Glomerulonephritis in cats

Causes

The following irritants contribute to the occurrence of an autoimmune process:

viral and bacterial infections;
nephrotoxins;
unbalanced diet;
injuries;
dampness;
side effects of medications;
neoplasms;
kidney disease;
dysfunction of the thyroid gland and adrenal glands;
diabetes.

The occurrence of the disease is promoted by hypothermia as a result of bathing the cat.

Varieties

The following forms of glomerulonephritis are distinguished:

membranous - capillary walls thicken;
proliferative – neoplasms appear;
mixed, the most severe.

The following types of glomerulonephritis are classified according to severity:

manifest. Occurs suddenly and progresses rapidly;
subacute The sluggish process is gradually intensifying. Goes into a permanent state;
chronic. Continues for years, leading to the development of chronic renal failure and a “shrunken kidney.”

Glomerulonephritis

Symptoms

Acute glomerulonephritis lasts about two weeks, after which the cat recovers or dies, or the disease becomes chronic. The manifest phase is characterized by the following symptoms:

depressed state;
lumbar pain;
difficulty emptying the bladder, oliguria or anuria
hematuria;
wandering swelling - in the morning on the back, in the afternoon on the paws;
vomit;
diarrhea;
tachycardia;
dyspnea;
hypertension;
fever;
pulmonary edema;
acute cardiac failure, convulsions, loss of consciousness;
uremic coma, ending in the death of the animal.

The chronic course of glomerulonephritis is accompanied by a gradual failure of nephrons. When the percentage of affected glomeruli reaches 75, chronic renal failure (CRF) develops. Permanent glomerulonephritis occurs in the following forms:

Nephrotic. Manifested by the presence of protein and blood in urine. Urine is released in limited quantities. Renal edema occurs. Touching a cat's back is painful.
Hypertensive. Manifested by loss of appetite, vomiting, thirst, polyuria, progressive exhaustion. Due to high pressure, a stroke develops, accompanied by paralysis or retinal detachment with subsequent loss of vision.
Hematuric. Protein and blood are found in the urine.
Latent. It is asymptomatic and ends with chronic renal failure.
Mixed. There are signs of all of the above forms.

Symptoms

The most common clinical symptom of glomerulonephritis is blood in the urine. But even more characteristic is the appearance of large volumes of protein in it (proteinuria). It should be especially noted that in some cats the last sign is the only symptom of the disease. More general symptoms of glomerulonephritis in cats are also very common, which include a sharp decrease in appetite and progressive emaciation of the animal. Polydipsia is also quite characteristic; intermittent vomiting is also very common. Approximately 70% of cats eventually develop chronic renal failure.

Diagnostics

A preliminary diagnosis is made by a veterinarian based on the results of an examination and anamnesis. To confirm, laboratory tests are prescribed, as well as instrumental studies.

Lab tests

The following tests are informative:

Analysis of urine. Allows you to diagnose glomerulonephritis before the appearance of clinical symptoms;
standard and biochemical blood assessment;
identification of pathogens of infectious diseases;
distillation of urine and blood proteins into fractions by electrophoresis;
kidney biopsy.

Hematuria

Instrumental studies

The veterinarian prescribes the following additional diagnostic tests:

abdominal radiograph;
Ultrasound.

Treatment

An important point is to ensure proper maintenance and adequate feeding. The cat's rookery is set up in a place where it is dry and there are no drafts. You cannot walk, brush, or massage your pet.

If the acute phase of glomerulonephritis is diagnosed, the animal is not fed for two days. Then they offer liquid food. If a felinologist does not know how to prepare a diet, it is better for him to use professional wet food for cats with kidney disease. Ready-made meals contain amino acids, minerals and vitamins necessary for recovery. Otherwise, you need to consult a veterinarian.

Medicinal food

Symptomatic treatment of glomerulonephritis is combined with antimicrobial treatment. To relieve intoxication, injections of glucose or magnesium sulfate are performed. In case of severe intoxication, bloodletting is practiced. Venous blood is allowed to flow through the needle into a graduated container. For an animal weighing 4 kg, it is necessary to remove 17...20 cm3. The procedure reduces blood pressure and stimulates hematopoiesis.

The veterinarian prescribes the following antimicrobial agents:

Amoxiclav;
Claforan;
5 NOK;
Sulfonamides;
Ceftriaxone;
Palin.

To relieve inflammation, the veterinarian prescribes glucocorticosteroids, vasodilators, anesthetics, diuretics, and coagulants.

Cetrifaxone

Diagnosis

To accurately diagnose glomerulonephritis, a kidney biopsy is necessary. In most cases, a urine test is sufficient to make only a preliminary, presumptive diagnosis. In this case, a sharply increased level of protein in the urine (proteinuria) is detected. Often the urine will also contain hyaline casts, which are ideal "imprints" of the renal tubules. Their detection indicates severe kidney pathologies (not only glomerulonephritis).

Urine culture is useful in identifying bladder infection as a cause of proteinuria. In addition, it is necessary to analyze the ratio of plasma protein and creatine. If it is disrupted, then there is 100% something very wrong with the kidneys.

Acute glomerulonephritis is an inflammatory process of the kidneys of infectious-allergic etiology with predominant damage to the glomerular apparatus of the nephron.

Etiology. The disease occurs as a result of infections, allergic sensitization, colds, and poisoning. The main etiological factor leading to the occurrence of glomerulonephritis is streptococcal infection (especially hemolytic streptococcus); staphylococci and pneumococci are of lesser importance.

Most scientists consider nephritis as an allergic post-infectious disease. In the development of glomerulonephritis, specific renal allergies, which are based on autosensitization processes, are important.

The next important reason for the development of the disease is hypothermia and dampness in the premises. Cooling can play the role of a resolving factor in a sensitized organism; it is possible that it converts inactive antibodies into active ones, that is, it activates them. The possibility of serum or vaccine nephritis cannot be excluded.

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Sensitizing reasons may be the quality of feed, living conditions, and others.

Ingestion of poisons of plant origin with food often leads to chemical trauma to the kidney tissue, leading to the development of nephritis. Cases of nephritis may develop when animals are poisoned with sublimate, granosan, turpentine, potassium dichromate and other substances.

Kidney damage can be influenced by violations of living conditions (increased indoor gas pollution with ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and other gases) and violations of the hygienic condition of the skin.

All this makes it possible to consider acute nephritis as a polyetiological toxic-allergic disease.

Symptoms. According to clinical signs, three forms of glomerulonephritis are distinguished: hematuric, nephrotic and mixed.

The hematuric form of the disease is characterized by moderate hypertension, hematuria and mild edema syndrome.

The nephrotic form of nephritis is accompanied by edema, proteinuria, cylindrical ruria, hypo- and dysproteinemia.

The mixed form (protein-hematuric) is characterized by persistent hypertension, edematous syndrome, gross hematuria and greater proteinuria.

There are mild and severe forms of the disease.

Mild nephritis is sometimes almost asymptomatic and is recognized only with appropriate urine tests. Usually the disease begins with depression of the animal, weakness, decreased or lack of appetite, and increased thirst.

Body temperature is slightly elevated within the upper limits of normal, pulse is increased, blood pressure is high (17.0 / 6.0 hPa).

Vibrating percussion causes pain in the kidney area.

The subcutaneous tissue in the lower wall of the abdomen is loose. Urination is rare, there is slight albuminuria in the urine, qualitative tests for sugar, blood and bile pigments and urobilin are positive.

In urinary sediments, erythrocytes, leukocytes, renal epithelium and hyaline casts are found. The number of red blood cells and the amount of hemoglobin in the blood is reduced, while the number of leukocytes is increased.

In severe cases of the disease, animals are exhausted and lie down more. The body temperature is lowered, the pulse is slowed, the number of respiratory movements is reduced. There is slight swelling in the area of the lower abdominal wall, heart sounds are difficult to hear, and the accent of the second tone is noted on the aorta. Oliguria occurs, turning into anuria. The urine is cloudy with the presence of protein, sugar, bile pigments, urobilin, erythrocytes, and leukocytes of the renal epithelium. Hypochromic anemia is noted.

In the stage of renal failure, signs of brain damage dominate. Severe adynamia, apathy, drowsiness, and inactivity are noted. Hearing and vision are reduced, coordination of movements is impaired. Sensitivity disorder is accompanied by attenuation of reflexes (ear and eye).

During this period of the disease, hypoproteinemia, dysproteinemia, hyperazotemia, hypochloremia and anemia are noted.

The diagnosis of acute nephritis is not difficult. Anamnesis data, the results of a clinical examination and laboratory tests of urine and blood are taken into account. The diagnosis is established based on identifying the nature of the symptoms: hematuria, hypertension, edema. Azotemia, hypochloremia and anemia are established in the blood.

Treatment. Animals with nephritis must be treated comprehensively. Treatment should be aimed at eliminating the causes of the disease, combating inflammatory processes and intoxication, restoring diuresis, correcting the water-electrolyte balance and acid-base balance of the body.

The main attention during treatment is paid to the proper maintenance and feeding of sick animals. They are placed in a dry, warm and well-ventilated room, and the skin is kept clean.

For carnivores, it is better to give milk, bread, oatmeal and pearl barley porridge, and boiled vegetables.

Drug treatment of sick animals, first of all, includes the prescription of penicillin antibiotics (penicillin, bicillin-3, bicillin-5, ampicillin, oxacillin, ampiox), in therapeutic doses. When applying antibacterial therapy for nephritis, the degree of impairment of the functional activity of the kidneys should be taken into account.

One of the ways to increase the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy for nephritis is the combined use of antibiotics and pathogenetic therapy. Against the background of antimicrobial therapy, it is necessary to carry out novocaine blockade of the borderline sympathetic trunks and celiac nerves according to V.V. Mosin. This blockade, applied against the background of developing inflammation in the kidneys, stops it, causes the correction of functional disorders that have arisen in the body, increases the defenses and causes the animals to recover in a shorter time.

In case of severe disease, along with the blockade, it is necessary to use replacement and symptomatic therapy. A certain place in the complex treatment of acute nephritis in carnivorous animals is occupied by vitamin therapy and, first of all, the administration of vitamins A, D, E, and better combined - trivitamin, trivit or tetravit, B vitamins.

Due to the fact that sodium is lost in the urine, it is most advisable to replace fluid and sodium by intravenous administration of an isotonic sodium chloride solution with an equal amount of 5% glucose solution. Its introduction promotes anabolic processes, binding of potassium and its movement into the intracellular space.

To neutralize and remove toxins from the body of patients with renal failure, hemodez should be administered intravenously at a dose of 0.3 ml/kg of animal body weight.

Symptomatic treatment for nephritis depends on the severity of the disease and the severity of a particular syndrome. Particular attention should be paid to the cardiovascular system. To maintain cardiac activity, solutions of caffeine, camphor oil and cordiamin should be used.

A relatively new method of treating nephritis in animals is the use of corticosteroid hormones (prednisolone, prednisone and hydrocortisone) at a dose of 1 mg/kg of animal body weight twice a day for 7-8 days. The proposed hormonal drugs have anti-inflammatory and desensitizing effects.

In order to improve diuresis, reduce the effect and relieve tonic contraction of blood vessels in the kidneys, use a 20-25% solution of magnesium sulfate in a dose of 20-25 ml or a 10% solution of calcium gluconate 10-20 ml.

To improve diuresis, decoctions and tinctures of bearberry leaves, calendula, juniper fruits, and rose hips are used.

Prevention. An important link in the complex of measures to combat kidney disease is prevention. In order to prevent acute nephritis, it is necessary, first of all, to eliminate the influence of the pathogenic factor, which is an infection.

Particular attention should be paid to the prevention of primary gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases of infectious and non-infectious origin.

In general prevention, attention is paid to preparing feed and systematically checking its quality. Poor quality feed (affected by fungi, rotten, sour) should not be included in the diet.

In addition, conditions that cause colds are eliminated, regular walks, skin cleaning and room cleaning are carried out - all this allows you to preserve and raise healthy animals.

Active exercise of dogs is carried out in order to eliminate the consequences of adynamia and increase resistance to kidney diseases.

The effectiveness of specific measures in the prevention of renal complications largely depends on the timely implementation of general nonspecific measures for infectious and non-infectious animal diseases.

Increased activity of the immune system provokes an increase in the production of proteins, which subsequently lead to blockage of the filtration nephron channels and renal tangles. This phenomenon is called glomerulonephritis.

Prevention

To prevent glomerulonephritis, you must follow these rules:

Avoid bathing your cat unless absolutely necessary;

carry out vaccinations against especially dangerous infections according to the vaccination plan;
provide the cat with a dry, warm place to rest;
organize a balanced diet with prepared feed or natural products;
Conduct preventive examinations of the cat once every six months;
monitor your pet’s behavior and prevent its contact with toxic substances and irritants.

Timely treatment of glomerulonephritis will avoid failure of the filtering glomeruli of the kidneys. The cat has a chance for a full recovery. When the disease becomes chronic, the felinologist must take care to maximize the life of the pet. Dietary nutrition, supportive therapy, and constant contact with a veterinarian are necessary.

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What is glomerulonephritis?

Let us list the main reasons leading to disturbances in kidney function.
Dietary:

Unbalanced diet (excessive consumption of protein, phosphorus, salts).
Insufficient water intake when feeding dry food.

Traumatic:

Falling from height.
Getting hit by a car.
Hypothermia, frostbite.
Heatstroke.
Compression of the ureters by tumors.

Infectious:

Bacterial infections.
Viral diseases.
Undertreated and neglected diseases of the genitourinary system.

Poisoning:

Rat poisons.
Chemicals.
Detergents
Medicines.

Congenital:

Renal dysplasia (developmental pathology).
Renal aplasia (absence of one or two kidneys).

Risk group

Those at risk for kidney pathology are:

Elderly cats and cats. By the age of 9 years, the likelihood of this type of disease increases by 2 times.
Cats that are obese and lead an inactive lifestyle.
Representatives of some breeds: Abyssinian, Somali, Himalayan, Persian cats and exotics.
Animals kept in damp rooms and drafts.
Underweight cats, starving animals.

To diagnose kidney pathologies, veterinarians resort to a number of studies. First, blood and urine tests are done to assess the concentration of substances that are normally filtered by healthy kidneys.

In addition, the doctor may prescribe:

Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity;
fluoroscopic examination;
urine culture;
biopsy.

The first group includes diseases in which the pathological process began directly in the kidneys. The second group included kidney damage as a result of hypertension, diabetes, and diseases of the genitourinary system.

In addition, congenital and acquired diseases are distinguished. Congenital - the result of genetic disorders in certain breeds of cats. The risk group includes Somali, Persian, Abyssinian and Himalayan breeds.

Nephritis in cats

The most common kidney diseases in cats are inflammatory nephritis, which, depending on the location and nature, is divided into pyelonephritis and glomerulonephritis.

The serious danger of kidney diseases is that many of them can develop and progress for years without a clear clinical picture. Some occur in a latent form, while others show vague signs. This prevents owners from sounding the alarm in a timely manner and veterinarians from diagnosing a serious illness.

Disturbances in the functioning of the kidneys are painless for the animal. The healthy part of the kidney takes on the load from the diseased area. Up to a certain point, the paired organ copes with the pathology on its own. When the kidneys can no longer cope with the increased load, the first symptoms appear. Usually by this time most of the animal’s organ has irretrievably died and it cannot be saved.

Glomerulonephritis is a kidney disease in cats that affects their glomerular apparatus. The inflammatory process develops against the background of damage to the glomerular structures. This may occur, for example, due to damage to the basement membrane by harmful bacteria. Due to some factor (such as cooling), an allergic reaction is triggered in the body, as a result of which immune complexes appear, to which complement attaches.

Acute and subacute forms can develop for a variety of reasons. Most often this occurs due to infectious pathogens: leptospira, streptococci, pneumococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, hepatitis, enteroviruses and others. Much depends on the allergic reaction that occurs due to the negative effects of microorganisms.

The condition can also develop due to:

exposure to nephrotoxins (eg, heavy metals, turpentine, fertilizers, poisonous plants);
improper and unbalanced nutrition;
unsuitable living conditions (cold and humidity in the house);
swimming in cold water;
heavy physical activity;
organ trauma;
uncontrolled use of vaccines, antibiotics and other medicines.

Another reason may be untreated kidney pathology or its relapse.

Primary diagnosis begins with collecting a history of symptoms. This, along with a physical examination, helps distinguish nephritis in cats from urinary tract diseases, cirrhosis, inflammatory bowel disease and nephropathy. To confirm the primary diagnosis, the animal is prescribed additional tests:

A urine test that shows proteinuria.
Blood test detecting hypoalbuminemia and hypercholesterolemia.
Electrophoresis of urinary proteins and blood serum, establishing the cause of proteinuria.
An X-ray of the abdominal cavity, which helps to screen out other presumptive diagnoses.
Percutaneous kidney biopsy, which is performed under ultrasound guidance.

The last study is the most accurate, but has contraindications, namely: absence of a second kidney, poor blood clotting, hydronephrosis, cyst in the organ.

Kidney disease in cats varies in forms:

Membranous. It is characterized by thickening of the capillary walls, which is caused by damage to the basement membrane.
Proliferative. Characterized by the proliferation of mesangial cells.
Membranous-proliferative. The most severe form, since it combines 2 types of lesions.

The disease is also divided depending on the duration and speed of its development into acute, subacute and chronic types. Acute - characterized by the fact that it begins abruptly, the symptoms are pronounced, and the animal’s condition quickly deteriorates. At the first stages, the subacute type is asymptomatic, gradually gaining momentum, and can become chronic. The latter can last for years, while becoming aggravated by periods. During exacerbations, the chronic type has symptoms similar to the acute one.

Before proceeding with the main methods of treatment, it is necessary to normalize the maintenance and diet of the pet.

It is important to provide him with a warm and dry place without drafts. Walking is strictly prohibited. It is also important to pay special attention to brushing the coat, rubbing and massaging the area of inflamed organs.

As for diet, it is recommended to keep the animal hungry during the first 2 days of an acute type of illness. Then you can give him unsalted and easily digestible food (for example, porridge, vegetables, dairy products). The offered food should be rich in carbohydrates and calcium (as well as its ions), since this composition has a diuretic effect and normalizes myocardial function.

When the acute form develops on the basis of an infectious exacerbation, the animal is prescribed antibiotics (ampiox, oxacillin, cephalosporin or aminoglycosides). Fotum, kefzol, klaforan and their analogues have a more gentle therapeutic effect. Together with these drugs, 5-NOK, palin or sulfonamides are prescribed.

If the patient has severe intoxication, then it is necessary to use:

bloodletting;
20% glucose solution in a dosage of 10-100 ml subcutaneously.
Magnesium sulfate should be used with caution. It removes salt from the body, lowers blood pressure, dilates blood vessels and has a diuretic property. It must be administered intramuscularly in 0.11 mm doses. To prepare the injection, mix a 10% solution of magnesia with a 5% solution of novocaine. Course: 1-3 weeks, 2-3 injections per day.

Symptomatic therapy is also used. Adrenergic blockers, anabolic steroids, narcotic painkillers, diuretics and vasodilators are used for it.

The basis of preventive measures is to ensure a healthy lifestyle for the animal. It is important to ensure that your pet does not become overcooled, spends time in comfortable conditions and eats properly. Specific prevention consists of:

control of blood pressure and body weight, which allows you to track the pathological process;
visiting a veterinarian once every 6 months;
ensuring a competent drinking regime;
taking multivitamins or supplements.

If the risk of developing the disease is high, then it is necessary to prevent the animal from mating, since this can lead to termination of pregnancy and death.

Any disease that causes constant stimulation of the immune system, when there is a massive formation of immune complexes, can cause glomerulonephritis. The main predisposing factors include:

(bacterial infection of the uterus).
Endocarditis (a bacterial infection of the heart, often secondary to periodontal disease).
Chronic and other skin diseases.
Autoimmune pathologies (such as).

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Inflammatory processes in the dog's body can cause glomerulonephritis.

The reasons can be very diverse, so diagnosis should be based on a whole range of examinations. The main provocateurs of a secondary nature:

dirofilariasis;
ehrlichiosis;
leishmaniasis;
neoplasms;
inflammatory processes;
hypercortisolism;
overdose of glucocorticoids.

Symptoms

One of the possible signs may be dulling of the coat, its fragility, and drying out of the skin. A serious condition can be a provocation of blood clots. Progression is also expressed by periodic tachycardia, which can be visually observed in the form of shallow breathing.
Blood pressure increases, causing blood vessels in the eyes to burst, which can cause glaucoma. The animal’s belly is enlarged, this indicates that the abdominal cavity is filled with fluid and the formation of -. The limbs swell, and swelling of the genitals and facial area is also noted.
The animal drinks often and a lot, as a result of which frequent urination occurs. The pet rapidly loses weight, to the point of complete exhaustion. Nausea and vomiting progresses, which develop into severe vomiting. A lethargic state sets in.
Difficulty with respiratory function, wheezing. If this sign occurs, you should immediately take the animal to the clinic, as this most likely indicates that pulmonary edema has begun. If appropriate measures are not taken in a timely manner, the dog may die.

You need to monitor your cat's diet for effective treatment.

The first step is to eliminate the presence of drafts and provide a warm and dry habitat for the cat.
In acute cases, the animal is kept on a starvation diet for the first couple of days, then the animal can be switched to light cereals, vegetables, and dairy products.
It is necessary to balance the diet with carbohydrates and calcium to restore myocardial function.
To maintain the general condition of your pet, you should include vitamin supplements in your diet that contain retinol, vitamin B1, tocopherol, and ascorbic acid.
Elimination of infection involves the use of antibiotics - ampiox, oxacillin, cephalosporin.
It would also be advisable to prescribe aminoglycosides.
Gentle therapy in the form of fotum, kefzol, claforan.
The use of sulfonamide drugs is recommended. Severe intoxication is eliminated by bloodletting, subcutaneous application of glucose solution, and the use of magnesium sulfate.
Symptomatic therapy requires the use of adrenergic blockers, anabolic steroids, narcotic painkillers, diuretics and vasodilators.

The cat needs to be given a warm and dry place to rest.