Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Has Anyone Had To Go Through A Cat With Chronic Renal Failure?
11/25/10 | Me

Posted on 11/25/2010 8:54:14 AM PST by NoGrayZone

For the last couple of months, I thought my elder kitty was just going senile. She turned 19 this summer and has the usual "old cat" look....frail back and hind legs, loss of muscle and weight and just looks "old". She also started tinkling and pooping outside her liter box and seemed obsessed with her water bowl (hovering over it for hours).

She has hip dysplasia and "old cat back", which cortisone shots took care of 2-3 years ago, then they stopped working. I found Syn-Flex for pets online and she made a miraculous recovery.

The vets did all kinds of tests, etc last time I bought her in and nothing came back. I started seeing weird symptoms for the past month, but just assumed she was getting senile.

I looked up her symptoms and found CRF, which is common at her age. There is no cure, it only gets worse. I do not want to bring her to the vets. Last time she was there (my original vet is now elder and seemed to have lost some of his mind, perhaps senility is creeping in. I heard that in the vets office). I don't like the other vets there, nor trust them from my last experience.

There is also no cure for it.....just things to do to ease any symptoms to make them more comfortable.

I found, online, Tinkle Tonic, which seems to ease a lot of symptoms for this disease.

I was just wondering if any FReepers had to or are dealing with this and perhaps can give me some helpful advice.


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Miscellaneous; Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: cat; crf; kittyping; lossofpet; pets
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 161-162 next last
To: WayneH
I will definitely do that, thank you!
21 posted on 11/25/2010 9:16:28 AM PST by NoGrayZone (This is not an election on November 2. This is a restraining order. - PJ O'Rourke)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: NoGrayZone
I had a kitty with that. He was the Kitty Ambassador to human beings; even those who didn't like kitties loved this guy. Most laid back, loving, cool cat I've ever had.

I knew something was wrong several years before it showed up in tests. Even took him to a university hospital, but apparently they can lose 70% of their function before it shows up.

I lost him way too early, at 14 years old. He had several small strokes which he seemed to deal with okay, but then had a big one and I had to put him to sleep. Broke my heart. I still miss him.

Photobucket

PhotobucketLosing a pet is never easy; all we can do is limit their suffering. I'm so sorry. Do you have photos of her?

22 posted on 11/25/2010 9:18:58 AM PST by teenyelliott (www.thewaterrock.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Zionist Conspirator
"I am so sorry for what you are going through. This isn't going to help any, but I just want you to know that this happens to everyone who has an animal friend. It's inevitable. You are not alone in your pain. "

You have absolutely no idea how much that means to me. It does feel lonely and knowing you and so many others are here and have had to go through the same is very comforting.

Thank you for your kind words.

23 posted on 11/25/2010 9:19:24 AM PST by NoGrayZone (This is not an election on November 2. This is a restraining order. - PJ O'Rourke)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Condor51
"We finally had to .... well, you know."

I am so sorry for your loss. These past 4 days I just keep trying to think how on earth am I supposed to live without her?

I think our agony is probably much worse than theirs is.

24 posted on 11/25/2010 9:25:00 AM PST by NoGrayZone (This is not an election on November 2. This is a restraining order. - PJ O'Rourke)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Nepeta
The problem is that pure water is very reactive. It binds with minerals and does leach out minerals from the body as it moves through.

It's well documented. Basic science stuff.

/johnny

25 posted on 11/25/2010 9:28:08 AM PST by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: NoGrayZone
I just went through CRF with an 8yo Siamese. He was diagnosed at 7-1/2. It is an emotional roller coaster. He lived another nine months before it finally got him. He was my buddy and I will never forget him

You may or may not know about this CRF support group. It is excellent.

http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/Feline-CRF-Support/

My heart goes out to you.

26 posted on 11/25/2010 9:28:14 AM PST by SMM48
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Calliecat; All

Thank you so much and to all my fellow FReepers. You have no idea how comforting it is to hear your words and advice and also to know I am not alone.


27 posted on 11/25/2010 9:28:29 AM PST by NoGrayZone (This is not an election on November 2. This is a restraining order. - PJ O'Rourke)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: NoGrayZone
The most important thing to manage CRF symptoms is monitoring blood levels and likely administering sub cutaneous fluids. This is hard, but not impossible, if you don't want to take your cat to the vet. She likely has elevated BUN (blood uric nitrogen) and creatinine levels. To bring these levels down and often to see a huge improvement in your companion's energy level and happiness, subQ fluids once or twice a week are a great treatment. You can buy subQ packs from your vet for you to administer at home. The other likely cause of lassitude is anemia and a common drug to increase red blood cell supply is Epogen.
28 posted on 11/25/2010 9:30:36 AM PST by Truth29
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: NoGrayZone
The Power of the Dog
by
Rudyard Kipling

There is sorrow enough in the natural way
From men and women to fill our day;
And when we are certain of sorrow in store,
Why do we always arrange for more?
Brothers and sisters, I bid you beware
Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.

Buy a pup and your money will buy
Love unflinching that cannot lie--
Perfect passsion and worship fed
By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head.
Nevertheless it is hardly fair
To risk your heart to a dog to tear.

When the fourteen years which Nature permits
Are closing in asthma, or tumour, or fits,
And the vet's unspoken prescription runs
To lethal chambers or loaded guns,
Then you will find--it's your own affair--
But ... you've given your heart to a dog to tear.

When the body that lived at your single will,
With its whimper of welcome, is stilled (how still!)
When the spirit that answered your every mood
Is gone--wherever it goes--for good,
You will discover how much you care,
And will give your heart to a dog to tear.

We've sorrow enough in the natural way,
When it comes to burying Christian clay.
Our loves are not given, but only lent,
At compound interest of cent per cent.
Though it is not always the case, I believe,
That the longer we've kept 'em, the more do we grieve:
For, when debts are payable, right or wrong,
A short-term loan is as bad as a long--
So why in--Heaven (before we are there)
Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?

29 posted on 11/25/2010 9:33:04 AM PST by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: NoGrayZone
We nursed an old cat through about two years of additional life with minimal expense, and she appeared to have a good quality of life for most of this time. When she finally got to where the treatments didn't accomplish much, we finally had her put down.
Essentially the treatments involved the veterinarian filling her abdominal cavity with saline fluid and letting this saline pull (by osmosis) the toxins from her body (thus giving her kidneys a rest). This is basically a form of dialysis.

The treatments were not that expensive. I seem to remember about 80 dollars (this was back in the early ‘90s) The first treatment got her about 6 additional months. Each subsequent “dialysis” lasted a shorter period of time - I guess because her kidney function continued declining.

Then the toxins build up again and she needed another treatment. The cat was in and out of the vet quickly, taking 5 or 6 hours, if I remember correctly - for the entire fill and drain process.

There was also a change of diet to reduce the metabolic toxins and reduce the load on the kidneys.

When all was said and done, we got her another 2 years or so, probably at a cost of around 400-500 dollars.

Our vet had a theory that soybeans in cat food produced a lot of toxins that were hard on the cat kidneys, and since that time I have read cat food labels and tried to minimize the amount of soybean meal they eat.

I now feed a Diamond brand dry food, and it has no corn, soy, beef, or wheat. It is a chicken and rice formula, and costs about $20 for an 12 pound bag at Tractor Supply.

Since being on this food, my cats have been especially healthy. I believe it has reduced the number of skin and digestive problems, and they appear to thrive on it.

As for your cat, 19 years may not be enough for you, but this really has been a good long life for your kitty. And there does come a point where we need to let them go. But maybe you aren't at this point yet. You might want to ask your vet about this procedure, and maybe get a second opinion. I apologize for not having more details, but it has been a long time.
Good luck with your kitty cat.

30 posted on 11/25/2010 9:33:22 AM PST by WayneM (Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Nepeta; JRandomFreeper; Glennb51
We (and cats) actually do obtain minerals from our drinking water. Consider Gatorade — a means of adding electrolytes (minerals) to athletes bodies.

I had a cat with CRF & treated her from age 18+ through to 20+, with a saline solution (similar to the lacted ringer's solution that Glennb51 described using in #13). That ensured that the cat had sufficient water, and also the critically important electrolytes. The solution was prescribed by my vet; as was a special low-protein diet food (also obtainable from veterinarians.

BTW, from this ordeal, I learned that cats typically don't drink enough. If they don't get enough fluids, that hurts the kidneys, and can lead to CRF. They can get part of their fluids from soft cat food; but, if you feed them kibble, they need to drink more. I also learned that cats like to drink flowing water. The Bengal breed won't drink still water at all. I now have one of those cat drinking-water fountains. My cats drink more water as a result. I consider the fountain essential, to help prevent another case of CRF.

31 posted on 11/25/2010 9:37:53 AM PST by USFRIENDINVICTORIA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: NoGrayZone

Yes. It’s terribke and hopeless. Time to put her to sleep and end her suffering.


32 posted on 11/25/2010 9:39:30 AM PST by kabumpo (Kabumpo)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NoGrayZone

Are you sure that your cat is not diabetic? We have an older cat, and the weak back legs and hovering over the water bowl are similar symptoms. Our cat gets daily insulin injections now and doing much better. He actually went into remission for a while and did not need the insulin. Strength has returned to his back legs. We feed him Purina M/D cat food, Evo grain free cat food and canned food at least once a day. If possible, you should try to get your cat completely off dry food and stick with the high quality canned food as much as possible.


33 posted on 11/25/2010 9:39:54 AM PST by smokingfrog ( ><}}}}}}(0>)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NoGrayZone

We had a sweet little girl kitty, a tortie point Himalayan who was 16 years old.

Last year she had the exact same symptoms.

She had renal failure and nothing could be done.

We cried and it broke our hearts, but we had to let her go or else let her suffer. Not to mention the mess in the house.

One month later we lost another kitty to complications of dental disease. That kitty was 17 years old.


34 posted on 11/25/2010 9:41:06 AM PST by dforest
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NoGrayZone

This is so hard I know. I just said a little prayer for your cat. It is the hardest thing to go thru. I have had cats in the past. They lived a long time as well. It is never long enough with our pets. Prayers for sure!


35 posted on 11/25/2010 9:41:22 AM PST by ColdOne (Happy Thanksgiving and God Bless!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NoGrayZone

She will let you know when she wants to go!


36 posted on 11/25/2010 9:44:08 AM PST by PROTESTBYPROXY (We are manning up!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: NoGrayZone; Slings and Arrows; Glenn; republicangel; Beaker; BADROTOFINGER; etabeta; asgardshill; ..

37 posted on 11/25/2010 9:44:54 AM PST by Slings and Arrows (You can't have IngSoc without an Emmanuel Goldstein.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: teenyelliott
Here she is. She was quite a little meanie in her younger years....

Photobucket

38 posted on 11/25/2010 9:45:15 AM PST by NoGrayZone (This is not an election on November 2. This is a restraining order. - PJ O'Rourke)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: teenyelliott

We have a 17 year old Maine Coon that looks just like your kitty.

I had to respond because you described the personality of our little old guy.

He has always been the 1st to welcome a new kitty too. People love him.

He is really showing his age now. When we lose him we will really mourn.


39 posted on 11/25/2010 9:50:44 AM PST by dforest
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: WayneM

Thank you. I know 19 years is quite a long time for cats, but I do wish it were longer. I truly believed Kitty would live to be at least 25 years old.

Her decline seemed to come on so quickly, I just haven’t had enough time to come to grips with it.

It’s very selfish of me, that I know. I just can’t let go yet. I will do everything every FReeper has posted here. I love her too much not to try anything and everything.


40 posted on 11/25/2010 9:51:04 AM PST by NoGrayZone (This is not an election on November 2. This is a restraining order. - PJ O'Rourke)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 161-162 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson