circa Sun, 13 Jun 2004 11:40:24 -0500, in alt.cats, Pete Bridwell
(bridwell@CATcox.net) said,

Well, she's definitely old enough that CRF isn't out of the realm of
possibility. The key to treating CRF, IMO, is to catch it early.

As far as the cost for the tests, it's just a regular geriatric blood
workup, and that's what you'd want to ask the vet to do,
specifically. That way, they'll check for all the age-related stuff
and probably do a hyperthyroid test, as well. I *think* that the last
time I had Jacob's bloodwork done, it was about $85. I could go dig
up my receipts, but I'm on crutches right now and it would take me
forever. <G> An initial full geriatric workup will likely run you
around $100, I'm guessing.

So, in answer to your question about the "fix" if it is renal
failure...unfortunately, there is no fix. CRF is a terminal disease.
*However*, many cats with CRF do not die of CRF if they're treated
for the CRF as early and as well as possible. The treatment course
basically goes something like this:

If the cat is in early-stage renal failure, often the only change
implemented is to switch the cat to a diet with very restricted
phosphorus content, and usually restricted protein content, as well,
although the current thinking is that it's phophorus more than
protein that is the culprit in exacerbating CRF. These diets are
generally not cost-prohibitive, although they are more expensive than
supermarket cat food.

As the disease progresses, which can be very slowly, cats are often
begun on subcutaneous fluid therapy. This involves using a needle,
drip set and bag of lactated Ringers or straight saline if calcium
levels become a problem at some point. The fluid is injected (usually
by the owner, and it's not difficult to learn to do it) under the
cat's skin in amounts and at intervals determined by the veterinarian
based on the cat's condition. The reason that fluid therapy is
usually implemented is because the cat eventually gets to a point
where it cannot take in enough fluid by drinking and eating to
compensate for the amount that it is urinating. As the kidneys
worsen, they start concentrating the urine less and outputting urine
in greater quantity and lower concentration. Fluids and supplies can
be purchased from your veterinarian, or you can get a prescription
from your veterinarian and purchase them from a pharmacy or a mail-
order company. I just got three months' worth of supplies for my cat
for $50 (I'll give you a link at the end of this that has lists of
places where you can get fluids and such.)

Various medications and natural remedies are implemented to address
conditions that arise.

For example, many cats with CRF develop constipation. At that time,
the cats may have canned pumpkin, lactulose or metamucil added to
their diets.

As stomach acid causes vomiting and foul breath, cats may be given
Pepcid, Zantac, Tagamet and/or slippery elm bark to help counteract
it (and this can be prescribed early in the disease as well as late
in the disease- it depends on the symptoms of the cat in question).

Cats with renal failure may develop anemia over time, and that can be
treated with things such as iron supplements, B vitamin supplements,
or eventually drugs such as Procrit or anabolic steroids.

Cats with CRF should be checked for hypertension (high blood
pressure), which is simple but does require that the veterinarian
have the proper equipment to test blood pressure in small animals. If
the cat has hypertension, which can cause myriad complications and
problems, that can be treated with medication such as Norvasc or with
ACE inhibitors.

There are various other conditions that can arise as kidney disease
progresses, and each is treated as it occurs. Not every condition
appears in every cat; each case is unique. In any case, below are
various links for you to peruse, and please post back after your cat
has been to the vet. :-)

http://www.felinecrf.org
http://www.felinecrf.com
http://members.verizon.net/~vze2r6qt/supplies/compare.htm (this is a
link to supply houses; I get mine at Direct Medical out of Alabama.
http://www.dmi2.com/productCat1635.ctlg )

HTH,

Laura

In central New York it is about $84.00 for a complete blood workup plus
the Vet. charges

I'd take her to the vet also.  I just lost one of my kitties and this was one
of first symptoms.  She ended up having a tumor that obstructed her bowel and
she couldn't digest any food.  Yes, I would agree.  Get her checked out by your
vet just to be safe.

Liz