Why is my cat's potassium low if kidney tests are normal?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Tony. I agree that he is in the early stages of kidney failure based on the lab results you have provided. Kidney disease can cause low levels of potassium so it is good that you are supplementing him. Kidney values can fluctuate up and down a bit, but you want to assess trends over time to see how he is doing. SDMA and creatinine are more sensitive indicators than BUN. I would ask if his phosphorus level is in the target range for his degree of kidney disease (based on the IRIS staging) and make sure he has had his blood pressure measured recently. I hope this information helps!

Hi there, and thanks for posting this question. With Addison’s disease the potassium levels are actually high, not low. And Addison’s disease is very rare in cats as well, but yes It causes a variety of gastrointestinal problems. However, low potassium levels is commonly seen in older cats with chronic kidney disease. Chronic kidney disease eventually decreases appetite because either they are slightly nauseated and just don’t feel like eating or sometimes they become anemic and weak and don’t want to eat. I hope this answers your question and I hope Tony does well. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

3.7 for a potassium level isn't very low, but the normal reference range can vary from machine to machine, so you would need to include the normals for me to guage how low it truly is away from the "normal". Potassium supplementation must be taken very seriously, because overdoses can stop the heart. I do not routinely recommend it unless it is trending lower and lower. I would recommend discussing supplementing B12, since this will often help lethargic cats.

Hi there! Sounds like you are an excellent owner! Tony is lucky! Yes, he can still be thirsty. The medications may be causing this and not necessarily the hyperthyroidism. If all the lab values are normal then I would not be too worried about it. I hope this helps. Best wishes to you and Tony!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Any medication can cause an upset tummy. Personally I haven't had a cat develop diarrhea from it. I wonder if Tony's loose stool and decrease appetite has more to do with the underling illness is causing the low potassium in the first place. I would call your Vet and tell them what is going on with Tony in case they want to modify the plan. I hope this helps!

I assume your vet is concerned about Addison's disease. This disease requires life-long medication, but they tend to live long and well with treatment. It's difficult to know how suspicious this is without evaluating the dog or records, but I wouldn't be too concerned until a diagnosis is made. Even then, it's not a terrible disease to live with when treated appropriately. For more information, I recommend you read the article at the link below. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/addisons-disease-in-dogs-overview I hope that helps and all is well with Tony

Your vet will likely recommend to recheck the potassium level within the next 2-4 days. By this point, the supplement should have taken effect. It is important to make sure the levels are normal. It's possible to low appetite is not related to the potassium level. If the levels are normal but his appetite is still low, then you know it's related to something else. I recommend to call your vet today and have Tony scheduled for the bloodwork. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.