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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / April 2007Acute Renal Failure
Tortle, my 8 1/2 year old tortoiseshell kitty has been diagnosed with acute renal failure. It does not appear to be related to food (she doesn't eat any of the recalled foods). Her creatinine is over 11 and her BUN is a little over 100--the phosphorus level is elevated, too--I think around 8. Since our regular vet doesn't have 24 hour coverage (very small town, none of the vet clinics here have 24 hour coverage), we drove Tortle to a 24 hour hospital about 1 1/2 hours away so she can start getting fluid therapy. I've been told, both by my regular vet and the emergency vet that her prognosis is guarded. We don't know what has caused the renal failure yet. I'm just devastated. The crazy thing is she doesn't act sick, other than a decreased appetite. Her eyes are bright, she is not acting depressed, she was purring at the vet's--I'm having a difficult time accepting that she very well may not survive this disease. Any healing thoughts you could send this way would be appreciated. Bonnie > Tortle, my 8 1/2 year old tortoiseshell kitty has been diagnosed with acute > renal failure. It does not appear to be related to food (she doesn't eat [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > Bonnie My tortie, Kahlua, suffered renal failure when she was seven. She didn't act sick, just decreased appetite and some vomiting. She was hospitalized for about week, then came home and went on Science Diet K/ D. She didn't love it, but she did eat it, and she healthy, happy, and a joy to be with for five or six more years. Eventually, her kidneys failed completely, and fluids and special diet couldn't do anything more for her, but we did have those additional years, and when the end came for her, it was very quick and peaceful. She broke into the other cats' food, gorged, and went to sleep. (The vet assured me that no, it wasn't that off-diet meal that did it; she just had one really good, tasty last meal when her kidneys were already crashing.) What I'm trying to say, probably very clumsily, is that if your vets think it's worthwhile to put her in the hospital to put her on fluids, there's a very good chance she has years of happy life ahead of her. Lis >> Tortle, my 8 1/2 year old tortoiseshell kitty has been diagnosed with >> acute [quoted text clipped - 37 lines] > > Lis Thank you for telling me about your experiences with Kahlua. I'm hoping that is the case with Tortle. This is a new vet for me and I'm having a bit of a time communicating with her--she talks very softly and fast and I'm not sure I'm getting everything she says. She's been quite pessimistic, though which is coming through loud and clear. Did you give fluids to Kahlua after she came home? If Tortle does pull through this we may need to give her Sub Q fluids. I hope we'll know more today if the fluids are affecting her blood levels yet. Thanks again for posting--I need some positive stories right now. Bonnie on Sat, 31 Mar 2007 15:15:17 GMT, "22brix" <spamdavidk@pacific.net> wrote: > Thank you for telling me about your experiences with Kahlua. I'm > hoping that is the case with Tortle. This is a new vet for me and I'm > having a bit of a time communicating with her--she talks very softly > and fast and I'm not sure I'm getting everything she says. She's been > quite pessimistic, though which is coming through loud and clear. Having a pessimistic vet is Not helpful. Is there another vet in the practice you can work with, or another emergency hospital in the same general area? If not, just grit your teeth and don't let this vet's negative attitude affect yours. Make sure she understands that you want to do EVERYTHING possible for your cat. Then stay on top of her treatment. > Did you give fluids to Kahlua after she came home? If Tortle does > pull through this we may need to give her Sub Q fluids. I hope we'll > know more today if the fluids are affecting her blood levels yet. > > Thanks again for posting--I need some positive stories right now. I wish I had some positive stories for you, but all I can offer are some positive, healing thoughts for you and Tortle.  SignatureLynne > on Sat, 31 Mar 2007 15:15:17 GMT, "22brix" <spamdavidk@pacific.net> > wrote: > I wish I had some positive stories for you, but all I can offer are some > positive, healing thoughts for you and Tortle. Thanks, I appreciate it! Bonnie > Tortle, my 8 1/2 year old tortoiseshell kitty has been diagnosed with acute > renal failure. It does not appear to be related to food (she doesn't eat > any of the recalled foods .............What does she eat? You are aware Hills pulled feline dry m/d? Does her food contain any wheat gluten? We still don't know if the unnamed pet food companies getting loads of wheat gluten from the same company as Menu Foods have all come clean. So far Hills m/d and Alpo have been added since FDA announcement yesterday. One announcement came out at midnight. Better safe than sorry - if it's got wheat gluten don't feed it. > Any healing thoughts you could send this way would be appreciated. .....Done. May she spend many years with you. buglady take out the dog before replying >> Tortle, my 8 1/2 year old tortoiseshell kitty has been diagnosed with > acute [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > buglady > take out the dog before replying Thanks for responding! Tortle is very finicky--about all she'll eat is Hill's T/D, which does not include wheat gluten--I have checked and rechecked this! The vet feels that one of the kidneys has not been functioning for awhile. It is smaller than the other. They did x-rays last night but food in her bowel made it difficult to see what was happening with the kidneys. She's thinking there are stones in her kidney(s) and is saying that even if Tortle pulls through, she could little kidney function left. She started talking about kidney transplants but didn't know if Tortle would be a good candidate. She's hard to understand--out of frustration I finally asked her if things were so bleak, was it even worth trying to treat her? I wasn't sure if that was what she was trying to say. She immediately backed off and started being a little more positive. I am so frustrated not to be able to work with my own vet. I realize this is extremely serious but Tortle just doesn't act that sick. Thanks for listening to me vent. We're going down to see her today--hopefully her lab values will have started responding to the fluid therapy. Bonnie PS Thanks for researching and posting up-to-date news regarding the food recall. > Tortle, my 8 1/2 year old tortoiseshell kitty has been diagnosed with acute > renal failure. It does not appear to be related to food (she doesn't eat [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > Bonnie I am so so sorry to hear of Tortle's troubles. Unfortunately, I personally can't share a healing story with you, but you might find it helpful to read Cindy's post regarding Alex's troubles which she posted recently. I noticed that Phil gave her some very valuable information, that helped her to question why this had happened to Alex. I think that you might find it of benefit to you & it might help you find the reason that you are looking for. She also sought a second opinion which might be something that you might want to consider, given the negative outlook you were given as a prognosis in her case? It is entirely possible that you might have to start fluid therapy for her, but if you have a supportive vet, it will go a long way to helping both you and Tortle too. They will explain any questions that you might have regarding how to go about fluid therapy & how to care for Tortle too. As Lis points out, with the care that she needs, there should be no reason for you not to share many years to come with her. I wish you well with Tortle and want you to know that we are sending really soothing purs across the pond to you and both. If I come across anything of interest, then I will forward it to you..& if you need something explaining, try pinging Phil as he seems very well informed regarding this issue. Best Wishes, Sheelagh x > I wish you well with Tortle and want you to know that we are sending > really soothing purs across the pond to you and both. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Best Wishes, > Sheelagh x Thank you, Sheelagh. I truly do appreciate that. She's a very special cat and I hate having to drive so far to see her. Take care, Bonnie > > I wish you well with Tortle and want you to know that we are sending > > really soothing purs across the pond to you and both. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Take care, Bonnie You too Bonnie. I hate to think of you having to travel all that way to be with your precious friend, yet understand what drives that need for you to be with her. I know it is easy for me to say, & harder for you to do, but do try & take care of yourself. You need to be fit and strong to fight her corner as & when you need to. I just think it is a terrible shame that you don't have a facility nearer to you that can accommodate you & Tortle. Try & take Mary's advice too. She knows how things work in the USA better than I do & having been through it, she has a better knowledge of what to access and how to access it as well... We are thinking of you all the time and rooting for you all. I can understand your frustration & being parted from her must be terrible for you. Just try to be firm and calm with those who are caring for her, & point out your wishes & how you would like to care for her yourself, if it is possible for you to that @ home. Hugs, Sheelagh x > Tortle, my 8 1/2 year old tortoiseshell kitty has been diagnosed with > acute renal failure. It does not appear to be related to food (she [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > Bonnie My cat Amber (RB) had a similar diagnosis when she was 13 years old. She was not expected to live more than a few weeks "or 3 months at most." She developed IBD at approximately the same time. My vet put me in contact with vets at Texas A&M and Ohio State veterinary schools, and they both spent a great deal of time on the telephone with me. This was 24 years ago, long before I had access to the Internet and the information it provides, and these vets gave me a lot of help (and neither of them charged anything for their time!). We put Amber on a prescription cat food diet, and we had to change a number of times before we found one that she could tolerate. She had very bad diarrhea for awhile, and she was put on a program (gradually increasing, then plateau, then gradually decreasing to none) of prednisone for awhile. She would need fluids every few weeks. Well, this regimen gave us an additional *3 years* instead of the few weeks that originally been expected. She was happy and had a good quality of life during those years, although I had to monitor her healthy carefully and take quick action (such as fluids or diarrhea control) as soon as I noticed early signs of problems. I hope you can have similar results. The point is, don't give up too quickly. My vet said that most people lose their cats much earlier, but he also said that most people will not follow their care so closely. You can do the same thing! Nothing is guaranteed, but it is well worth the attempt. Moreover, that was 24 years ago, and you will undoubtedly find better information today than I had at that time. You can see a picture of Amber at the link below my signature, at the age of 15. She was a little angel and still had that "kittenish" look, even at that time. MaryL http://tinyurl.com/a5tpn On 31 Mar, 21:07, "MaryL" <stanco...@yahoo.comTAKE-OUT-THE-LITTER> wrote: > > Tortle, my 8 1/2 year old tortoiseshell kitty has been diagnosed with > > acute renal failure. It does not appear to be related to food (she [quoted text clipped - 45 lines] > > - Show quoted text - She looked Beautiful Mary. I am so pleased that you had a possitive outcome. It seems, reading through this thread and lots of others too, that the attitude of the vet that you have, has a lot to do with the outcome & prognosis of the cat? I agree, there must be any amount of vets who would be more than willing to help Tortle through this episode, the question is more, which is the best to approach? Where would you suggest that Bonnie start with? I was frankly shocked to hear that the vet was so pessimistic regarding Tortle. It is really sad that the vets were not very helpful, & that Bonnie had to be pushed to the stage where she was threatening not to treat her cat to make them change the tone of their tune.. You would expect more from a vet that you have traveled over one & a half hours to see wouldn't you? If the outlook is pessimistic, then they should be forthright & say so.. not blow hot, then cold at the suggestion that Bonnie might decide not to treat Tortle. In a situation like this, you need to hear exactly how it is, rather than a half hearted wishy washy attitude regarding her cat. It is distressing enough to know that your cat is ill, without the added stress of not understanding what the vet has to tell you. I'm so glad that there are people like you and Lis out there, who can give Bonnie positive feedback, because @ times like this, it is just the tonic that you need to hear. Positive purrs S;o) > Where would you suggest that Bonnie start with? If I were in Bonnie's position today, I would look for another vet because it appears that Bonnie does not have confidence in her current vet. Ask for recommendations from friends who have had a lot of experience with cat care, and possibly check with local groups that work with rescue. I don't know where Bonnie is located, but I don't understand why she should have to drive so far for fluid therapy. Any vet should be able to do that. In fact, her vet should be able to instruct Bonnie on how to do that at home once a course of treatment has been defined (although I opted to take my cat to the vet for her fluid treatment -- but that was only five minutes away). If there is a college of veterinary medicine within reasonable distance, I would also ask for a referral to go there for an evaluation. MaryL >> Where would you suggest that Bonnie start with? > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > MaryL Interesting thing. Both my vets were/are not real concerned about Rusty's very early stage renal difficulties. I also find it interesting that after he had been first diagnosed, I fed him Hills k/d food on the recommendation of the first vet and then, for about 4 months or so when I was dealing with Grady's severe problems, I was only feeding him senior food. His numbers stayed pretty much the same. So, it appeared to me, that the senior food had pretty much the same effect on him that the special food did. Now, he won't touch Hills k/d anymore and I've been feeding him Purina NF along with occasional Eukanuba renal diet. I'm supposed to take him back to the vet in May to have his numbers checked again. But, he appears to be doing fine. He has his days when he doesn't want to eat any of the food, but then he makes up for it the next day when he eats like a little hog. I have to mention that Rusty has always been an outdoor cat and most of his life pretty much ate what he caught. That's what he preferred. I told the vet today when I went to pick up more food that I thought he needed more variety in his diet, that he appeared to get tired of what he was being given. She said that they're told that cats don't get tired of their food once you find something they like, but I said that since he had such a varied diet (everything from birds to mice) most of his life, he still expected that and got bored with the same thing day in and day out. And, I believe this is true, at least for Rusty. (Maybe I need to go out and catch a mouse or two for him, at 16 he's not too fast on his feet anymore. *S*) My current vet graduated from the most highest rated university in my state for veterinary medicine. So, while I trust her judgment, I like that she's open to my suggestions as well. Patty >> Where would you suggest that Bonnie start with? > [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > MaryL The vet hospital I normally go to is wonderful but they are not staffed at night. It's a very small, rural town and it was on my vet's advice that I was referred to the other hospital--she is on IV fluids and my vet wants her monitored 24/7. I can give subQ fluids--in fact I'm doing that now with my CRF kitty, Molly. I just got back from a couple of visits with Tortle--she looks really really good--her eyes are bright, she highly resents the IV in her leg and let me know about it in no uncertain terms, she knocked my glasses off giving me head butts in the face, she gave me the most heartbreaking meows when she saw me. In other words, she doesn't look and act like a sick cat. The main thing they tell me is that she is still not eating, but she doesn't usually do that at the vet's anyway. I keep waiting for her to crash or something but so far she looks good. The vet grudging admitted she was holding her own. The next 24 hours should tell us more--to see if the blood values come down. The ONLY reason she's at this hospital is that they can monitor the fluid administration 24 hours. In reading about acute renal failure, I know it is very serious and a lot of cats don't make it and many cats are seriously compromised afterwards. I think the vet doesn't want to give me false hope but not to give me any hope at all . . . I'm not ready to give up on Tortle yet. The vet seems competent, as does her staff but she doesn't communicate well at all. She's only 8 1/2 and is such a sweetheart. I hate dealing with a whole new vet and vet hospital with something this serious. Thanks also for telling me about Amber--it gives me some hope Tortle can get through this. Even if her life is shortened by this I want to do what I can for her. Bonnie PS As far as a referral--if necessary I would ask for a referral to Davis which is about 3 or 4 hours away. Basically I think she is in good hands, I just don't like the vet. >>> Where would you suggest that Bonnie start with? >> [quoted text clipped - 50 lines] > which is about 3 or 4 hours away. Basically I think she is in good hands, > I just don't like the vet. Thanks for providing the additional details. Now I understand why your own vet didn't administer fluids. Here's some more information from my years with Amber, in case this might apply once you get Tortle home. Every few weeks, Amber would completely stop eating. They best way I found to stimulate her appetite was actually a suggestion from my mother (who had learned it from her father, a farmer who had used it himself). I would cook several pieces of chicken -- be sure they are whole pieces, including bones and skin because the nutrients are needed. Cover with water (I would use quite a few pieces of chicken and would have several inches of water over the top). Bring to a boil, and then simmer *forever* -- that is, simmer until the liquid was reduced way down. It's the liquid you want at this time, not the chicken pieces. Remove solid pieces and refrigerate the liquid. If you simmered long enough, you should now have a congealed gel *full* of nutrients. Skim fat off the top. I would then take a small amount and warm it just enough to liquify it. Use a syringe (*without* needle, of course) and carefully force-feed. It would only take a couple of times for that to stimulate Amber's appetite. Then I would add small amounts of the broth to her regular food. That seemed to work wonders. I would have to do this every few weeks throughout the 3 years I still had her with me, and it was very effective until a few weeks before she died. MaryL > Here's some more information from my years with Amber, in case this might > apply once you get Tortle home. Every few weeks, Amber would completely [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > MaryL What a great suggestion! It would probably help with my CRF kitty with her appetite as well. I'm already dealing with fluids and appetite issues with her. If I may ask, was Amber hospitalized initially or were you able to take care of her at home? Did they ever figure out why she went into ARF? Thanks for the tip--I hope I can use for Tortle. Bonnie >> Here's some more information from my years with Amber, in case this might >> apply once you get Tortle home. Every few weeks, Amber would completely [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > > Bonnie No, Amber was not hospitalized. However, that was 24 years ago, and none of the vet clinics in this area had 24-hour care at that time. A different protocol might be used under similar circumstances today, and I know we would have more testing today. Good luck with Tortle. I hope you will have great success. I certainly know how painful the uncertainty is. MaryL > No, Amber was not hospitalized. However, that was 24 years ago, and none > of the vet clinics in this area had 24-hour care at that time. A [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > MaryL Ooops! That was 14 years ago, not 24 years ago, but the statement about no 24-hour care in this area at that time was correct. MaryL In other words, she doesn't look and act like a sick cat. .......That's great, hope she continues on the mend. buglady take out the dog before replying > You can see a picture of Amber at the link below my signature, at the age > of 15. She was a little angel and still had that "kittenish" look, even > at that time. > > MaryL > http://tinyurl.com/a5tpn -------- She was a beautiful cat, Mary. Our cats are in our hearts forever. I can't believe that my Mackie has been gone for nearly 25 years. He died from feline leukemia at the age of 5 years old in the days before there was a test or a vaccine. Best regards, ---Cindy S. >> You can see a picture of Amber at the link below my signature, at the age >> of 15. She was a little angel and still had that "kittenish" look, even [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > Best regards, > ---Cindy S. Yes, she was beautiful, and our cats do live forever in our hearts. I notice, though, that I managed to add 10 years to the timespan (twice in these messages) -- that was actually 14 years ago instead of 24 years ago. I guess I'm having more senior moments. MaryL > Tortle, my 8 1/2 year old tortoiseshell kitty has been diagnosed with > acute renal failure. It does not appear to be related to food (she [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Any healing thoughts you could send this way would be appreciated. ----------- Bonnie, I am turning on my computer now for the first time in over 24 hours. I am so sorry to hear about Tortle. You and Tortle will be in my thoughts and prayers. I don't know how things work in the feline world, but in the human world, it is definitely possible for kidney function to return in a person who has experienced acute renal failure. It happened to my mother last year. I wish you a similar happy outcome. Hugs and purrs for you and Tortle. Best regards, ---Cindy S. > ----------- > Bonnie, I am turning on my computer now for the first time in over 24 [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Best regards, > ---Cindy S. Cindy, It's good to hear that kidney function can be restored and I'm so glad for your mother! Thanks for your kind words. Bonnie There is good news regarding Tortle! She's not out of the woods yet but her creatinine level dropped from over 11 to around 5. And I got to deal with another vet who was much more encouraging. If her creatinine level stays the same or drops even more, which is what we're looking for, she should be able to come home Tuesday!! She is still not eating but that very well could be due to her personality, little nervous kitty that she is. The vet might try giving her an appetite stimulant. She has urinated several times today--yesterday she had peed only once, in the early am. I guess she's giving the nurses hell, she's ripped out her IV a couple of times and although she doesn't bite she squirms so much they're having quite a time drawing blood on her. We still don't know exactly what happened--one kidney is definitely smaller than the other so may have little or no function left. The other kidney is somewhat enlarged but whether that is because the ureter might have been blocked by a stone or if the enlarged kidney is compensating for the bum kidney the vet isn't sure yet. There is quite a bit of concern that since kidney stones were seen on the ultrasound, she could try to pass another one and become obstructed. Since her urine pH is acidic the vet is concerned she might have calcium oxalate crystals which I guess are harder to deal with than struvite crystals. I can see that I have a lot of research to do. The vet I dealt with today was realistic (she could definitely have kidney problems the rest of her life and she still might not make it) but he was better at explaining things and I feel more confidant than yesterday. Thanks to all of you that responded--it is very definitely appreciated! Bonnie Hurray! Hurray! You just keep that good news coming!!!! :-) :-) :-) I am so happy for you. Best regards, ---Cindy S. > There is good news regarding Tortle! She's not out of the woods yet but > her creatinine level dropped from over 11 to around 5. And I got to deal [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > > Bonnie > There is good news regarding Tortle! She's not out of the woods yet but her > creatinine level dropped from over 11 to around 5 > The vet I dealt with today was realistic (she could definitely have kidney > problems the rest of her life and she still might not make it) but he was > better at explaining things and I feel more confidant than yesterday. .......Great! Hope it continues and you only get the "good" vet from now on. buglady take out the dog before replying > There is good news regarding Tortle! She's not out of the woods yet but her > creatinine level dropped from over 11 to around 5. And I got to deal with [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > > Bonnie Excellent bonnie. I am so pleased that you have found someone that has a better bedside manner and clearer with their instruction & explanation too. I am praying for a positive outcome and will continue to watch out for updates & news of Tortle's antics.. she certainly sounds a lot better if she is giving them a hard time, lol Best Wishes, s;o) > Tortle, my 8 1/2 year old tortoiseshell kitty has been diagnosed with acute > renal failure. It does not appear to be related to food (she doesn't eat [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > Bonnie Sending purrs that Tortie will recover. MLB I'm so sorry that your cat is going through this. My vet said he lost a cat which died of renal failure which he suspects was from eating one of the affected foods. SignatureCat Galaxy: All Cats! All The Time! www.catgalaxymedia.com Panther TEK: Staying On Top Of Your Computer Needs! www.panthertekit.com > Tortle, my 8 1/2 year old tortoiseshell kitty has been diagnosed with > acute renal failure. It does not appear to be related to food (she [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > Bonnie I got to bring Tortle home today. She is doing quite a bit better--her creatinine level dropped to around 3 by Monday. She's eating (after several days of not eating), urinating and defecating normally. With all the IV fluids, she apparently passed the stone blocking her ureter. Now I get to give her fluids sub-Q which should be interesting--she's my hyperactive drama queen and will not tolerate this without a fight! The vets would also like for her to be on a kidney diet but so far she's not interested in anything canned. Her favorite food is Hills T/D--good for her teeth but with her kidney problems, she really needs to be eating wet food. I'm boiling chicken parts for the broth/jelly that I'm hoping will whet her appetite! She is at higher risk now for another blockage so hopefully I can get enough fluids into her to keep her well hydrated. It's good to have her home, though. After 5 hours or so of being home, she's finally relaxing some. I'm going to get a drink-well fountain or something similar which hopefully will encourage her to drink more. Here are some pictures of Tortle and friends http://www.flickr.com/photos/22brix Bonnie >I got to bring Tortle home today. She is doing quite a bit better--her >creatinine level dropped to around 3 by Monday. She's eating (after [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > Bonnie That is wonderful news! Best of luck with your girl. She's certainly beautiful. I hope the sub-Q's go well for you. I have to do that too, in fact I'm warming some up in a dish of warm water right now. I think my cat has actually started to enjoy getting them, he must realize that they help him. I stroke his chin and he purs the whole time and is very content. It wasn't like that the first couple of times though. Good luck! > That is wonderful news! Best of luck with your girl. She's certainly > beautiful. Thank you ! I think she's gorgeous, too. She has the most wonderful plush fur, although she looks strange right now. She has a shaved foreleg, neck area and belly. > I hope the sub-Q's go well for you. I have to do that too, in fact I'm > warming some up in a dish of warm water right now. I think my cat has > actually started to enjoy getting them, he must realize that they help > him. I stroke his chin and he purs the whole time and is very content. It > wasn't like that the first couple of times though. Good luck! My cat Molly is on fluids so at least I've had some experience giving them. She has tolerated it beautifully from the beginning--purring right from the start. She holds very still and is just an angel. And I agree--I think she knows it will make her feel better. Tortle is a entirely a different kettle of fish. She is squirmy, lightening fast and protests vigorously any attempt to hold her still! Should make for an interesting evening--tonight will be our first attempt. Bonnie >I got to bring Tortle home today. She is doing quite a bit better--her >creatinine level dropped to around 3 by Monday. She's eating (after [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/22brix ------------ Hurray, hurray! Bonnie, this is such wonderful news! And FTR, it really ticks me off that the vet started out with such a negative attitude. Humans form and pass kidney and bladder stones all the time, and I've never heard of a doctor giving up on a human patient because of a stone (or before knowing why the person is in acute renal failure in the first place). But at any rate, Tortle is hopefully as good as new. I'm so happy for you. Best regards, ---Cindy S. > Hurray, hurray! Bonnie, this is such wonderful news! And FTR, it really > ticks me off that the vet started out with such a negative attitude. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Best regards, > ---Cindy S. I'm thrilled to have her home! I didn't have to work with the original vet after Saturday. The other vet was much more encouraging although Tortle still could have some major problems ahead. As he put it, she's won the battle but not the war, yet. I guess with cats their ureters are so tiny it's very hard to pass the stones. They did see a few more stones in her kidney when they did ultrasound. She might need surgery in the future but it would be highly risky and might not help at all. My own vet was also more positive than the original vet and she very diplomatically said she disagreed with her. Right now the battle is getting fluids into her and encouraging her to eat. She ate well last night and was even interested in birthday cake (no, I didn't give her any!) but threw up this morning. She's eaten a little but isn't very interested in anything. The last few days have been very traumatic for her, with a hospital stay and a long drive there and back. I hope she settles down and we can concentrate on getting her healthy again! Bonnie >> Hurray, hurray! Bonnie, this is such wonderful news! And FTR, it really >> ticks me off that the vet started out with such a negative attitude. [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > I hope she settles down and we can concentrate on getting her healthy > again! ------- Don't forget that 2.5 to 5 mg/day of Pepcid can work wonders for cats who feel nauseated (from either kidney problems or gastric problems). Ask your vet if this would be okay for Tortle, if you're not doing it already. I saw a major change in Alex's attitude and appetite once I started him on Pepcid. Again, this is wonderful news about Tortle! Best regards, ---Cindy S. >>> Hurray, hurray! Bonnie, this is such wonderful news! And FTR, it really >>> ticks me off that the vet started out with such a negative attitude. [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > Best regards, > ---Cindy S. We started her on some Pepcid last night! The emergency vet wants us to give her 2.5 mg daily for 5 days. Did you see an immediate change in his appetite or did it take a day or two? I'm a little worried about her today--she ate a few bites of dry food but is disinterested in anything else. They gave her appetite stimulants while in the hospital--I wonder if she should still be on them. I'm hoping she's just resting up after her long hospital stay. She's such an emotional little thing--it takes her a long time to settle down even from a vet checkup. Right now she's curled up on top of the monitor where it's nice and warm, purring. I do have a recheck appointment at my local vet clinic tomorrow so can address some of my questions and concerns then. Bonnie snip > We started her on some Pepcid last night! The emergency vet wants us to > give her 2.5 mg daily for 5 days. Did you see an immediate change in his > appetite or did it take a day or two? It took several hours to see a change in Alex, maybe longer, but it was faster than a day or two, but remember that every cat is different. > I'm a little worried about her today--she ate a few bites of dry food but > is disinterested in anything else. They gave her appetite stimulants > while in the hospital--I wonder if she should still be on them. What did they give her? >I'm hoping she's just resting up after her long hospital stay. She's such >an emotional little thing--it takes her a long time to settle down even >from a vet checkup. Right now she's curled up on top of the monitor where >it's nice and warm, purring. I do have a recheck appointment at my local >vet clinic tomorrow so can address some of my questions and concerns then. I hope her appetite improves soon. Please update us after tomorrow's appointment. Many purrs continuing to come your way. Best regards, ---Cindy S. > I hope her appetite improves soon. Please update us after tomorrow's > appointment. > Many purrs continuing to come your way. > Best regards, > ---Cindy S. Thanks Cindy! She had her vet visit today. She seems in better spirits today, so far no vomiting. The vet drew bloods--sent part of it out for more testing and did a few tests in house. They couldn't do a creatinine "in-house" because of a problem with that particular test but her BUN is better than it was. It is around 50 which is still high but much better than the 100+ it was! She is slightly anemic so hopefully as she feels better and eats more that will get better, too. They should have more complete blood results tomorrow for me. Overall the vet was pleased with her progress but is concerned about her appetite. She sent me home with Cyproheptadine for appetite stimulation, suggested giving the Pepcid twice a day (0.25 mg ea. time). For a little bit we will be giving her 75-100 mg fluids sub-Q daily. I can see between Molly and Tortle I'm going to have a sub-Q assembly line! We gave Tortle some fluids last night and I was surprised that it went reasonably well--I think we caught her off guard. My husband is very good at holding Tortle--I'm hoping we don't have to do this very long and also would like to give the fluids without too much emotional trauma on her part! In addition to stimulating appetite I guess the Cyproheptadine does block histamines and can make cats a little more mellow--it sure would help. It's still a watch and wait game--she only has one functioning kidney left but I'm just trying to take one day at a time. I think all the vets involved have been surprised that she has pulled through so far; many if not most ARF kitties don't survive. Anyway, I'm enjoying her and cherishing every minute I have with her and hope she continues to improve! Bonnie She's acting a little more chipper today, purred and sat on my shoulder and head at the vets, sweet little cherub! >> I hope her appetite improves soon. Please update us after tomorrow's >> appointment. [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > it was. It is around 50 which is still high but much better than the 100+ > it was! I'm so glad that things are improving. > She is slightly anemic so hopefully as she feels better and eats more that > will get better, too. They should have more complete blood results > tomorrow for me. > > Overall the vet was pleased with her progress but is concerned about her > appetite. She sent me home with Cyproheptadine for appetite stimulation, Please be careful with Cyproheptadine as it has side effects. When my Molly was alive, I also gave her cyproheptadine for an appetite stimulant. The first time I tried it, it worked great. The second time...she was yowling. (Yowling is one of the possible common side effects). I don't know what causes the yowling, but I will assume it signals an upset stomach. The yowling was so bad, I was wondering how she/we would be able to make it through the night like that. Fortunately, the yowling stopped after a couple of hours. This all happened very close to the end of Molly's life. For the last year of Molly's life, she lived almost exclusively on human tuna, which was the only thing she would eat (other than deli meat or cooked meat or chicken). I supplemented her with Felovite II (cat vitamins) to ensure she would get the vitamins she needed which were obviously not in the Bumble Bee tuna, etc. With Alex, I have seen a major appetite improvement with the Pepcid. We haven't started the subcu fluids with Alex yet. I'm not sure if they improved Molly's appetite at all (I think they did) but by the time the vet suggested starting them, she was very close to the end, so she actually had subcu fluids only a couple of times before we made the decision to euthanize. > suggested giving the Pepcid twice a day (0.25 mg ea. time). For a little > bit we will be giving her 75-100 mg fluids sub-Q daily. I can see between [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > not most ARF kitties don't survive. Anyway, I'm enjoying her and > cherishing every minute I have with her and hope she continues to improve! My mother had one of her kidneys removed in 1997 due to cancer, and she has been living with only one kidney for 10 years and doing fine. Purrs for continued improvement and good health for both your cats. Best regards, ---Cindy S. >>> I hope her appetite improves soon. Please update us after tomorrow's >>> appointment. [quoted text clipped - 62 lines] > Best regards, > ---Cindy S. Thanks, Cindy! Tortle's appetite has definitely been stimulated--but she'll still only her dry food voluntarily. She is still pretty subdued--I suppose that is to be expected after such a serious illness but I still worry. . .! I'm a nervous cat mom--what can I say! Thanks for telling me about Molly's experiences with Cyproheptadine--scary! I don't want to use it any longer than I have to. I'm giving Tortle 2.5 mg pepcid twice a day for one or two more days. She hasn't thrown up since the first morning home (Thursday). I plan to consult with my vet on Monday again. Thanks for all your words of encouragement! Bonnie >Thanks for telling me about Molly's experiences with Cyproheptadine--scary! >I don't want to use it any longer than I have to. I'm giving Tortle 2.5 mg >pepcid twice a day for one or two more days. She hasn't thrown up since the >first morning home (Thursday). I plan to consult with my vet on Monday >again. Another thing I did to help with appetite was to take a favorite flavor of canned food, add some water, and then use a dropper to feed some. Kira objected a little at first, but I think once she got some of it down, then she was decided she did want some. It was helpful to for her to get a taste of it. > >>> I hope her appetite improves soon. Please update us after tomorrow's > >>> appointment. [quoted text clipped - 81 lines] > > - Show quoted text - I am so pleased to hear that she is @ home, where she should be with all of her feline and human slave around her. I am certain that some of the problems that cats have are induced by simply being in unfamiliar surroundings. That is not to say that animal hospitals are not good, merely that a (girl)..cat likes to know her patch... I followed your post & the idea of of broth to help feed and nourish her as well as keeping her hydrated. A brilliant idea it was too!.. Because I don't know very much about the subject, I was reluctant to post my thoughts, but to hell with it. The worst that can happen is that I will make myself look silly... ( & it certainly wouldn't be the first, nor the last time, I am sure,lol:o) When any of my Queens looked like they needed a bit of a boost, I use Cimmi cat powdered dry milk, for lactating Queens & Kittens. Most cats seem to have an affinity for this milk & it is designed for cats well being and consumption. However, I don't know if it would be appropriate in Tortle's case, so you may have to ask. The reason that I thought of this, is because when syringe feeding was mentioned, I thought of our girls. Whenever I mix formula for the kittens, all of the queens would line up for their share of the milk after the kittens had drunk their fill. It is wet, nourishing & she might not protest about it, & may even enjoy it..Mine enjoyed receiving it through a syringe & cock their heads to one side to make sure none of it spilled out either. I might be telling you the wrong thing though, so please do check? It is just a thought....because they loved it so much that they didn't want to risk the thought of loosing a drop of it... It must be wonderful to have her home again? I know from my own recent experiences that it can be a drain on the soul when your cat is parted from the family. I found it such a relief when both Tiggy & Ringo got home. It took hours of driving to go and see them, but @ the same token, there was no question of not going to see how they were doing. I know I could quite easily have just called for a very reliable update on both of them whilst they were @ surgery, but it is not the same as burying your nose in their fur & having nose nuzzles with them, is it? It's nice to hear that she is giving you nose nips, lol;o) Lilly, our seal Birman does that too.. you have our whole hearted best wishes & soothing purrs for Tortle & the rest of your feline family, for continued well being & playtime in your sleeping hours, lol;o) May she keep up the vigorous protests for many years to come whilst you chase her with the Subs >"o"< S;o) > >>> I hope her appetite improves soon. Please update us after tomorrow's > >>> appointment. [quoted text clipped - 81 lines] > > - Show quoted text - Hi Bonnie, How is Tortle doing presently? And how are you coping too? Hugs N Head Butts, S;o) >> >>> I hope her appetite improves soon. Please update us after tomorrow's >> >>> appointment. [quoted text clipped - 114 lines] > Hugs N Head Butts, > S;o) Hi Sheelagh, Tortle is doing quite well, especially in the last day or two. She's on an appetite stimulant and her appetite has definitely been stimulated! She is more interested in food than I've ever seen her, to the point where she is eating some dry kidney food. This is pretty amazing for Tortle--she's normally very finicky. She wants me to sit next to her while she's eating, she'll paw my leg, I pet her and she eats some more and then she'll paw my leg again. She's quite needy--doesn't really want to be held but wants to be near me. She is very crabby to my other cats--her poor bewildered brother Hailey is quite confused when she growls at him. She's getting more active and playful. I'm trying to give her subcutaneous fluids and succeeding more than I'm failing but she is quite vocal about her displeasure. She certainly is not as tolerant as Molly. I'm not always able to get the entire 100 cc's into her. We're hoping her blood levels will improve and that she'll eventually not need the fluids. She's coping better than I am--Molly hasn't been doing very well and so I am worried about her, too. The two of them love to cuddle together. Currently they are both getting subcutaneous fluids daily. With all the medications for them and our geriatric dog, I could stock a pharmacy! How are Tiggy's babies? I'd love to see any new photos of them! Bonnie on Thu, 12 Apr 2007 05:51:12 GMT, "22brix" <spamdavidk@pacific.net> wrote: > Tortle is doing quite well, especially in the last day or two. She's > on an appetite stimulant and her appetite has definitely been [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > With all the medications for them and our geriatric dog, I could stock > a pharmacy! Bonnie, I'm very relieved to hear that Tortle is doing so well. I hope Molly will come along, too. SignatureLynne >Please be careful with Cyproheptadine as it has side effects. When my Molly >was alive, I also gave her cyproheptadine for an appetite stimulant. The [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >through the night like that. Fortunately, the yowling stopped after a couple >of hours. Kira had the same reaction, and it was the first time I gave it to her. She was also doing worse with the anemia, so she was pacing and yowling from the stimulant, and panting and falling off the furniture from being weak. I was in tears all night and afraid she would die. I spent over an hour online looking up side effects for the stimulant and felt bettwre after finding them and Kira finally settling down. I did not use them again with her. I did use them for Chase a few times, and he had no problems with them. I did make sure to use it earlier in the day though so I could call the vet if needed. And not have to spend the night worrying. That night with Kira was horrible. |
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