Tanya's Comprehensive Guide to Feline Chronic Kidney Disease

There are many symptoms of CKD and it can be a bit bewildering at times.
You may panic if you see a particular symptom and worry about how serious it is.
This page has an alphabetical list of symptoms, together with links to the usual treatments for that problem. Some of the treatments may vary, depending upon the cause.

How to Find The Symptom You Need

You have three choices:

Read more about how the index works; or
Click on the appropriate letter of the alphabet below; or
Click here to go immediately to the table of symptoms and treatments.

How to Use the Table

The table below is set out as follows:

Symptom	Treatment	Category
Alphabetical list of symptoms. Click on a symptom in this column to read more about this symptom and its causes.	Links to commonly used treatments for each symptom in column 1.	Gives the category of kidney function (see Symptoms) to which the symptom in question belongs. If your cat has a weakness in one function, you may well see other symptoms also connected to that function, so please check that entire page.

As you can see, almost every symptom has a possible treatment. Please note that some symptoms, such as lack of appetite, may have more than one cause, so be sure to follow the links to all the possible causes. These are the most common causes, but you need to see your vet for a proper diagnosis.

Following the site update, many of the links below are inaccurate, because it is a long and tedious job manually updating them all. They should be completely revised by the end of April 2012. Apologies for any inconvenience in the meantime. If you're stuck, check out the various pages in the Symptoms and Treatments sections in the sidebar to the left.

Symptom	Cause/Treatment	Category
"Absences"	High potassium	3
"Absences"	Hypertension	6
"Absences"	Calcium imbalances	4
"Absences"	Uraemia	2
"Absences"	Metabolic acidosis	3
"Absences"	Use of metoclopramide (Reglan) - rare	2
Alopecia (pulling out hair)	Hyperthyroidism	N/A
Always hungry	Hyperthyroidism	N/A
Anaemia	Anaemia	5
Anaemia	Reaction to hyperthyroid medication	N/A
Appetite increase	Hyperthyroidism	N/A
Appetite loss	Dehydration	1
Appetite loss	Uraemia	2
Appetite loss	High phosphorus	4
Appetite loss	Anaemia	5
Appetite loss	Metabolic acidosis	3
Appetite loss	Mouth ulcers	2
Appetite loss	Stomach acid	2
Appetite loss	Alteration of sense of smell	2
Appetite loss	Dental problems	N/A
Appetite loss	Fluid retention/build-up	1
Appetite loss	Use of antibiotics	N/A
Appetite loss	Constipation	1
Appetite loss	Reaction to hyperthyroid medication	N/A
Ataxia (lack of co-ordination/unsteady walk)	High phosphorus	4
Ataxia (lack of co-ordination/unsteady walk)	Constipation	1
Back leg weakness	Low potassium	3
Back leg weakness	Anaemia	5
Back leg weakness	High phosphorus	4
Back leg weakness	Metabolic acidosis	3
Back leg weakness	Diabetic neuropathy	N/A
Back leg weakness	Arthritis	N/A
Back leg weakness	Heart problems (saddle thrombus)	N/A
Bad breath	Uraemia	2
Bleeding after sub-qs	Nicked a small vein	N/A
Bleeding eyes	Hypertension	6
Blindness	Hypertension	6
Blood in stools	Gastro-intestinal bleeding	2
Blood in vomit	Uraemia	2
Blood in vomit	Mouth ulcers	2
Blood in vomit	Gastro-intestinal bleeding	2
Blood in urine	Urinary tract infection	1
Blood in urine	Hypertension	6
Body odour	Uraemia	2
Bony spine	Proteinuria	1
Bony spine	Metabolic acidosis	3
Breathlessness	Metabolic acidosis	3
Breathlessness	Anaemia	5
Bumping into things (furniture, doors or walls etc.)	Hypertension	6
Can't lift head	Low potassium	3
Can't lift head	Thiamine (Vitamin B1) deficiency	N/A
Circling	Hypertension	6
Coat colour change	Ill health	N/A
Coat colour change	Sunbathing	N/A
Cold leg, especially back leg	Heart problems (saddle thrombus)	N/A
Congestion	Dehydration	1
Congestion	Long-term use of cyproheptadine	N/A
Congestion	Respiratory tract infection	N/A
Congestion	Dental problems	N/A
Constantly hungry	Hyperthyroidism	N/A
Constipation	Constipation	1
Constipation	Low potassium	3
Constipation	Calcium imbalances	4
Coughing	Fluid Retention/Build-up	1
Cracked paw pads	Dehydration	1
Crackling skin	Fluid Retention/Build-up	1
Crackling skin	Air in sub-Q line	N/A
Crashing	Crashing	7
Craving ice or snow	Anaemia	5
Dark Stools	Gastro-intestinal bleeding	2
Dark Stools	Iron supplements	N/A
Defecating outside litter tray	Constipation	1
Dehydration	Dehydration	1
Detached retinas	Hypertension	6
Diarrhoea	Sudden food change or food intolerance	N/A
Diarrhoea	Potassium supplementation	3
Diarrhoea	Use of antibiotics	N/A
Diarrhoea	Constipation	1
Diarrhoea	Constipation Treatments	1
Diarrhoea	Hyperthyroidism	N/A
Diarrhoea	Inflammatory Bowel Disease	N/A
Dilated pupils	Hypertension	6
Drooling	Stomach acid	2
Drooling	Mouth ulcers	2
Drooling	Dental problems	N/A
Dry stools	Constipation	1
Dull coat and dandruff	Dehydration	1
Dull coat and dandruff	Lack of essential fatty acids	N/A
Dull coat and dandruff	Hyperthyroidism	N/A
Dull coat and dandruff	Protein deficiency
Eating grass	Stomach acid	2
Eating litter	Anaemia	5
Eating litter	Calcium imbalances	4
Eating ice or snow	Anaemia	5
Enlarged pupils	Hypertension	6
Fast breathing	Fluid Retention/Build-up	1
Fast breathing	Heart problems	N/A
Fast breathing	Constipation	1
Fast heart rate	Anaemia	5
Feeling cold	Anaemia	5
Feeling "squishy"	Fluid Retention/Build-up	1
Feeling "squishy"	Air in sub-Q line	N/A
Feeling warm or hot	Hyperthyroidism	N/A
Foamy urine	Proteinuria	1
"Forgetting" hind legs	High phosphorus	4
Fur loss	Ill health; usually clears up by itself	N/A
Fur loss (often from pulling out hair)	Hyperthyroidism	N/A
Fur loss around neck	Food allergies	N/A
Grinding teeth	Stomach acid	2
Grinding teeth	Dehydration	1
Grinding teeth	Dental problems	N/A
Grinding teeth	"Rubber jaw"	4
Gurgling stomach	Stomach acid	2
Hair colour change	Ill health	N/A
Hair colour change	Sunbathing	N/A
Hair loss	Ill health; usually clears up without treatment	N/A
Hair loss (often from pulling out hair)	Hyperthyroidism	N/A
Hair loss around neck	Food allergies	N/A
Head hanging down	Low potassium	3
Head hanging down	Thiamine (Vitamin B1) deficiency	N/A
Head pressing	Hypertension	6
Head tilt	Hypertension	6
Head tilt	Ear infection	N/A
Heavy breathing	Anaemia	5
Heavy breathing	Fluid Retention/Build-up	1
Heavy breathing	Heart problems	N/A
Hiding	Feeling ill	N/A
Hoarseness	Stomach acid	2
Hoarseness	Low potassium	3
Hoarseness	Hyperthyroidism	N/A
Hot and/or red ears	Hypertension	6
Hot and/or red ears	Food allergies	N/A
Hovering over water bowl	Stomach acid	2
Hovering over water bowl	Dehydration	1
Howling	Uraemia	2
Howling	Cognitive dysfunction	N/A
Howling	Use of cyproheptadine	N/A
Howling	Use of metoclopramide (Reglan) - rare	2
Howling	Use of anabolic steroids	N/A
Howling, especially at night	Uraemia	2
Howling, especially at night	Hypertension	6
Howling, especially at night	Hyperthyroidism	N/A
Howling, especially at night	Deafness (untreatable)	N/A
Hunched over water bowl	Stomach acid	2
Hovering over waterbowl	Dehydration	1
Inability to hold up head	Low potassium	3
Inability to hold up head	Thiamine (Vitamin B1) deficiency	N/A
Inappropriate elimination	Urinary tract infection	1
Inappropriate elimination	Inappropriate elimination	1
Inappropriate elimination	Diabetes	N/A
Inappropriate elimination	Constipation	1
Incontinence	Urinary tract infection	1
Incontinence	Inappropriate elimination	1
Incontinence	Diabetes	N/A
Incontinence	Kidney infection	1
Increased appetite	Hyperthyroidism	N/A
Increased appetite	Diabetes	N/A
Increased drinking	Dehydration	1
Increased urination	Fluid therapy	1
Increased urination (night)	Low potassium	3
Increased urination (night)	Use of calcitriol	4
Itching	Uraemia	2
Itching	High phosphorus	4
Itching	Vitamin B6 Deficiency	N/A
Itching	Essential Fatty Acids deficiency	N/A
Itching (may pull out hair too)	Hyperthyroidism	N/A
Itching	Reaction to hyperthyroid medication	N/A
Jerks	Uraemia	2
Jerks	Low potassium	3
Jerks	Hypertension	6
Jerks	High phosphorus	4
Jerks	Vitamin B6 Deficiency	N/A
Jerks	Hyperthyroidism	N/A
Jerks (especially head)	Calcium imbalances	4
Jerks	Metabolic acidosis	3
Jerks	Use of metoclopramide (Reglan) - rare	2
Jerking during fluid therapy	Type of fluid used	N/A
Jerking during fluid therapy	Using cold fluids	N/A
Keeping close to you	Feeling ill	N/A
"Knuckling"	High phosphorus	4
Lack of co-ordination in limbs	High phosphorus	4
Lethargy	Anaemia	5
Lethargy	Hypertension	6
Lethargy	Low potassium	3
Lethargy	Fluid Retention/Build-up	1
Lethargy	Heart problems (congestive heart failure)	N/A
Lethargy after fluids	Fluid Retention/Build-up	1
Lethargy after fluids	Heart problems (congestive heart failure)	N/A
Licking concrete	Anaemia	5
Licking concrete	Calcium imbalances	4
Licking food, then walking away	Stomach acid	2
Licking food, then walking away	Mouth ulcers	2
Limping	Heart problems (saddle thrombus)	N/A
Lip licking or smacking	Stomach acid	2
Lip licking or smacking	Anaemia	5
Lip licking or smacking	Dehydration	1
Lip licking or smacking	Use of metoclopramide (Reglan) - rare	2
Litter eating	Anaemia	5
Litter eating	Calcium imbalances	4
Litter sticking to feet	Dehydration	1
Loss of appetite	Dehydration	1
Loss of appetite	Uraemia	2
Loss of appetite	High phosphorus	4
Loss of appetite	Anaemia	5
Loss of appetite	Metabolic acidosis	3
Loss of appetite	Mouth ulcers	2
Loss of appetite	Stomach acid	2
Loss of appetite	Alteration of sense of smell	2
Loss of appetite	Dental problems	N/A
Loss of appetite	Fluid retention/build-up	1
Loss of appetite	Use of antibiotics	N/A
Loss of appetite	Constipation	1
Loss of appetite	Reaction to hyperthyroid medication	N/A
Loss of hair	Usually clears up without treatment	N/A
Loss of meow	Stomach acid	2
Loss of meow	Low potassium	3
Loss of meow	Hyperthyroidism	N/A
Loss of sight	Hypertension	6
Low temperature	Calcium imbalances	4
Low temperature	Anaemia	5
Low temperature	Heart problems	N/A
Low temperature	ADDDDDDD
Lying in litterbox	Urinary tract infection	1
Lying in litterbox	Constipation	1
Lying in litterbox	Seeking comfort	N/A
Meatloaf position	Crashing	7
Meatloaf position	Stomach acid	2
Mouth ulcers	Uraemia	2
Mouth ulcers	Metabolic acidosis	3
Muscle wasting, especially in the back legs	Metabolic acidosis	3
Nasal discharge	Fluid retention/build-up	1
Nausea	Uraemia	2
Nausea	Stomach acid	2
Nausea	High phosphorus	4
Nausea	Calcium imbalances	4
Nausea	Anaemia	5
Nosebleeds	Hypertension	6
Not drinking	Crashing	7
Not urinating	Urinary tract infection	1
Not urinating	Urinary tract blockage	N/A
Not urinating	End stage renal disease	N/A
Obsession with water	Stomach acid	2
Obsession with water	Dehydration	1
Open mouth breathing	Fluid retention/build-up	1
Pacing	Hyperthyroidism	N/A
Pacing	Hypertension	6
Pacing	Pain	N/A
Pacing	Use of metoclopramide (Reglan) - rare	N/A
Pacing	Use of cyproheptadine (Periactin)	N/A
Pacing	Use of mirtazapine (Remeron or Zistin)	N/A
Pale nose, gums or eyelids	Anaemia	5
Pawing at the mouth	Dental problems	N/A
Pawing at the mouth	Mouth ulcers	2
Playing with water bowl	Stomach acid	2
Playing with water bowl	Dehydration	1
Pulling out hair (alopecia)	Hyperthyroidism	N/A
Purring	Contentment	N/A
Purring	Discomfort or Pain	N/A
Red and/or hot ears	Hypertension	6
Red and/or hot ears	Food allergies	N/A
Reduced urination	Urinary tract infection	1
Reduced urination	Urinary tract blockage	N/A
Reduced urination	End stage renal disease	N/A
Reduced urination	Acute renal failure	N/A
Reduced urination	Use of cyproheptadine (Periactin)	N/A
Reduced urination	Diabetes	N/A
Restlessness	Hyperthyroidism	N/A
Restlessness	Hypertension	6
Restlessness	Pain	N/A
Restlessness	Use of metoclopramide (Reglan)	N/A
Restlessness	Use of cyproheptadine (Periactin)	N/A
Restlessness	Use of mirtazapine (Remeron or Zistin)	N/A
Retinal changes	Hypertension	6
"Rubber jaw"	"Rubber jaw"	4
Runny eyes	Fluid retention/build-up	1
Runny eyes	Dental problems	N/A
Seeking out warm places	Anaemia	5
Seeking out warm places	Heart problems (congestive heart failure)	N/A
Seeking out cool places	Hyperthyroidism	N/A
Seizures	High potassium	3
Seizures	Hypertension	6
Seizures	Calcium imbalances	4
Seizures	Uraemia	2
Seizures	Metabolic acidosis	3
Seizures	Use of metoclopramide (Reglan) - rare	2
Seizures	Use of Advantage for fleas	N/A
Shaking	Uraemia	2
Shaking	Low potassium	3
Shaking	Hypertension	6
Shaking	High phosphorus	4
Shaking	Vitamin B6 Deficiency	N/A
Shaking	Hyperthyroidism	N/A
Shaking (especially head)	Calcium imbalances	4
Shaking	Metabolic acidosis	3
Shaking	Use of metoclopramide (Reglan) - rare	2
Shaking during fluid therapy	Type of fluid used	N/A
Shaking during fluid therapy	Using cold fluids	N/A
Sitting hunched up	Crashing	7
Sitting hunched up	Stomach acid	2
Sitting up/reluctance to lie down	Heart problems	N/A
Skin crackling	Fluid Retention/Build-up	1
Skin crackling	Air in sub-Q line	N/A
Sneezing	Dehydration	1
Sneezing	Long-term use of cyproheptadine	N/A
Sneezing	Respiratory tract infection	N/A
Sneezing	Dental problems	N/A
Sniffing food, then walking away	Stomach acid	2
Sniffing food, then walking away	Mouth ulcers	2
"Spaced out" "Absences"	High potassium	3
"Spaced out"	Hypertension	6
"Spaced out"	Calcium imbalances	4
"Spaced out"	Uraemia	2
"Spaced out"	Metabolic acidosis	3
"Spaced out"	Use of metoclopramide (Reglan) - rare	2
"Squishy" feeling	Fluid retention/build-up	1
Staring into space	High potassium	3
Staring into space	Hypertension	6
Staring into space	Calcium imbalances	4
Staring into space	Uraemia	2
Staring into space	Metabolic acidosis	3
Staring into space	Use of metoclopramide (Reglan) - rare	2
Stiff neck	Low potassium	3
Stiff neck	Thiamine (Vitamin B1) deficiency	N/A
Stilted gait in front legs	Low potassium	3
Stroke	Hypertension	6
Stuffy nose	Dehydration	1
Stuffy nose	Long-term use of cyproheptadine	N/A
Stuffy nose	Respiratory tract infection	N/A
Stuffy nose	Dental problems	N/A
Stumbling, feet crossing over	High phosphorus	4
Sunken eyes	Dehydration	1
Swollen legs, face or abdomen	Proteinuria	1
Swollen legs, face or abdomen	Fluid retention/build-up	1
Swollen legs	Fluid pouch	N/A
Teeth grinding	Stomach acid	2
Teeth grinding	Dehydration	1
Teeth grinding	Dental problems	N/A
Teeth grinding	"Rubber jaw"	4
Trembling	Uraemia	2
Trembling	Low potassium	3
Trembling	Hypertension	6
Trembling	High phosphorus	4
Trembling	Vitamin B6 Deficiency	N/A
Trembling	Hyperthyroidism	N/A
Trembling (especially head)	Calcium imbalances	4
Trembling	Metabolic acidosis	3
Trembling	Use of metoclopramide (Reglan) - rare	2
Trembling during fluid therapy	Type of fluid used	N/A
Trembling during fluid therapy	Using cold fluids	N/A
Trouble breathing	Low potassium	3
Trouble breathing	Anaemia	5
Trouble breathing	Fluid Retention/Build-up	1
Trouble breathing	Heart problems	N/A
Trouble holding up head	Low potassium	3
Trouble holding up head	Thiamine (Vitamin B1) deficiency	N/A
Trouble walking	Low potassium	3
Trouble walking	Anaemia	5
Trouble walking	High phosphorus	4
Trouble walking	Metabolic acidosis	3
Trouble walking	Diabetic neuropathy	N/A
Trouble walking	Arthritis	N/A
Trouble walking	Hypertension	6
Trouble walking	Constipation	1
Trouble walking (especially if one leg only is affected)	Heart problems (saddle thrombus)	N/A
Twitching	Uraemia	2
Twitching	Low potassium	3
Twitching	Hypertension	6
Twitching	High phosphorus	4
Twitching	Vitamin B6 Deficiency	N/A
Twitching	Hyperthyroidism	N/A
Twitching (especially head)	Calcium imbalances	4
Twitching	Metabolic acidosis	3
Twitching	Use of metoclopramide (Reglan) - rare	2
Twitching during fluid therapy	Type of fluid used	N/A
Twitching during fluid therapy	Using cold fluids	N/A
Uneven Pupils	Hypertension	6
Ungainly walk	Constipation	1
Urinary tract infections	Urinary tract infection	1
Urinating outside litter tray	Urinary tract infection	1
Urinating in inappropriate places	Urinary tract infection	1
Urinating in inappropriate places	Inappropriate elimination	1
Visiting litter tray more often	Urinary tract infection	1
Vomiting	Stomach acid	2
Vomiting	Metabolic acidosis	3
Vomiting	Use of antibiotics	N/A
Vomiting	Dehydration	1
Vomiting after drinking	Stomach acid	2
Vomiting after fluids	Type of fluid used	N/A
Vomiting before, during, or after using litter tray	Constipation	1
Vomiting blood	Uraemia	2
Vomiting blood	Mouth ulcers	2
Vomiting blood	Gastro-intestinal bleeding	2
Vomiting clear foam	Stomach acid	2
Vomiting "coffee grains"	Uraemia	2
Vomiting "coffee grains"	Mouth ulcers	2
Vomiting "coffee grains"	Gastro-intestinal bleeding	2
Vomiting white foam	Stomach acid	2
Walking into things (furniture, doors, walls etc.)	Hypertension	6
Walking on hocks	Low potassium	3
Walking on hocks	High phosphorus	4
Walking on hocks	Diabetic neuropathy	N/A
Weakness	Low potassium	3
Weakness	High phosphorus	4
Weakness	Anaemia	5
Weakness	Not eating	N/A
Weakness in back legs	Low potassium	3
Weakness in back legs	Anaemia	5
Weakness in back legs	High phosphorus	4
Weakness in back legs	Metabolic acidosis	3
Weakness in back legs	Diabetic neuropathy	N/A
Weakness in back legs	Arthritis	N/A
Weakness in back legs	Hypertension	6
Weakness in back legs	Constipation	1
Weakness in back legs (especially if one leg only)	Heart problems (saddle thrombus)	N/A
Weight gain	Fluid retention/build up	1
Weight loss	Proteinuria	1
Weight loss	Metabolic acidosis	3
Weight loss	Hyperthyroidism	N/A
Weight loss	Diabetes	N/A
Weight loss	High phosphorus	4
Wheezing	Anaemia	5
Wobbliness	Low potassium	3
Wobbliness	High phosphorus	4
Wobbliness	Anaemia	5
Wobbliness	Not eating	N/A
Wobbliness in back legs	Low potassium	3
Wobbliness in back legs	Anaemia	5
Wobbliness in back legs	High phosphorus	4
Wobbliness in back legs	Metabolic acidosis	3
Wobbliness in back legs	Diabetic neuropathy	N/A
Wobbliness in back legs	Arthritis	N/A
Wobbliness in back legs	Hypertension	6
Wobbliness in back legs	Constipation	1
Wobbliness in back legs (especially if one leg only)	Heart problems (saddle thrombus)	N/A
Yawning	Stomach acid	2
Yellow or orange urine	Use of B vitamins	N/A
"Zoning out"	High potassium	3
"Zoning out"	Hypertension	6
"Zoning out"	Calcium imbalances	4
"Zoning out"	Uraemia	2
"Zoning out"	Metabolic acidosis	3
"Zoning out"	Use of metoclopramide (Reglan) - rare	2