March is National Kidney Month and not just for people, but pets too! Kidney disease can be very subtle as it progresses, so it is important to be aware of the signs and symptoms in our pets. This is especially true if you have a senior pet, because kidney disease is much more common as we get older.
For cats, a visit to the vet is warranted if you notice these symptoms:
- Urinating larger amount, larger or increased number of urine clumps in the litter
- Unusual elimination problems, such as straining to urinate without producing urine, or urinating outside the litter box
- Increased thirst
- Lethargy
- Lack of appetite
- Vomiting
- Unusual vocalization
In dogs, many of the same symptoms are present, only instead of litterbox issues, your dog may have accidents in the house. Symptoms of kidney failure can come on gradually, so they may not appear all at once, but the condition is serious and the sooner it’s caught, the sooner you and your vet can take steps to slow the progression.
Northwest Neighborhood Veterinary Hospital will be having a special during March—for cats over 10 years old, we will offer $10 off lab work!
For more information on kidney disease or to schedule your pet for an exam, call us at 503-227-6047.