Feline Potassium Levels
Feline potassium levels need to be monitored by a veterinarian, as renal failure can occur. Cat food has been blamed for low potassium levels, while very high potassium levels sometimes create a need for immediate, invasive and expensive veterinary care.
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Warning Signs
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Weakness may indicate low potassium. If your cat is not eating normally, seems weak or has sore muscles, have him checked for low potassium levels.
Significance
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A feline has hypokalemia when it doesn't have enough potassium in its blood. When a feline displays a low level of potassium in her blood, the veterinarian will term the condition hypokalemia.
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Treatment
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Extremely high potassium levels may cause kidney failure and requires dialysis therapy. Dialysis is usually temporary, particularly since the costs are high and there is a risk to the cat's life.
Costs
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If a cat does need immediate dialysis due to high potassium levels, the financial cost can be prohibitive. From the initial set up and testing to the dialysis treatments, which may need to be given several times a week, cat owners may pay thousands of dollars.
Considerations
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Another option to treat cats that are experiencing renal failure due to high potassium levels is peritoneal dialysis, which is a less painful and easier procedure than traditional dialysis. This procedure is reserved for cats whose renal failure is reversible.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit cat image by nutech21 from Fotolia.com white angora cat eating from food bowl image by Stephen Orsillo from Fotolia.com cat image by Galyna Andrushko from Fotolia.com
