What are the Symptoms of PKD?
PKD itself has no symptoms. Only when PKD has progressed to the point of causing renal failure will symptoms occur, and those symptoms will be those associated with renal failure, and not PKD specific. According to Dr. Susan Little, Bytown Cat Hospital, Ottawa, Canada: “Many cats with PKD will never develop kidney failure so they will have no physical symptoms at all. Their routine blood tests will be normal. Other cats will develop kidney failure, depending on the severity of their disease and how rapidly the cysts grow. The symptoms of chronic kidney failure are the same, regardless of the cause in cats. Weight loss, poor appetite, increased thirst, increased urination, lack of energy, vomiting – these are all common signs. We have to remember that symptoms only appear when 2/3 of kidney function is already lost – until then, the cat will appear normal. As well, routine blood testing cannot detect kidney failure until 2/3 of function is lost – before that, blood tests will be normal.
PKD itself has no symptoms. Only when PKD has progressed to the point of causing renal failure will symptoms occur, and those symptoms will be those associated with renal failure, and not PKD specific. According to Dr. Susan Little, Bytown Cat Hospital, Ottawa, Canada: “Many cats with PKD will never develop kidney failure so they will have no physical symptoms at all. Their routine blood tests will be normal. Other cats will develop kidney failure, depending on the severity of their disease and how rapidly the cysts grow. The symptoms of chronic kidney failure are the same, regardless of the cause in cats. Weight loss, poor appetite, increased thirst, increased urination, lack of energy, vomiting – these are all common signs. We have to remember that symptoms only appear when 2/3 of kidney function is already lost – until then, the cat will appear normal. As well, routine blood testing cannot detect kidney failure until 2/3 of function is lost – before that, blood tests will be normal.
