Lindah I would never give him up if he had it.




Yes i got him when he was 6? 7? weeks old!! too early i know i didn't know that then she was irresponsible and only wanted the money

And yes i agree with all of you i'm not doing the test it's painful to know and i can't do anything about it.

Thank you all

I hope I'm not showing my stupidity on the feline testing since it's been a long time since I had a kitten (17 years). Winston had polycystic kidneys showing by age 7 and he lived to be 17 altho he did have CRF which he was diagnosed with somewhere around the last year of his life.

Winston's Vet thought he might have a very short life as he also had an enlarged heart and some other concerns however he did live a fairly long life and was just a wonderfully lovable little fellow with the most unique purrsonality.

I got him from a breeder as a replacement cat for his sister who had a congenital kidney problem. As I loved her during her very short life (6 months) I loved him more than words can say no matter his health concerns.

good luck with your decision. I suggest just loving your kitty and enjoying his or her presence every day that you share together

I would actually do the test
It's cheap and simple
If it is negative- it gives you peace of mind
If its positive- well my girl with PKD lived nearly 14 years.
I found out by chance soon after I adopted her when she was 8 years old and had an ultrasound for another reason. I was glad I knew- as I knew what to look out for- and if she was taken to vets for things (such as vomiting) vets took it more seriously.

I brought Beau home as a kitten before the DnA tests we available- his breeder had screened her cats with ultrasound. Later when the DNA tests were available- I rang his breeder to ask should I test.
She was confident he was negative- and he was a couple of years later when I did do the swabs- I trusted her- but was sending them off for another Persian I had just adopted. So sent swabs for him also.
Just my thoughts as someone who had a cat with PKD.
They can live long lives and die of something else like my girl
Negative result-peace of mind.

I agree with you Catherine. I have dealt with PKD twice in pets before I started breeding. I think it is better to know - gives you a chance to give supportive care early on if needed. The DNA test is much cheaper than an ultrasound that vets would suggest and the results are more dependable. True it only proves the cat has the gene mutation, but gives you the opportunity to get the cat in earlier for care if a problem arises. Or having a vet pooh pooh your concerns as being an over protective crazy cat lady (don't laugh - they do that.)
Just a little opinion here and one that may get me in trouble: Any person who breeds cats who have NOT been certified PKD negative by a DNA sample at this point in time is irresponsible and shouldn't be breeding! The test has been available long enough that we should be seeing the end of PKD afflicted cats - unless another gene mutation is discovered. Okay , I'll get off my soap box now. Flame gear is ready!

I agree with you, basically. If I was breeding or the OP was breeding, then yes, the PKD test in mandatory to know what you have and what you might produce. This was about pets, so, from my view, it's not as critical to know -- nothing will be passed on.

So given that one knows this information early on does that mean a kidney conscious diet would be recommended from kittenhood? When I was told that Winston had polycystic kidneys he was 7 already and I was advised to put in a renal diet but he absolutely wouldn't eat that food even if it was the thing he was given. Same thing with Alaska. I was successful making some changes in their diet that must have helped but in Winston's case of course he progressed to CRF later in life.

I will be interested in hearing the ideas on this from others. I would think a kidney-friendly diet might help prevent the effects of diminished kidney functions, but would not stop the progression of the cysts.

As for Winston, the CRF may have been unrelated to the PKD or the CRF may have been the result of the PKD cysts growing. I'm not sure a vet could tell the difference and I'm not sure it would make much of a difference.

My opinion is just that - an opinion because my experiences with PKD were losing 2 cats very young (2-5 years.). I believe that in testing to find out you can address any changes in health early on, and use a 'kidney' diet if vet feels it would be beneficial. My two girls were severely affected and by the time the diagnosis was made there was little to be done for them. We did the fluids and I even hand fed them but the time between diagnosis and death was less than a year for both. It is a horrible and painful disease for both the cat and the owner.

AMEN!!! I agree with this as well as your "opinion" on breeding PKD positive cats. When I got Giles the very FIRST thing I did along with a vet check was the PKD DNA test. Yes, his breeder is reputable and very honest (don't see this often enough I'm afraid) and had paperwork for my boy's mom but not his dad as it was lost in a computer crash. We agreed to handle the DNA on the contract in case the test didn't go as we had hoped. Of course it did and he IS Negative! I didn't doubt it but I also didn't have proof in hand and I AM a breeder who IS honest and I NEEDED that proof. I adore his breeder...so very easy to talk to and deal with. But still I needed the proof.

Now -- Giles is a breeding male so my reasons are different that those mentioned here. But I have to say...knowing is half the battle. Knowledge is POWER folks! I am a FIRM beliver in that. I think the more knowledge we arm ourselves with the better we are able to protect these wonderful flat faced babies. Even ones from poor quality breeders such as the one this kid came from! As Lynda said...the more you know the more likely you can offer this baby a long life OR have the relief of a clear DNA test.

This test is so inexpensive! It is so worth it! Matter of fact it is so worth it that I went through and redid DNA tests on offspring from DNA negative parents recently just to have up to date records because my DNA tests went back 3 and 4 generations...too complicated to give paperwork to anyone without it becoming a puzzle to describe who is whose parent, grandparent and great grandparent.

I personally think it is so worth doing! For all involved!

**one more thing...if we had MORE pet people willing to test their incoming pets themselves then I think over time we would see less and less PKD in our pedigrees because the pet people would then be armed with the necessary knowledge. Matter of fact...I gave one of my vets all the info on testing with a DNA sample and she insisted on doing Giles' test for experience while we were there for his check up! I emailed her my results so she could see what they look like as well. She thought the whole things was very cool! And was grateful that I showed her how this is done as well!

Heather,
I like your idea of testing later generations to reduce paperwork and make it less confusing for the buyers. Who do you use for the test? I used UC Davis. I also love the idea that the vet learned from you. I may just ask my vet next time we go in if they are aware of how the test is done and reading the results.
After losing my sweet Happy and Zsa Zsa I am adamant about testing!