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Renal (Kidney) FailureWhether or not your cat has diabetes, kidney problems are very common. Types of Renal Failure:
Acute Renal Failure(ARF) Acute renal failure means kidney failure that comes on suddenly. This is an emergency and your cat should go to the veterinarian at once if you suspect ARF. It can be reversed if diagnosed quickly and treated aggressively. Otherwise, the prognosis is very poor. If your cat stops peeing or has trouble peeing, go to the vet as soon as possible. Signs of ARF
Chronic Renal Failure(CRF) Chronic renal failure is not a medical emergency but does need regular follow-up and treatment with your veterinarian. Mean age of diagnosis in cats is 9 years and the prevalence of CRF increases with increasing age. About 15% of cats are reported to have CRF by age 15. CRF is defined as azotemia and urine specific gravity <1.035. Azotemia is the accumulation of urea and creatinine in the blood and can occur for several reasons. It may or may not be associated with changes in your cat's phyical examination. Abyssinian and Persian cats have a genetic predisposition to developing CRF but it can occur in any cat. The cause is generally not known. Cats with mild CRF may not have any symptoms. An animal with stable CRF can suddenly decompensate ("uremic crisis") and need emergency treatment. See signs of ARF, above. Signs of CRF
For more information on CHRONIC RENAL FAILURE (CRF), an excellent resource is the Feline CRF Information Center. Last updated 2/18/05
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