> Hi,
> A few days ago I posted about my kitty Meetoo-20 yrs. old. She has crf w/
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> Has anyone had experience with high potassium readings?
> Susan
When hyperkalemia occurs in CRF cats, its usually because the cat is either
oliguric, over-supplemented with K, or in the terminal state of the disease.
Since your cat was initially hypokalemic, my guess is your vet
over-supplemented potassium (K) - since its unlikely your cat went from
hypokalemia to hyperkalemia that fast - hyperkalemia usually doesn't occur
that quickly.
If I were you, I'd speak to your vet about a diuretic (Furosemide).
Diuretics stimulate urinary output, which facilitates the excretion of
excessive K and renal toxins. Furosemide should increase urine output
within 30 mins. If it doesn't, the dose should be doubled, and then tripled
at hourly intervals - although I don't think doses above 2 mg/lb are any
more effective. That's, of course, only if your cat is oliguric.
The only advantages of dextrose over flurosemide is its cheaper, provides
some non-protein calories for energy and is readily detectable in the urine
when its effects begin. However, there is a real risk of overhydration if
your cat severely oliguric. I think Furosemide is much safer and should
begin to work in about 30 mins.
The problem with potassium levels is that most (>90%) of the total body
stores of K are contained in the tissue where it can't be measured by
routine tests and not in the blood - so blood tests don't represent the true
body stores of K.
My best wishes for your Golden Girl.and you.
Phil
Arjun Ray - 29 Jul 2003 19:23 GMT
| When hyperkalemia occurs in CRF cats, its usually because the cat is
| either oliguric, over-supplemented with K, or in the terminal state of
| the disease.
Leaving aside the oversupplementation possibility, can oliguria happen
before the terminal stage? With adequate hydration, CRF cats usually
pee tons (okay, that's an exaggeration, but my fella's softball sized
clumps in the literbox are costing me a fortune in litter!), so wouldn't
*less* than normal urine output - which I believe is the meaning of
oliguria - mean that the kidneys are shutting down altogether?
Or is it the case that oliguria in CRF cats can also be due to some kind
of treatable blockage inside the kidneys?
> Hi,
> A few days ago I posted about my kitty Meetoo-20 yrs. old. She has crf w/
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> Has anyone had experience with high potassium readings?
> Susan
http://www.felinecrf.org/treatments.htm#High%20potassium
HTH
Helen