, trauma, infection or ingestion of poison. Chronic kidney failure offers more hope for longer survival, but immediate medical intervention may be able to save cats with acute kidney failure and, unlike with chronic kidney failure, restore full function of the kidneys. however, the chances for survival are often slim. Treatment there is no cure for chronic kidney failure in cats, but some acute kidney failure cases can be cured. the best course of action for the concerned owner to take is to ensure that the cat’s remaining days are as pleasant as possible. Fresh water should always be available; the owner of a cat with kidney failure may have to refill the bowl more than once a day. Keeping the cat’s weight up is essential to keeping the disease from progressing quickly; owners should feed their cats a specially formulated food with extra potassium. a vet may also recommend medication. Unless the vet recommends otherwise, regular shots and inoculations are no longer necessary in cats with kidney failure. the side effects that are harsh on those with kidney failure outweigh the potential benefits of the shots, which will no longer be as effective. the cat, who should be kept indoors for the remainder of its life, will not be as likely to endanger itself or others. there are steps that responsible owners can take to ensure that their cats’ remaining days are as comfortable possible. as treatment is not complicated or expensive, and survival may extend for months or years, kidney failure is one diagnosis that doesn’t always necessitate putting the cat to sleep on discovery. Kidneys have a vital role in the life of cats. more frequent in older cats, the feline kidney disease may affect younger cats with diet based mainly on dry foods. the cat kidney disease may also be a genetic condition. the cat renal disease cannot be treated but can be manageable to delay the kidney failure. 1. Injecting Fluids to make the task of the kidneys easier, fluids may be injected under the skin of the cat that is suffering from feline kidney disease. these are also known as subcutaneous injections. this procedure must be performed every day. For better results, the injections may be associated with drug treatment. in less severe cases, the injection may be performed at home. the injection of fluids can postpone the renal failure, provided it is administrated during the entire life of your pet. if your cat has a chronic renal failure, he will need to get treatment within a hospital, where he can be kept under supervision. i usually prefer to treat all CrF and arF in hosp. it just has a bigger effect on the flushing of the kidneys. 2. Drugs Drugs are an alternative to the injection of fluids as a solution to manage the feline kidney disease. Phosphate binders can help in preventing kidney failure and extend the life of the sick cat. however, kidney medication must 18 December 2010 be supported by a proper diet. Dysfunctional kidneys in cats can lead to anemia, nausea, high blood pressure and a build-up of toxins in the blood. additional drugs will be needed to treat or manage these conditions. 3. Diet Changes in the diet are not sufficient to manage the feline kidney disease, but associated with medication can give good results. the cat’s diet should be poor in protein, sodium and phosphorous compounds. the cat’s diet should also contain a lot of wet foods to keep your pet hydrated. the dry foods can worsen your pet’s condition, as these reduce the absorption of liquids. Keep a bowl with fresh water for your cat at all times. You will be able to find cat food specially made for felines with kidney disease. these foods need prescription. the feline kidney disease has no cure and is a fatal condition. Fluid injections, drugs and a proper diet are a few options to help your cat cope with the disease. Diagnosing your cat in time is important, so pay attention to the kidney disease symptoms. symptoms of kidney disease include permanent thirst, frequent urination, weight loss and vomiting. an early detection of renal dysfunction can significantly extend your pet’s life and avoid renal failure for as long as possible. W Hope this helps. Till next week Dr Ruan 27
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