Tanya's Feline CRF Information/index of symptoms and treatments

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.

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 Reglan (metoclopramide) - rare	2
Alopecia (pulling out hair)	Hyperthyroidism	N/A
Anaemia	Anaemia	5
Anaemia	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
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	Saddle thrombus (heart problems	N/A
Congestion	Dehydration	1
Congestion	Long-term use of cyproheptadine	N/A
Congestion	Respiratory tract infection	N/A
Congestion	Dental problems	N/A
Constipation	Constipation	1
Constipation	Low potassium	3
Constipation	Calcium imbalances	4
Coughing	Fluid Retention/Build-up	1
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	Uraemia	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
Eating grass	Uraemia	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 without treatment	N/A
Fur loss (often from pulling out hair)	Hyperthyroidism	N/A
Fur loss around neck	Food allergies	N/A
Grinding teeth	Uraemia	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 Reglan (metoclopramide)	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 drinking	Dehydration	1
Increased urination	Fluid therapy	1
Increased urination (night)	Low potassium	3
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
"Knuckling"	High phosphorus	4
Lack of co-ordination in limbs	High phosphorus	4
Lethargy	Anaemia	5
Lethargy	Hypertension	6
Lethargy	Low potassium	3
Lethargy	Heart problems (congestive heart failure)	N/A
Lethargy after fluids	Heart problems (congestive heart failure)	N/A
Licking concrete	Anaemia	5
Licking concrete	Calcium imbalances	4
Licking food, then walking away	Uraemia	2
Licking food, then walking away	Mouth ulcers	2
Limping	Saddle thrombus (heart problems)	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	Longer-term use of Reglan (metoclopramide)	2
Litter eating	Anaemia	5
Litter eating	Calcium imbalances	4
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	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
Lying in litterbox	Urinary tract infection	1
Lying in litterbox	Constipation	1
Lying in litterbox	Seeking comfort	N/A
Meatloaf position	Crashing	7
Mouth ulcers	Uraemia	2
Mouth ulcers	Metabolic acidosis	3
Muscle wasting (esp. back legs)	Metabolic acidosis	3
Nasal discharge	Fluid retention/build-up	1
Nausea	Uraemia	2
Nausea	Stomach acid	2
Nausea	High phosphorus	4
Nausea	Anaemia	5
Nosebleeds	Hypertension	6
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)	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
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
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
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 Reglan (metoclopramide) - 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 Reglan (metoclopramide)	2
Shaking during fluid therapy	Type of fluid used	N/A
Shaking during fluid therapy	Using cold fluids	N/A
Sitting up/reluctance to lie down	Heart problems	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	Uraemia	2
Sniffing food, then walking away	Mouth ulcers	2
"Spaced out"	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 Reglan (metoclopramide) - 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 Reglan (metoclopramide) - 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	Uraemia	2
Teeth grinding	Dehydration	1
Teeth grinding	Dental problems
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 Reglan (metoclopramide)	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	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 Reglan (metoclopramide)	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
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)	Saddle thrombus (heart problems)	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)	Saddle thrombus (heart problems)	N/A
Yawning	Uraemia	2
"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 Reglan (metoclopramide) - rare	2