Cat kidney function test cbc

charlie2021

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Our vet said the recent cbc she did on our 16 year old cat shows kidney problems yet the cbc printout shows everything within normal boundaries except eos is slightly elevated (13) and platelets are slightly low  (178). she wants to put her on a prescription diet. Is this truly necessary or is the vet upselling?
 

lawrencb22

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If there are no immediate issues it's probably not necessary quite yet.
Keep your kitty on canned food in addition to her dry to add some hydration to her diet. That should alleviate some issues happening in her kidneys, and make her feel a little better.
 

mrsgreenjeens

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What does the CBC show for BUN and Creatinine, and what does it show for the "norms" of those values.  Is she at the very top of the normal values?  That may be why he thinks she shows issues.  OR, did he run an SDMA test?  Do you have the results of that?  How about a Urine Specific Gravity Test?  They can use any or all of these to help determine kidney function.

I wouldn't think your Vet would just arbitrarily tell you your cat has kidney problems if it wasn't so.  AND, yes, food is the very first thing that is normally changed when cats show signs of kidney failure.  I've had three kidney cats, so am kind of well versed on the topic.   And as the above poster mentioned, water, water, water.  I added water to each meal for my last kidney cat, probably at least one tablespoon to her canned food per meal.  Water is key for kidney cats. 

BTW, many cats won't eat the prescription food, but there are other options.  First lets find out WHY your Vet thinks she has deteriorating kidneys, then we can discuss further.
 

Anne

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I totally agree with @mrsgreenjeens  that you need to talk to your vet again and get a more detailed explanation. If you're still not sure about this, seek a second opinion from another qualified vet. 

Please be careful of online advice such as @lawrencb22   posted here. It's not that simple and no one here can - or should - tell you how to treat your cat for a medical condition. In this case, the choice of food is absolutely part of the medical treatment. 
 
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