Thanks for the update. Sounds like you're getting good help now.
Purrs for Francis to be comfortable and happy for the longest time possible.
Headbutts for you all!
Lena

-------------------------------------------------------------
lewemi at yahoo dot se || cat pics: photos.yahoo.com/lewemi

I'm very glad to hear Francis is feeling better. So, what was the
long-term prognosis?

Helen,
I'm really glad you got help from this other vet!  I've had 2 CRF kitties--
to be honest, I didn't worry about the food part it was more important that
they eat something then that they got the "renal" food, which mine wouldn't
eat eitiher.  I think what really made a difference was that I gave both of
them 100 ml of lactated ringer fluids daily, which also helped them feel
much better.  My cat, Frodo, lived to be 20, and had CRF for 5 years prior
to that (I know the fluids extended his life); he, too, got prednisone daily
and I think it helped, too; he also had liver problems.  Shetra had CRF the
last 2 years of his life (and got fluids duirng this time, too) and lived to
be 17.
hth,
Christine

Purrs continuing that Francis will have lots of quality time left with his
loving family.

Hugs,

CatNipped

Thanks for the update, Helen.  I'm glad that you complained about the
twit who wanted to send Francis to the Bridge.  I hope that this
causes him to have a little more compassion for his patients and his
patients families.

Francis will let you know when it's time to let him go.
--

Nan and the furkids

A wise man talks because he has something to say;
a fool talks because he has to say something.

You guys who have cats with CRF, if they won't eat

Maybe here you will find some helpful info:

http://www.felinecrf.org/diet_and_nutrition.htm

BTW, IMO,  this website is one of the best for info on CRF in cats:

ATB

Sheenah

Good luck with him, I hope you have lots of quality time left with him.

Jeanette

They can be fussy about the low-protein food, for sure.  There should
be other low-protein foods available in Britain, I'm sure.  If Francis
won't eat the one, ask the vet about alternatives.  For Cosmo, he got
to the point of not eating the usual Hill's k/d, and I read the Hill's
manual and found g/d, which seemed appropriate for him, and the vet
agreed.  He eats that one much better.  There are also other
manufacturers, so keep trying.  I have also heard sprinkling a little
oregano on the food may help (no kidding!), or a little plain chicken
broth (tuna, also, but chicken is preferable).  Check with your good
vet, of course, but that's what I've heard in my journey with CRF.

Best of luck, and still purring for Francis.

Ginger-lyn

Despite what differences you and I have, the cats are what matter here.
I urge you to go to http://www.felinecrf.org and learn as much as you
can ASAP. 8 is a very young age for a cat to develop renal failure and
it's very possible that Francis could have a good quality of life for
some time if he is managed well and sub-q fluid therapy is implemented.

I also know that a lot of vets in the UK are not up to speed on fluid
therapy, and considering the position the first vet took I'm assuming
he's one of them. I'm *very* concerned that your vet would send a cat
with numbers "off the scale" home with nothing but prescription food and
a pill (and why an ACE inhibitor?) If your cat is that ill with numbers
through the roof he likely has "crashed" and if he has crashed you're
guaranteeing him an early death if he doesn't get treatment. If he has
crashed he can be brought back and have some good quality time left, but
he needs to be hospitalized on IV fluids for a few days to get the
toxins out of his bloodstream, then put on a regular regimen of at-home
sub-q fluid therapy to try to maintain him and keep his numbers down.

Now is the time to go for broke, learn as much as you can, and advocate
for your cat. You are going to have to do a crash course in CRF and push
for what your cat needs because, even though your vet may be a nice guy,
it doesn't sound like he is at all up to speed on the latest treatments
for CRF. The http://www.felinecrf.org site exists exactly because Helen
the site owner had such a problem dealing with UK vets and getting them
to even consider sub-q fluid therapy (something that is done here in the
US as a *life-saving*normal course of treatment), and felt it was
extremely important for UK owners of CRF cats to have the information
the vets weren't giving them or even aware of.

Unfortunately AFAIK the majority of vets in the UK are still in the dark
ages when it comes to treating CRF and it becomes the responsibility of
the owner to push for what needs to be done. The felinecrf.org site is
the best and most informative site on the net dealing with this health
issue and I hope it helps you to help get Francis feeling better. Good
luck.

Megan

                                   

Luckily, both my cats loved the dry food that was prescribed for
Skeeter.  However, my vet told me that the important thing is that they
eat.  She suggested that I go to the pet food section and "buy one of
everything".  Baby meat is also okay, if it doesn't have onion in it.
Good luck with finding something Francis will like.

Joy

Big, loud kitty purrs heading across the way for you and Francis both. I've dealt
with renal failure in my dear Fritzie. The stubborn boy held out almost two years.
Never give up the faith and hope. Francis can feel it if you do.

As to that jackass who so callously suggested immediate euthanasia without your
presence? I hope you have a good pair of Army boots because if it were me, I'd
strap them on and give him a good swift kick where the sun don't shine!

Talk to your vet about spiking the prescription food with a bit of fat-free beef or
chicken broth. Fritzie was diabetic and we were taking steps to stave off renal
failure, and boy did he detest that food! The vet suggested mixing a shotglass
worth of broth in the canned food, and putting enough into the dry to moisten it
and give it flavor. Francis might also appreciate it if you got two different kinds
and blended them. Often that was the only way to get Fritzie fed, because he was
pricky and demanded variety. That was my fault, because Mama spoils her babies!

Blessed be,
Baha

We're purring hard for Francis to have a long and happy time with you still to come.

------
Krista

I'm so glad to hear that Francis has perked up with his medicine and
steroid injection.  We continue to purr for his health and comfort.

Debbie and the fur girls (Daisy, Anna, Sabrina, Patty)
dberry@mitre.org

Best wishes for Francis to feel better soon - it may take a little while
for things to settle down, so don't give up. Re the ACE inhibitor pills,
my Simon did well on them for 2 years after he was diagnosed, and they
were a _good_ 2 years. Don't know what to suggest about the food - we
all know how picky cats get. My own feeling was that it's better for
them to eat something than nothing.

I wonder why the first guy became a vet? He doesn't sound like he cares or has
any compassion.
Suz
Macmoosette
Thank Heavens There's Only One
=^..^=   =^..^=   =^..^=   =^..^=  =^..^=  =^..^=

Waiting for inspiration. Please hold while I contemplate my navel.

(=':'=)
(")_(")

Th