Last Updated on November 19, 2021 by ellen
Have you ever thought about how to screen your cat for kidney disease? Or, have you wondered whether or not this is a step you should take to protect your cat’s health? We all love our pets, and in our home, our cats are like little fuzzy children. We pamper them and love them and take care of them. If something can potentially threaten their health, I want to know about it so I can take steps to protect them as early as possible.
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How to Screen Your Cat for Kidney Disease
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common disease for dogs and cats. I learned that 1 in 3 cats and 1 in 10 dogs develop some form of kidney disease over their lifetime. Recent studies show that kidney disease is even more common and until now has been under-recognized. As cats age, the likelihood of them having kidney disease increases. More than half of cats over age 15 are afflicted.
Image courtesy of IDEXX
The IDEXX SDMA™ test is a revolutionary new kidney function test that will let you diagnose CKD in cats and dogs months or even years earlier than traditional methods. That makes it possible to intervene earlier and to more effectively manage kidney disease.
Our older cat, Colors, has been losing weight over the past few months so we have been back and forth to the vet’s office to figure out what’s wrong. Since kidney disease in older cats is so common, it’s one of the first things that we thought of.
It makes me sad to think that we could have caught a potential health problem with a simple test if we had done one. Cats hide disease and they don’t start to show symptoms until their kidneys have lost most of their function.
Kidney disease in cats is such a common problem. One in three is a huge percentage of the population. Our cats go to the vet for all of their regular checkups and vaccinations so I plan on asking about the IDEXX SDMA™ test at our next visit. Hidden diseases like kidney disease are easy to miss until it is very late stage, especially in cats. This test can help you keep your cat healthier and live a happier life.
Ask your veterinarian for the IDEXX SDMA™ kidney screening test. It only takes a minute to start a conversation about feline kidney disease.
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Learn how to take care of a sick cat.
Ellen runs a small pet sitting business in southern Vermont. She has experience with a variety of small animals, dogs and cats. She has also cared for ducks, chickens and rabbits. Combined, she has over 20 years of experience in pet care and pet sitting.
I hadn’t known about this test so thank you for alerting me to its existence. All of us who love our furry family members want to do everything we can to keep them healthy.
That is so true, Patty. Thank you!
I have two cats and have never heard about this test. I will be keeping it in mind if they start getting sick or not acting themselves. Taking care of our felines is very important to me.
It’s so important.Thank you!
I’ll definitely ask my vet about this test when the girls go for the annual checkups this year.
That’s wonderful!
Two of my cats have had this test. For one it showed he is in early stages of CKD. Now we can treat him and try to slow the progression of the disease. ~Island Cat Mom
That is so wonderful that you were able to check!
Great post – I’ve had cats with kidney disease previously and it would’ve been great to be able to test for it early. Do you know whether this test is available outside the US, in Australia?
I’m not sure, but would definitely recommend you check with your vet.