There are many forms of feline kidney disease, and the majority of the symptoms between them are the same. However, polycystic kidney disease begins at birth, can continue escalating. Polycystic kidney disease is a genetic disease that can develop during the entire life of your cat, especially in exotic breeds and Persians, although it affects other breeds as well.
Cysts, filled with air, fluid or solid material, begin to grow in your feline's kidneys, replacing kidney tissue, which causes swelling and enlargement of the organ. Polycystic kidney disease can cause renal failure and death if not treated.
Symptoms of Polycystic Kidney Disease
Unfortunately, as the disease affects the kidneys, symptoms will not be apparent until your dog's kidney function is significantly impaired. The symptoms will also appear similar to kidney infection. Cats with urinary tract infections may have the cause of their urination misdiagnosed.
Symptoms at this point will include anorexia, frequent drinking and urination, weight loss and vomiting. Your cat may also experience abdominal palpitations, where the muscles twitch uncontrollably.
Diagnosis of Polycystic Kidney Disease
Your vet will take kidney fluid via a needle and perform tests to determine if there are cysts. Further examinations might include ultrasounds, urine analysis and testing of fluid from cysts.
After diagnosis, bring your cat in for monitoring every two to six months, especially if you notice any furthering of symptoms, or anything indicative of renal failure.
Treatment Is Possible, Curing Is Not
Treatment is difficult, and sometimes impossible, for kidney and liver cysts. Veterinarians focus on treating symptoms in order to assuage pain rather than on treating the disease, which is not curable. Though it is possible to remove fluid from the cysts, this prevents pain, but does not cure the disease.
Diagnosing polycystic kidney disease early prevents the disease from escalating and the appearance of secondary bacterial infections, which can lead to toxins in the blood. If you suspect that your cat might have polycystic kidney disease, talk to your vet and limit the amount of protein, while increasing the amount of vitamin D your cat intakes.
Damaged livers and kidneys are ineffective at filtering out byproducts of protein consumption, and their ability to absorb Vitamin D is hampered. Lowering the amount of protein and increasing nutrients will prevent overtaxing of your cat's organs.
Breeding Cats Without Passing on the Gene
In order to remove the potential for genetic continuance of the disease in your cats, identify how many of your felines are affected by this Persian cat disease. Neuter and spay those with the gene, and continue breeding the rest of your cats.
By keeping your breeding pool limited to only cats that have tested negative, you prevent future generations from being affected. With one-third of Persian cats already diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease, you can help prevent the statistic from growing.