Doença renal crônica em felinos - revisão de literatura.

Abstract

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is more commonly seen in cats of advanced age, being one of the most common causes of mortality in these animals. CKD is the result of a gradual loss in the number of nephrons leading to impairment of metabolic, excretory, endocrine and renal functions. The etiology of the disease is multifactorial and can be stimulated by numerous causes and from different origins. Polyuria and polydipsia can be the first clinical signs, however, at the beginning of the disease, the clinical manifestations can be nonspecific, so when the disease is discovered, it is usually in advanced stages, since it is difficult to identify it early. The assessment of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is the most efficient method for diagnosing CKD, however, it is impracticable to be performed in the clinical routine, therefore, the diagnosis is based on renal biomarkers such as serum creatinine, SDMA, calcium and phosphorus, urea and others. The International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) establishes that after the animal is diagnosed, it must be correctly staged based on creatinine, SDMA, proteinuria and blood pressure. The importance of correct staging is to provide the animal with the correct treatment based on the stage and the clinical manifestations presented, because, as it is an irreversible and progressive disease, it does not have a cure, its treatment is carried out based on the clinical manifestations and to give a better quality of life for the animal. Because it is a difficult disease to be identified early and is more common in geriatric cats, it is necessary that these animals undergo a check-up at least twice a year in order to rule out or identify problems that could be a CKD.