Feline kidney Disease

M

Mrsscififanec

Cathlete
Hi,my cat's kidney's are failing and my Vet say's we have the option of giving her fluids to prolong her life for a while.I am at a loss as to wether or not to do this, she is so her Mommy's girl i don't want to lose her but i will not let her suffer ,so if anyone out there has chosen (or not ) to give the fluids please tell me your experience ,i really feel conflicted and confused about this,Thanks for any advice.
Mrsscififanec
 
Hi Mrsscififanec,

I'm so sorry to hear about your cat. My therapist went through this with her cat a few years ago. If I recall correctly, she had to give her injections and medications. It was a difficult time, and eventually she decided that the cat's quality of life had deteriorated too much. I think that is usually what these types of decisions are based on. If you can afford it, and it will keep your cat around AND help her maintain a decent quality of life, then it might be a good idea. On the other hand, if you can give her fluids but she will have very little quality of life, it might not be a good idea.

Best of luck to you.
 
My heart goes out to you. I cannot begin to tell you what to do, but I have had a similar experience I can share.

Last fall we lost our beloved kitty Jessie. She was only 2 1/2 years old. We had just come home from a trip to the midwest for my father in laws unexpected funeral. We noticed immediately that Jessie wasn't doing so well. She'd had health problems since she was about a year old, and was usually on antibiotics to treat a bacteria that affected her digestive system. We never were able to get it under complete control, so once she was off the medication for a while, she would have to go back on.

Well, when we got home we thought she would need another round of meds so we started that again. Within a couple of days she developed jaundice and I immediately called the vet. We took her in and she was in multiple organ failure. Liver, kidneys and I'm not sure what else. Those moments in the vets office are a blur to me now. To help her would mean going to an emergency vet hospital since our vet didn't have the resources or equipment to treat her condition. It would mean alot of trauma for a little kitty (who at her heaviest weighed 4.5 pounds and was down to 3 pounds) who I don't think was up for the task. She was so sick and yellow it made me ache. Even if we had everything done that was possible, the best prognosis was only to prolong her life for a short while. She would not have the chance to live a full life. I was so worried that prolonging her life would just be prolonging her suffering.

Jessie was so sick that we made the decision to not prolong her suffering. It was the most difficult decision we have ever made. I cried the whole time at the vet's office, and all the way home, and all day that day. I'm having a hard time typing now because I can't stop crying. I miss her everyday. She was the BEST kitty anyone could ever want. All we can do is LOVE them and care for them the best we can. Some things we can't control. I wish you strength in your decision. I know it is not easy. Take Care.

My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Nicole
 
Sub-Q fluid injections are a very good option for many cats with renal failure (CRF). Most cats are able to become used to receiving the injections, and some cats even look forward to it because they know it makes them feel better.

My parents' kitty had CRF at 18 years of age. She was very old and very fragile - Sub-Q fluid injections were not a very good option for her because of her advanced age and her personality (didn't like to be handled much). My parents helped make her remaining months as comfortable as possible, and she received daily oral medication and potassium to help with kidney function. She was a happy kitty right up until the day she died.

A younger cat (you didn't mention how old your kitty is) will be much better able to handle daily injections and become accustomed to it. It is worth giving it a try if you think your cat could adjust (and you'd be surprised how well cats adjust to this!). I don't think it is very expensive, and you can even have a tube implanted in your kitty's skin that allows you to administer fluids without having to stick her with a needle every time. This is a wonderful alternative for needle-shy cats, or people who don't want to give their cats injections.

Here is a website that I highly recommend:
http://www.felinecrf.com/

You will find a TON of valuable information there about Feline CRF. My heart goes out to you - I wish you and your kitty the best!
 
Hi.thanks so much for all the support,my cat is an old girl,she's 17 but she is a very spunky 17 and i want her to have a good quality of life right now she has an infection is feeling yucky so i am hoping the antibiotics make her feel better if so i will probably give the fluids a shot if not,well i'm not going to let her suffer.Several years ago i had to put down my other kitty because of cancer and i feel like i waited too long and she was in pain so i dont want to do make that mistake again,it's just so sad to say goodbye to a friend.You know i am going to be 37 next week and still during times like this i sometimes think,Man being a grownup just sucks sometimes!
Well thanks again i'm gonna go check on her,Mrsscififanec
 
Hi! I sent you a private message. I am a veterinarian and would be happy to answer any questions you might have. Sorry to hear the sad news about your kitty's diagnosis.
 
hi
Im so sorry about the situation you are in. i have always found it so unfair that we have to decide when its time for our furbabies to stay or go. I agree with alot of what Materialsgirl said. I can totally relate to you cuz I have had to put my 2 cats to sleep cuz of cancer and I too waited to long. Its just so hard to tell. Good luck.
 
Or cat is about 15? (she was adopted) and her kidneys started failing last year. She was OK, and was eating but she was drinking and peeing all the time and lost a lot of weight. The vet was suggesting the water injections, and I did for a few times, but our cat Sammy was just way too terrified from it. It was plain torture for the both of us. So I decided to just let it go, and see what happens.
I did change her diet drastically, no more fish, only beef and poultry, and I also sprinkle some baby food rice or some potato on the top of her food. My goal was adding a little more carbs to her diet. She gained 1 lb since last year and the vet was amazed by her improved condition at the last check up. Best of luck to you! Mari
 
Awww I'm so sorry to read about your kitty.No matter what you do ...You will know when its time to put her out of her pain .Enjoy her and love her for now .She's lucky she has you .
 
Now I'm terrified. My cat has been suffering from some of the above mentioned conditions. She takes medicine now for chronic constipation and in the last few months has lost weight, started drinking lots of water and peeing a lot. Based on this post, I've stopped procrastinating and have scheduled a vet appointment to take her. I had to put my most beloved pet to sleep about a year and a half ago, and I don't think I can go through that again. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you cat, too.
 
NY25..Gosh! I hope I didn't terrify you! I just wanted to say our kitty was a "special needs" cat pretty much from the beginning. We adopted her when she was about 5 months old from a shelter group. She had some box problems at the beginning but we chalked it up to moving in to a new home (she had been adopted before and returned). She got better, and then got worse, which is when we took her to the vet. Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that she was born with her problems...according to the vet it was all hereditary so really it was just a matter of time. I wasn't trying to say my situation was like anyone else's...just that I can empathize. I'm hoping for the best for everyone's beloved kitty.:)
 
Hi dont panic there are many very treatable things that can cause these symptoms such as thyroid or diabetes again these are very treatable in cats so try not to let your imagination get away from you ,like i do,LOL, i hope for the best for your cat,let us know,Mrsscififanec
 
Yes! Give your kitty fluids. It will make her feel SO much better (you probably will notice a difference right away). I had a cat who died of chronic renal failure. He had several extra months thanks to daily subQ fluids.

One of my current cats is now getting fluids. I can tell she feels soo much better when she has them.

Not giving fluids means leaving them in a somewhat dehydrated state. I just imagine some sludgy, thick blood in their veins.

Mandy (my subQ kitty) doesn't like the needle much, but I've found ways of making it better. If I kind of massage the area where I'm going to put the needle in (picking up the skin in the area and kind of kneeding it with my hands), she doesn't seem to feel it as much (thought it's tough with her because she's so skinny!). It also helps to make a tight tent with the skin and put the needle in as high as you can (behind the neck/shoulders is an area that has fewer nerve endings, and by making that tight tent, it seems to spread them out some so they don't feel as much: I do the same for my diabetic cat who needs shots--but his needle are much smaller!).

A woman who volunteers out at the animal shelter with me told me that refrigerating the needles can also make it hurt less. I've never tried it.
 
>Now I'm terrified. My cat has been suffering from some of
>the above mentioned conditions. She takes medicine now for
>chronic constipation and in the last few months has lost
>weight, started drinking lots of water and peeing a lot.


That could also be a sign of diabetes. Good that you're taking kitty in to get checked out.
 
Yhew - took my kitty to the vet last night. It's diabetes. So at least it's treatable. Thank goodness. But, wow, what an expensive venture!! Thanks for your support!
 
>Yhew - took my kitty to the vet last night. It's diabetes.
>So at least it's treatable. Thank goodness. But, wow, what
>an expensive venture!! Thanks for your support!

Luckily, the insulin and needles aren't that expensive. And diabetic cats can live a long time. My guy was diagnosed over 3 years ago, and he's doing great most of the time!

If you ever notice signs of neuropathy (nerve damage in the extremeties: cats start walking on their palms instead of their toes, then on their "elbows" ,etc.), get some methylcobalamin (a type of vitamin B12. While the vet was still figuring out the right insulin dosage to use (she added gradually) m cat developed neuropathy problems to the point where he couldn't safely walk down the basement stairs (where the pan is) or jump up on the coach. Supposedly it is irreversible, but I read that methylcobalamin (not the regular B12--cyanacobalamin) helped in humans and animals, so I tried it. After about a month of a daily pill, Scooter was back to jumping up on the couch and walking fairly normally (about 85% of normal).

If you ever have any question about dealing with a diabetic cat, feel free to pm or email me.
 
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