Dr. Gary Norsworthy, DVM has graciously given us permission to reprint one of his best graphs from his lectures on geriatric cats. Dr. Norsworthy along with Dr. Larry Tilley, DVM present Continuing Education seminars across the country. Aging or prior kidney disease results in a decrease in the size of the kidneys and brings about chronic kidney disease. Chronic kidney disease increases the production of urine in an attempt to remove waste products from the blood.
Potassium leaves the body in urine, so more potassium is lost.
Increased loss of potassium in the urine results in lowered levels of potassium in the blood and , more importantly, within the body's cells. Lowered levels of potassium result in a decrease in the ability of the kidneys to filter out waste products. Lower kidney filtration makes chronic kidney disease worse. Chronic kidney disease causes acidosis, a change in the pH of the blood to as state of increased acidity. Acidosis causes potassium to move from within the body's cells into the blood.