Elderly cat - low blood potassium

RE: Elderly cat - low blood potassium

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 09:08:52 GMT

Like some others I don't think that potassium level is significant I frequently see cats with that level of hypokalaemia and wouldn't bust a gut treating it, including my own cat. I wouldn't expect any symptoms until it was well below 3. Unless this was actually artificially high because of contamination with EDTA this cat got better despite supplementation not because. I would look elsewhere if this behaviour is persistent/recurrent.

RE: Elderly cat - low blood potassium

Kate Richardson — Thu, 20 Oct 2016 19:07:35 GMT

Ive had cats with 'idiopathic' hypokalaemia before. Can always take off potassium and see if relapses to see if long term treatment is necessary. Won't cost the owner anything

RE: Elderly cat - low blood potassium

Neil Wheadon — Thu, 20 Oct 2016 18:55:53 GMT

Update

BID potassium and a new cat. Friendlier and has put on 600grams in a week, remarkable. Owners commented that chasing other cats about the garden again

I tried to re blood sample to look at potassium, T4 and renal but refused on cost grounds.

Case of owners saw such an improvement that no point.

Will resee in 3 months (If I'm still here) and may do T4 then, but no goitre. Personally I feel renal is very unlikely given normal blood parameters and subsequent weight gain, but I've been wrong before

Neil

RE: Elderly cat - low blood potassium

Utlendigur — Sun, 16 Oct 2016 21:16:14 GMT

[quote user="Robin Grimmer"]Conn's syndrome is rare [/quote]

But thought to be underdiagnosed

[quote user="Robin Grimmer"] I would have expected a lower potassium.[/quote]

Same here. A lot of older cats with reduced appetites, renal insufficiency etc can be marginally low in potassium but I'd have expected it to be a lot lower with Conns or to cause muscle weakness

[quote user="Robin Grimmer"]you have shown a positive response to supplementation.[/quote]

Or coincidence? Another interpretation may be it fell off the sofa, hurt itself and then recovered

[quote user="Neil Wheadon"]Is there a test for Primary aldosteronism[/quote]

[quote user="Claire Fisher"]Nationwide Specialist Labs can measure renin/aldosterone ratio - I've run it once but it does cost several hundred pounds.[/quote]

I've sent off a test for just aldosterone - pretty sure that was idexx, and not £100s

Probably worth checking BP first though.

The one case I've diagnosed had a K+ around 2.5 and a BP over 260mmHG

RE: Elderly cat - low blood potassium

Claire Fisher — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 18:48:26 GMT

Nationwide Specialist Labs can measure renin/aldosterone ratio - I've run it once but it does cost several hundred pounds.

RE: Elderly cat - low blood potassium

Iain Richards — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 13:46:53 GMT

How good is the machine you used (last QA/) Might be worth repeating at an external lab. Sounds like renal failure to me.

RE: Elderly cat - low blood potassium

Robin Grimmer — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 11:13:26 GMT

My first thought is the potassium is not that low enough to cause clinical signs, but you have shown a positive response to supplementation. Conn's syndrome is rare and I would have expected a lower potassium.

CKD is the most likely cause. The bun is above the reference range on some labs ranges. I would do urinalysis, BP, T4 and possibly SMDA. If no underlying problems found then all you need to do is keep the cat on potassium.

RE: Elderly cat - low blood potassium

Louise6732 — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 10:29:47 GMT

Can you check blood pressure? Hypertension and hypolkalaemia could indicate Conns(hyperaldosteronism)

Louise