A 'must-read' for owners and vets alike. Sarah Caney is a leading expert on kidney disease in cats, and her book describes in clear language the various problems associated with kidney failure and - most importantly - what can be done to treat these problems This book is an invaluable tool for any owner wanting to work with their vet to find the right combination of treatments to give their cat the best possible quality of life, despite the diagnosis of kidney failure.
The booklet Caring for a Cat with Kidney Failure is a very thorough document. Easy to read and clearly outlines the whole process from noticing possible symptoms of kidney disease in our beloved pet cat to listing the possible outcomes of treatments available and how to continue managing the condition. It is very comforting to read a document written by an experienced veterinary specialist who respects both the emotional connection owners have to their pets as well as the owners capacity to understand the complexity of the condition. This is more than an information document, I believe it is a handy reference booklet I can see myself referring to time and again as I manage my cat's kidney disease.
Suzanne, Australian cat owner
Spread the word – a book that will help take away some of the feelings of guilt, failure and helplessness of being told your cat has kidney failure! AND it will help understand the tests and treatment suggested for your cat meaning that you can ask sensible questions about why certain tests haven’t been done etc.
Advances in treatment for kidney failure seem to take forever to filter down to individual practices and be introduced, perhaps because vets feels owners may only be willing to try diet and medication. Hopefully this book will enable owners to try a more hands-on approach if they and the vet are comfortable with this and give more cats a better quality of life.
Kathy Wilkinson, UK cat owner
Declining kidney function is a reality that most cats face as they get older; in fact, it may even be considered age-appropriate. Dr. Sarah Caney's book is thorough and informative, yet remains easy to read. I recommend it for any caring cat person who wants, or needs, to know more about "kidney failure" in their kitty. Sarah is not only an expert in this scientific area but also at explaining the condition and potential treatments so that you will understand what your vet may recommend to enhance your kitty's quality of life for as long as possible. A reassuring read!
Margie Scherk
DVM, Diplomate ABVP (feline practice)
Editor Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery
President American Association of Feline Practitioner
This very clearly and thoughtfully written book will be of great benefit and comfort to anyone with a cat that develops kidney disease. It should also be essential reading for all vet students and veterinary surgeons so that they can know how to best help their patients.
Professor Danièlle Gunn-Moore
BSc BVM&S PhD MACVSc MRCVS
RVCS Specialist in Feline Medicine
Head of the Feline Clinic
University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
Feline renal insufficiency is a common diagnosis in general practice. Most vets have a sound approach to the complete investigation of these cases – including haematology, full urinalysis, urine culture, determination of the urinary protein to creatinine ratio and systolic blood pressure, and sonography of both kidneys and the bladder.
Feline clinicians have no doubt got better at diagnosing these cases earlier using “wellness” and geriatric examinations, and pre-anaesthetic screening. No doubt we can also do a better job treating these cases – using the wide range of excellent “prescription diets” currently available, and in some cases adjunctive measures such as blood pressure control, phosphate binders, and in a minority of cases, ACE inhibitors and possibly calcitriol.
But we have a PROBLEM. We are increasingly 'time poor' – and it's hard to make the time required to fully discuss what we have done diagnostically and therapeutically, and what the clients “need to do” for their cat with newly diagnosed renal insufficiency patient. It’s also hard to always be systematic and talk about everything that needs to be covered, and to present the data in a way that is both FRESH and tailored to the individual client. This is easy to do on a quiet day, but not so easy when you have a waiting room full of clients! And not so easy to do when it’s the third cat you have diagnosed with renal insufficiency this week!
This is where Dr Sarah Caney’s outstanding e-book Caring for a cat with renal failure has so much to offer. Sarah has taken a great deal of time and effort to produce a document that clearly and GENTLY goes through everything a client needs and wishes to know about the approach to the diagnosis and management of feline renal insufficiency. The writing is lucid and easily digestible. I can almost hear Sarah saying these things to a client as I read the text! The length of the monograph (some 40 pages of text, richly decorated with pertinent photographs) is sufficient to cover all the key aspects of diagnosis, management and prognosis – and the approach is flexible enough to cover every case scenario likely to be encountered by small animal practitioners. There is also a glossary of terms, a representative case study and a list of additional on-line resources.
Importantly, cat owners are re-assured that they are not the cause of the problem, but rather PART OF THE SOLUTION. It offers hope and guidance, but without providing unreasonable expectations.
In my view, every owner with a newly diagnosed case of renal insufficiency should read this book. It does not replace a long conversation with their clinician – but it should augment and amplify all the points covered in the examination room, so the dialogue will be reinforced and illuminated. It also provides additional information in more detail than is possible to provide in the time generally available for such a consultation.
There is no doubt in my mind that routine use of this text will lead to improved vet-client communication, and improved compliance with therapy measures. This will likely translate into better case management. I am sure this will impact favourably on clinical outcomes, and thus be of great benefit to many geriatric cats.
Professor Richard Malik
DVSc DipVetAn MVetClinStud PhD FACVSc FASM
Valentine Charlton Feline Specialist
University of Sydney, Australia
“this is a well written, sympathetic but authoritative summary of the key aspects of caring for a cat with kidney failure, and will be welcome reading for those owners who need to understand their pet’s disease in more depth.
Review in Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery - Published 2008
Meine Katze leidet an Nierenversagen– was kann ich tun? 