How Long Can A Cat Live With Stage 4 Kidney Disease
4.5/51.86 years5.75 yearsin-depth answer
The prognosis for kidney disease is quite variable depending on response to the initial stage of treatment and your ability to perform the follow-up care. We encourage treatment in most situations because many cats will respond and maintain a good quality of life for up to four years.
Subsequently, question is, can a cat recover from stage 4 kidney failure? Unfortunately, once the kidneys are damaged, they have very limited ability to recover. However, with proper management, most CRF cases progress very slowly. With treatment, your cat may have several years of good quality, active life ahead.
Also question is, what are the symptoms of end stage kidney failure in cats?
11 Signs Your Cat’s Kidneys May Be Failing
- Frequent urinating.
- Drinking a lot of water.
- Bacterial infections of the bladder and kidney.
- Weight loss and decreased appetite.
- Vomiting, diarrhea, and bloody or cloudy urine.
- Mouth ulcers, especially on the gums and tongue.
- Bad breath with an ammonia-like odor.
Is kidney failure in cats a painful death?
Feline kidney failure sickens and kills more older cats than any other condition. Because most of its causes are still unknown, prevention is almost impossible. Its symptoms are severe, and with few exceptions, it’s incurable and ultimately fatal.
According to Vetstreet, common signs your cat is sick or in pain include:
What If I Have Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 3
Stage 3 means moderate chronic kidney disease. This often means that you are unlikely to need to see a kidney specialist. However, your GP will need to see you regularly for monitoring, including blood and urine tests.
You may need treatments to reduce your risk of progressing to more severe chronic kidney disease. You will probably also need other treatments to reduce your risk of any other problems, particularly cardiovascular diseases .
However if regular blood and urine tests show that your chronic kidney disease is progressing to stage 4 then you will usually need to be referred to a kidney specialist to consider further assessments and treatment.
Stage 2 Ckd: Egfr Between 60 And 89
Stage 2 CKD means you have mild kidney damage and an eGFR between 60 and 89.
Most of the time, an eGFR between 60 and 89 means your kidneys are healthy and working well. But if you have Stage 2 kidney disease, this means you have other signs of kidney damage even though your eGFR is normal. Signs of kidney damage could be protein in your urine or physical damage to your kidneys. Here are some ways to help slow down the damage to your kidneys in Stage 2 kidney disease:
- Control your blood sugar if you have diabetes
Also Check: Is Celery Juice Good For Your Kidneys
Whats The Prognosis For Stage 4 Kidney Disease
Theres no cure for stage 4 chronic kidney disease. The goal of treatment is to prevent kidney failure and maintain a good quality of life.
In 2012, researchers found that men and women with low kidney function, especially less than 30 percent, had substantially reduced life expectancy.
They noted that women tend to have longer life expectancy in all stages of kidney disease except stage 4, where theres only a slight difference by gender. Prognosis tends to be poorer with age.
- At 40 years old, life expectancy is about 10.4 years for men and 9.1 years for women.
- At 60 years old, life expectancy is about 5.6 years for men and 6.2 years for women.
- At 80 years old, life expectancy is about 2.5 years for men and 3.1 years for women.
Your individual prognosis also depends on co-existing conditions and what treatments you get. Your healthcare provider can give you a better idea of what to expect.
When To Put Down A Dog With Kidney Disease
Acute and chronic kidney disease in dogs both involve the ultimate failure in the functioning of your dogs kidneys. Whilst acute kidney failure comes on suddenly, chronic kidney failure is a more gradual disease.
Nobody wants to think about putting their dog to sleep, but with kidney disease being known to cause significant harm and pain for your dog, you need to consider whether the best course of action is to let them pass away painlessly.
Whilst it is natural to feel emotional about this issue, it is vital that you dont let your emotions cloud your judgement in making this decision.
I know first-hand that this is easier said than done, but it is easy to rationalise a decision when youre feeling emotional even when you know deep down its the wrong thing to do.
First and foremost, you need to consider how kidney failure is impacting your dogs quality of life.
Whilst every dogs experience with kidney disease is different, if they are no longer responding to treatments and is only deteriorating further, then euthanasia should be considered.
Although it is natural to want to keep your companion with you as long as possible, is it really worthwhile if theyre visibly suffering?
In this article, I will explore the issue of canine kidney failure in more depth, as well as considering how and when euthanasia is the best course of action.
Also Check: Orange Juice And Kidneys
Slowing And Treating Kidney Disease Progression
Medications that can help people with kidney disease, though there is no cure. Certain blood pressure drugs, including ACE inhibitors and ARBs, may slow disease progression and delay kidney failure, even in people without .
If you do have high blood pressure, its important to control it because it can damage the blood vessels in the kidneys, worsening CKD. Your doctor can prescribe blood pressure medicine and may recommend reducing the salt in your diet.
Many cases of are linked to , so controlling your blood sugar is vital, with medication if necessary. Take care to monitor your blood sugar levels regularly and try to stay at a healthy weight.
When there is kidney damage, phosphorus can build up in the body and weaken bones. Talk with your doctor about avoiding foods high in phosphorus, such as dairy products, processed meats, beer, soda, and chocolate.
Potassium is another mineral that can build up in the body when you have kidney disease. Too much potassium increases the risk of a . Ask your doctor about avoiding foods that are high in potassium, such as bananas and broccoli.
If you have CKD and are not on dialysis, your doctor may advise you to eat less protein, as protein can be difficult for kidneys to filter when they are not functioning well. You can work with your doctor to manage your kidney disease, improve your prognosis, and delay kidney failure. Each person will have a different experience, and life expectancy statistics reflect averages.
Primary Causes Of Renal Failure
Diabetes is far and away the most common cause of renal failure in the US. Chronic high blood sugar damages all of the cells in the body. Proper treatment, however, can prevent much of this damage. High blood pressure is another common cause of CKD and kidney failure. Low blood pressure can also cause problems, as the kidneys need a certain level of blood flow to filter waste from the blood. Low blood pressure is more likely to be a factor in acute kidney failure. Although less common, toxins, autoimmune diseases and conditions such as a heart attack can also result in kidney failure.
Read Also: Is Aleve Bad For Kidneys
What Is Kidney Dialysis
Because there is no cure for CKD, if you are in late-stage disease, you and your healthcare team must consider additional options. Complete kidney failure, left untreated, will result in death. Options for end stages of CKD include dialysis and kidney transplantation.
Dialysis is a procedure that uses machines to remove waste products from your body when your kidneys are no longer able to perform this function. There are two major types of dialysis.
Hemodialysis: With hemodialysis, your blood is circulated through a machine that removes waste products, excess water and excess salt. The blood is then returned to your body. Hemodialysis requires three to four hours, three times a week and is performed at a clinic, hospital or dialysis center.
Peritoneal dialysis: In peritoneal dialysis, a dialysis solution is run directly into your abdomen. The solution absorbs waste and then is removed via catheter. Fresh solution is added to continue the process of cleaning. You can perform this type of dialysis yourself. There are two types of peritoneal dialysis: continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis , which involves a change in dialysis solution four times a day and continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis . CCPD uses a machine to automatically fill, remove wastes, and refill the fluid during the nighttime.
What Is Kidney Disease
Kidney disease in cats is the deterioration of the normal function of the kidneys.
Healthy kidneys work to flush out toxins in the body and aid in regulating urine production. When the kidneys are compromised in any way, the body struggles to perform these tasks, leading to a waterfall of dangerous symptoms and illness. When a major organ system such as the kidneys begin to fail, the cats overall health will begin to decline.
Chronic kidney disease: In chronic kidney disease, the kidneys will begin to struggle over time. Cats can compensate for months to years in chronic disease, and owners can usually note changes in their health that have happened over time.
Diagnosing the early stages of chronic kidney disease in cats is the goal, as this disease can be managed. Unlike acute kidney disease, chronic kidney disease is not an immediate threat when it is caught in the early stages.
Acute kidney disease: Acute kidney disease is the sudden onset of kidney function decline in a cat. This usually occurs in situations such as kidney injury, urethral obstruction , infectious disease, or toxin ingestion. This can also happen in cats that have congenital kidney abnormalities.
Acute kidney disease is especially dangerous, as cats will experience sudden and severe symptoms. These cases are much more difficult to manage since the function of the kidneys is usually severely impaired in such a short amount of time.
Don’t Miss: Is Watermelon Good For Kidney
How Long Do You Have To Live If Your Kidneys Are Failing
Renal failure the medical term for failing kidneys is a complex process that typically occurs over a period of months to years. Occasionally, an individual may develop acute renal failure, which occurs within a few days to a week. In either case, the condition may shorten your lifespan, especially if not treated. Heres some information on how long you may live if your kidneys are failing, courtesy of Dr. Allen Lauer of Associates in Nephrology.
What Is The Outlook For Chronic Kidney Disease
Stages 1-3 chronic kidney disease are common, with most cases occurring in older people. It tends to become gradually worse over months or years. However, the rate of progression varies from case to case, and often depends on the severity of any underlying condition. For example, some kidney conditions may cause your kidney function to become worse relatively quickly. However, in most cases, chronic kidney disease progresses only very slowly.
For many people with CKD there is a much higher risk of developing serious CVD than of developing end-stage kidney failure.
In short, the following can make a big difference to your outlook :
- Attention to blood pressure control.
- Careful review of medications to make sure that the only ones used are those which put least strain on kidneys.
- Tackling factors that reduce your risk of developing CVDs.
Recommended Reading: Does Red Wine Cause Kidney Stones
Predicting Life Expectancy At End
If our patient is well looked after for the next 17 years, I will assume that he will not die before he reaches ESRD at the age of 36 . However, we now know that this assumption cannot be made. As we have seen from the Canadian data, even at age 19 years with a GFR of 35 ml/min/1.73 m2, we can extrapolate that his life expectancy is reduced by around 50 %. For a UK male aged 19 years, a life expectancy of 61.4 years is reduced to 30 years .
Assuming that our patient would be around 36 years of age when end-stage renal failure is reached, then one can use two sources of actuarial information regarding future life expectancy:-
The USRDS Annual Reports chapter on mortality and survival has actuarial tables which show data in 5-year age bands .2). Thus, at 36 years of age, our patient falls into the age band 3539 years. This shows us that a normal U.S. male of this age group can expect to live a further 41 years. The same age group will live a further 12.5 years on dialysis and 30.8 years after a successful transplant. Of course, in reality, RRT life will tend to be a mixture of the two modes.
The UK Renal Registry annual report chapter on survival also has actuarial data in 5-year age bands . However, these show that the median life expectancy for patients starting RRT at the 90-day time point and for this age group is a further 13.5 years .
What Do The Stages Of Chronic Kidney Disease Refer To
The five stages of CKD refer to how well your kidneys are working. Kidney disease can get worse in time. In the early stages , your kidneys are still able to filter waste out of your blood. In the later stages , your kidneys must work harder to filter your blood and may stop working altogether.The goal at each stage of CKD is to take steps to slow down the damage to your kidneys and keep your kidneys working as long as possible.
Read Also: Can Kidney Stones Cause High Blood Sugar
What Can I Expect If I Have Kidney Disease
If you have kidney disease you can still live a productive home and work life and enjoy time with your family and friends. To have the best outcome possible, its important for you to become an active member of your treatment team.
Early detection and appropriate treatment are important in slowing the disease process, with the goal of preventing or delaying kidney failure. You will need to keep your medical appointments, take your medications as prescribed, stick to a healthy diet and monitor your blood pressure and blood sugar.
How Long Can You Stay In Stage 3 Kidney Disease
Once youve reached stage 3 chronic kidney disease , you have moderate kidney damage and will start to experience physical symptoms. For those who have CKD, you may be wondering how long you can stay in stage 3 kidney disease. While you cant reverse the kidney damage you already have, you can prevent and/or slow down disease progression.
Recommended Reading: Std Kidney Pain
Limit Your Alcohol Consumption
You may still be able to drink alcohol if you have kidney disease, but it’s advisable not to exceed the recommended limits of more than 14 alcohol units a week.
Speak to your GP or care team if you find it difficult to cut down the amount of alcohol you drink.
Find out more about cutting down on alcohol.
Learn About Kidney Failure
Even if you get treatment in stage 4 and are careful about your health, your kidneys may still fail. Kidney failure happens when:
- 85-90% of kidney function is gone
- GFR falls below 15
- Kidneys don’t work well enough to keep you alive
There is no cure for kidney failure, but with treatment it is possible to live a long, fulfilling life. Having kidney failure is not a death sentence. People with kidney failure live active lives and continue to do the things they love.
Don’t Miss: Can Kidney Stones Increase Blood Sugar
Stages Of Chronic Kidney Disease
www.kidneyfund.orgKidney DiseaseChronic Kidney Disease Stages of Chronic Kidney DiseaseMedical Advisory Committee
Chronic kidney disease is divided into five stages. The stages are based on the eGFR test result and how well your kidneys work to filter waste and extra fluid out of your blood. As the stages go up, kidney disease gets worse and your kidneys do not work as well. At each stage, it is important to take steps to slow down the damage to your kidneys.
What Is The Life Expectancy With Stage 4 Kidney Disease Symptoms Treatment And Diet
Written byMohan GarikiparithiPublished onNovember 23, 2017
Stage 4 kidney disease is considered an advanced from of chronic kidney disease that is characterized by a severe decrease in its ability to perform its function. At this point, the condition has reached a life-threatening territory and will require significant treatment to increase survival.
Our kidneys are two of the most important organs in the body and are responsible for removing waste and excess fluid. Most of these discarded substances are considered toxic and would lead to several abnormalities if not promptly removed.
Suffering from a damaged kidney is a major problem in the United States, with more than 30 million Americans having chronic kidney disease. Kidney function is measured based on its glomerular filtration rate , which is the process by which the kidneys filter blood and is calculated by using a mathematical formula that compares a persons size, age, sex, and race to serum creatinine levels.
The following are stages of kidney disease and their corresponding GFR:
- Stage 1 with normal or high GFR
- Stage 2 Mild CKD
- Stage 3A Moderate CKD
- Stage 3B Moderate CKD
- Stage 4 Severe CKD
- Stage 5 End Stage CKD (GFR
Also read: End stage renal disease or stage 5 kidney disease: Causes, symptoms, and treatment
Don’t Miss: Is Aleve Safe For Kidneys
What Are Chronic Kidney Disease Symptoms
You are unlikely to feel unwell or have symptoms with mild-to-moderate chronic kidney disease – that is, stages 1 to 3. Chronic kidney disease is usually diagnosed by the eGFR test before any symptoms develop.
Symptoms tend to develop when chronic kidney disease becomes severe or worse. The symptoms at first tend to be vague and nonspecific, such as feeling tired, having less energy than usual and just not feeling well. With more severe chronic kidney disease, symptoms that may develop include:
- Difficulty thinking clearly.
- A need to pass urine more often than usual.
- Being pale due to anaemia.
- Feeling sick.
If the kidney function declines to stage 4 or 5 then various other problems may develop – for example, anaemia and an imbalance of calcium, phosphate and other chemicals in the bloodstream. These can cause various symptoms, such as tiredness due to anaemia, and bone thinning or fractures due to calcium and phosphate imbalance. End-stage kidney failure is eventually fatal unless treated.