

North Carolina State University

My Pet World: Get older cats tested for kidney disease

Q: My vet said that soon my 8 year-old cat should be tested for kidney disease. Still, Lucky, appears to be just fine, eats well, and as you know cats today live 'till they're even 20. So, why do the testing? A: You do the testing for two reasons. First, because you can. A new test for Chronic Kidney Disease called Symmetric dimethylarginine or SDMA is now offered by many veterinarians with a routine blood panel. Also, early intervention is huge. Dr. Kate Pietsch of Dartmouth, Mass., said that by the time most cat owners observe symptoms, about 75 percent of kidney function is lost, which is why there are symptoms. Those cats aren't feeling well. "The new test is far...