The day of diagnosis — what to do today
If you were told today that "the kidney values are high," your head is probably full. Start searching and information pours in — one site says medication, another says fluids, and dozens of supplements all claim to be the one.
Today is not the day to understand all of it. There are only a few things to do today, and the rest can be done slowly over the coming days without being late.
1. One thing to separate first — acute or chronic?
Kidney disease divides into two. Today's actions depend entirely on which one this is.
| Type | What it is | What today looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Acute kidney injury AKI |
Sudden. Often has a specific cause — medication, plants, infection, urinary blockage | Needs treatment now. Hospitalisation is common |
| Chronic kidney disease CKD |
Gradual. Ageing is the most common cause | Stabilise, then manage at home for the long run |
Ask your vet exactly this: "Is this acute or chronic?" That single question sets the direction for everything ahead.
2. What to take home from the clinic
Get these four before you leave today. Going back to ask later is a hassle, and more importantly you need a record to compare the next test against.
- A copy or photo of the lab report — if paper is difficult, photograph it. You need the page showing the reference ranges, not just the numbers
- The stage — "What stage is she?" and "What are you basing that on?"
- The next recheck date — how many weeks, and what will be re-tested
- Current medications and doses — name, dose, and for how long
3. What to start at home today
Nothing elaborate. You're just creating the starting point of a record that will run for months or years.
- Weigh her — weight is the most sensitive signal in kidney management. Today's number becomes the baseline
- Note how much she drinks and eats — precision isn't needed. Enough to tell "more than usual" from "less than usual" is plenty
- Take a video of her today — how she walks, sits, eats. When you later ask "is she different from before?", this beats memory by a wide margin
4. What you don't have to do today
The most common mistake right after diagnosis is changing too many things at once. Then you can't tell what helped and what didn't.
| Can wait | Why |
|---|---|
| Ordering several supplements | You lose the ability to tell what worked. One at a time, chosen on evidence, is not too slow |
| Switching food completely | A rushed change often ends in her not eating. Not eating is the bigger danger |
| Searching prognosis and life expectancy | At the same stage, the course differs completely between cats. Those numbers don't help you today |
| Hunting for the cause | The most common cause of CKD is ageing. This was not something you could have prevented |
5. Signs that mean going in right now
These cannot wait. If any one applies, call now.
- Not passing urine, or going in and out of the box with nothing produced — in a male cat this is an emergency
- Nothing eaten for over 24 hours — cats develop liver problems when they stop eating
- Vomiting repeatedly, unable even to keep water down
- Limp and unresponsive, or low body temperature
- Rapid or open-mouth breathing
6. From tomorrow, read in this order
Stopping here for today is enough. Over the next few days, this order will keep you from getting lost.
- 02 Reading the numbers — the four values on the report (how to read kidney values on a blood test)
- 03 Stage and targets — where she stands now, and what to aim for
- 05 Feeding — what to feed (stage-by-stage diet strategy)