Other medical problems can lead to symptoms similar to those encountered in CRF. Laboratory testing (blood work and urinalysis testing) will often diagnose CRF. Further diagnostic testing may be needed to determine the underlying cause.
Diseases that can appear similar to those with CRF include:
Acromegaly (abnormal enlargement of of the extremities of the skeleton due to overgrowth of connective tissue)
Acute Renal (Kidney) Failure (sudden onset of kidney failure)
Diabetes Mellitus(malfunction of the pancreas, whose function is the production and release of insulin)
Diuretic phase of acute renal failure (ARF)
Drugs (diuretics, corticosteroids)
Excessive parenteral fluid administration
Hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing's Syndrome)
Hypercalcemia (High blood calcium)
Hyperthyroidism (excessive functional activity of the thyroid gland)
Hypokalemia (low blood potassium)
Liver disease
Multiple myeloma (cancer)
Nephrogenic (producing kidney tissue) diabetes insipidus (a metabolic disorder, which results in a deficient quantity of the hormone ADH being released or produced, resulting in failure of reabsorption of water in the kidney
Partial Urinary tract obstruction
Polycythemia (an increase in the circulating red blood cell mass)
Post-obstructive diuresis (an increased excretion of the urine due to the diuretic effect of urea and electrolytes retained during the period of obstruction)
Primary hyperparathyroidism (abnormally increased activity of the parathyroid gland)
Psychogenic polydipsia (excessive drinking caused by psychological causes, such as boredom)
Pyelonephritis (inflammation of the kidney and renal pelvis)
Pyometra (infection of the uterus)
Renal glucosuria (the presence of sugar in the urine)
Renal medullary (central or inner portion of an organ) washout of solute
Salt administration
Causes
Chronic interstitial nephritis of unknown cause (most common)
Renal (Kidney) AmyloidosisAmyloidosis (familial in Abyssinian cats)
Chronic glomerulonephritis
Chronic obstructive uropathy (hydronephrosis)
Chronic Pyelonephritis
Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is an inflammation of the membrane lining the the walls of the abdominal and pelvic cavities.
Acute renal failure
Cancer (kidney lymphoma)
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) (familiar in Persian cats)
