Fortekor®
Chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) is relatively common, particularly in older cats. Even though your cat has been diagnosed with kidney failure there are treatments available which will help both the quality of life and life expectancy of your cat. More importantly, you need to understand this disease and how you can help him or her.
What causes chronic renal insufficiency?
As your cat goes through life, many things have the potential to affect the health of the kidneys. Some conditions which can lead to CRI include infections, inflammation, toxins which damage the kidney, urinary obstructions, cancers and some congenital conditions.
It is important to note that two thirds of the kidney function is already gone before signs begin to appear.
What do kidneys do?
- Kidneys filter blood and excrete waste products into the urine.
- Kidneys produce hormones, such as erythoropoietin, which stimulates new red blood cell production.
- Kidneys help control blood pressure.
Healthy kidneys are important for your cat to lead a fun-filled feline life.
Frequent screening, will help detect CRI in its early stages. If CRI is diagnosed early and treatment is administered, your cat will live a longer, healthier, more active life.
Kidney disease and your cat
All too many cats lives are cut short by Chronic Renal Insufficiency (CRI). CRI is a form of kidney disease where the kidney slowly stops working properly.
The kidney consists of millions of individual filters called NEPHRONS. Over time, nephrons gradually become damaged and die, with scar tissue forming as a result. CRI begins when so many nephrons are lost that the remaining nephrons must work harder to compensate. To do this they increase in size and increase their work rate. Blood pressure within the kidney increases. This extra work load causes the kidney to deteriorate even more quickly. As kidney function continues to decline, salt imbalances, anemia and blood pressure problems result.
Could my cat have chronic renal insufficiency?
Alert your veterinarian at once if you notice any of the following signs:
- Increased thirst
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting
- Poor hair coat
- Excessive urination
- Weight loss
- Weakness
- Oral ulcers
How is chronic renal insufficiency diagnosed?
To confirm a diagnosis of CRI, your veterinarian will need to conduct a physical examination, perform blood tests and collect urine samples. If required, X-rays and biopsies may be used to rule out other diseases such as kidney tumours.
How is chronic renal insufficiency treated?
There is no cure for CRI, but treatment will help your cat live a better, longer life. In treating CRI your veterinarian may recommend:
- Medication: previously no specific medication was available to slow the progression of renal insufficiency. Now, veterinarians have a proven medication to help manage feline CRI. Extensive clinical and laboratory studies have demonstrated that Fortekor slows the progression of feline CRI. Fortekor is simple to use, being given just once daily, with or without food.
- A kidney friendly diet: Diet is important for cats diagnosed with kidney failure. Your veterinarian will be able to advise you about the most suitable diet for your cat. If you cat is reluctant to eat, warming canned food (vs. dry) and hand feeding may be more enticing to your cat. Making plenty of fresh water available at all times is paramount, as dehydration is a threat to cats with kidney failure.
- Intravenous fluid and hospitalization: In some circumstances it may be necessary for your veterinarian to monitor and treat your cat with fluid therapy to correct dehydration and to help flush toxins out of the bloodstream.
A variety of additional treatments may also be recommended, depending on the individual needs of your cat.
Cats treated with Fortekor experience an improvement in their general well being, which includes*:
- Increased appetite
- Weight gain
- Reduced blood pressure
- Reduced protein loss in urine
Remember, it is important that you continue to consult your veterinarian on a regular basis to monitor your cat’s progress.
Now there is new hope for sufferers of Chronic Renal Insufficiency.
Find out more about Chronic Renal Insufficiency in Cats at FelineGood
Download the product monograph for Fortekor
Download the product monograph for Fortekor Flavor Tabs
*Three year, multicenter, double blind, placebo controlled clinical trial with 201 cats. Data on file, Novartis Animal Health Canada Inc.
