CKD in a 1 year old cat

[TheOwlChronicles]

My daughter's little Ragdoll has been having a whole raft of tests recently - her symptoms are excessive drinking, an unkempt appearance, maybe a touch of lethargy and she's very small despite now being an adult

She's been investigated before at 6 months - even had genetic testing - and the vet hospital were stumped. These new tests have come about as she suddenly had her lungs fill with fluid earlier in the week.

The fluid was dispensed with diuretics and she's back to (her) normal now

Anyway the vet really wants to get to the bottom of it now so he's run more blood tests along with an ultrasound and he's rung my daughter this evening to say he suspects kidney disease and it's looking that way but he just wishes to do a few more things. She's booked in again next Friday for more bloods and a heart scan

My daughter is so so worried now as on googling, the prognosis doesn't look good. Im aware that a lot of cats have CKD from late middle age which can be managed but does anyone happen to have any positive stories about CKD being diagnosed so young?

Thanks in advance

CKD and heart disease are known risks in Ragdolls (and Persians) a responsible breeder should have had her screened when she was born and mum cat should also have a full screening, before being bred from. Did the cat come from a registered breeder?

Unfortunately if she'd had fluid on her lungs. She probably also has HCM. I hope your daughter has very good insurance. This is going to get very expensive.

My concern is that it's taken them all this time, and all these tests, to diagnose a "suspected" case of CKD.

CKD is pretty simple to diagnose, and is one of the first tests a vet should do when a cat comes in with excessive drinking & loss of weight along with thyroid and diabetes. A standard blood test should show increased levels of creatinine and SDMA,. and a urine test would show higher levels of protein.

The coat issues is also another classic indicator of CKD in cats. I can sort of understand the vet not immediately guessing CKD from the start due to the cat's age, but the condition can be hereditary along with Amyloidosis and the 2 combined means it can show at a very early age.

I would be slightly unhappy that despite her age, no tests were done for CKD even at the early stage and wonder what the vet and hospital were playing at.

@Toddlerteaplease thanks. And yes she has very very good insurance - the top cover

@Allergictoironing yes my daughter is very unhappy that this has potentially been missed previously