VSSF

One of the most common diseases in older pets is kidney disease. This may be a stressful time for your family but with the assistance of your veterinarian and a few helpful tips, your pet can live a long, happy, and healthy life.

 What is Kidney Disease?

   The kidneys filter and remove waste materials from the blood and help regulate body fluids. Kidney Disease occurs when the kidneys fail to perform these functions properly and waste accumulates in the blood.

Signs of Kidney Disease

     Signs usually do not appear until more than 2/3 of kidney function has been lost. Pets over 6 years old should be screened for kidney disease before signs of disease appear.

These signs are:

   - loss of appetite, increased thirst, vomiting, or diarrhea

  Causes of Kidney Disease

   Acute kidney disease is a rapid decline in kidney function, often result of poisoning, shock, blood loss or other diseases.

   Chronic kidney disease can result from age, nutritional factors, and breed or hereditary tendencies.

Slowing the Progression

     Kidney failure may be stopped and many pets can recover completely once the underlying problem is resolved.

Home Care

 - Give your pet special care and attention

 - Follow your veterinarian’s instructions carefully.

- Feed your pet only the recommended food every day and speak to your veterinarian before changing your pet’s medication or feeding regimen.

Make sure to monitor your pet’s weight, activity, thirst, and general condition regularly. Inform your vet of any unexpected changes. Provide free access to fresh clean water.

Proper nutrition is essential in fighting against chronic kidney disease. Your veterinarian will recommend a well balanced diet with reduced amounts of phosphorous, salt, high-quality protein and higher amounts of fiber to reduce kidney workload. As always if you are ever suspicious of something, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.  

“Ahhh-chooo”… an adorable and sometimes unwelcome sound from your furry feline. She sneezes once and you think nothing of it, but then throughout the day the little sneezes continue, and that’s when you begin to wonder: Is my kitty sick? Should I bring her to the vet? You decide to set up an appointment with the vet and figure out what is going on. A few days pass and your sniffling kitten is now sneezing every two seconds with watering eyes. Once you explain to the vet what has been going on, she is prescribed a pill everyday for the next week. Don’t let anxiety set in as soon as you consider how to administer the pill. 

Although giving your pets medicine, especially pills is very difficult, we have some tips on how to make it a little easier.

First, make sure that your cat is relaxed before administering the pill.  If she is hyper or stressed it will become much more difficult.

Once you determine that she is relaxed, approach her slowly and quietly from behind so that you do not startle her. Approaching her from behind will be more effective by eliminating the risk of escape.

 Once she is in your hands, wrap your dominant hand around her body so that her tail is facing you and have the pill in your non-dominant hand.

Then, with your dominant hand hold your cat by her cheeks lifting her nose to the ceiling so that her mouth will involuntarily form a little opening.

Now, use one of your fingers on your non-dominant hand to open her jaw wider and place the pill in the back of the mouth as far as possible. Make sure that when you let go and your cat comes out of your grip that she begins to lick her lips. This will indicate that she has swallowed it.  

Just to be safe, since some cats are sneaky, check her mouth and make sure that she isn’t tricking you and actually swallowed the pill. Follow up with a tasty treat to make sure your cat has completely consumed the pill.

Next time giving your kitten a pill is part of her health routine, leave the stress behind. Do yourself a favor and make it less complicated with these simple steps.