Renal disease affects one in five cats over 7 years of age. There has, over recent years, been a lot of work published in veterinary journals about renal disease in cats. Until recently, veterinary surgeons have only been able to offer dietary advice and to give non specific treatment in the form of anabolic steroids. Although modern prescription diets are very good, unfortunately, some kidney patients do not feel well enough to eat them. Furthermore, anabolic steroids do not treat renal disease, they modulate the metabolism and reduce the workload for the kidneys.

Vets are often presented with older cats with advanced kidney failure. This is when about two thirds of the kidney tissue has been irreversibly damaged. This is frustrating, as there is a stage which cats go through before reaching kidney failure. This is called the "renal insufficiency" stage. This stage is impossible to detect without performing blood and/or urine tests. As renal failure is the second most common cause of death in cats aged over 7 years of age, it makes sense to find out if your cat has renal insufficiency now, before renal failure develops. A simple blood test is all that is required.

Recently a drug (Fortekor; benazepril hydrochloride, an ACE inhibitor; a palatable form is available) has been licensed for the treatment of renal insufficiency (and failure) in cats. With the aid of this new drug many cats could live a longer, healthier and happier life, should kidney disease be diagnosed.

Please feel free to telephone the surgery, or e-mail us, to find out more. Together, we can help put another candle on your cat's birthday cake!

Thank you for taking the time to read this, I hope you all find it informative, and I look forward to hearing from you soon. (Stuart Jackson)

The cost of the blood test is £25.00. Treatment currently costs £15.70 per month for a cat weighing up to 5kg (11lbs).