chronic renal failure in cats

[Denine]

Please tell me you success stories. My 11 yo Shannon was just diagnosed today.

 

[sammi]

Denine I have no knowledge of this disease but I can just imagine what you're going through. I also am a huge cat lover and have been through illnesses with my fur babies.

I'm giving this a bump for you in hopes of finding someone who can help you.

{{{hugs}}} for your kitty and you!

 

[Robinrs]

I'm so sorry Denine.

It's never good to get a diagnosis for your furbabies....

I've been through cancer but not this. I know you'll get some great advice here.

God bless,

Robinrs

 

[mickey65]

My Lucy was diagnosed with renal failure last May. She also lost her vision from the high blood pressure that can accompany renal failure. I *almost* had her put down because she was so sick. I could just not do it though, because although she was sick she was still eating and wanting to cuddle ect. So......I got her on the meds she needed to be on and changed her food to stuff I have to buy right from the vet. Another Diser on the boards was also very helpful to me (thanks Pat ) I am happy to say that although Lucy is still blind (that will never come back) and she still has kidney disease she is doing much better. She has gained 3 pounds! She will ahve to have her meds everyday for the rest of her life but I am so glad that I made the decision I did. I know how hard it is to have our fur babies sick. If you need to talk or want more information on the meds and food I have Lucy on please send me a PM.

{{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}}}

 

[Carl]

I'm sorry to say that the prognosis is not good. I've had two cats die from this. Sometimes you can let the vet put them on an IV and force feed them and flush out the kidneys. Then you put them on a special low protein diet, but unfortunately they don't seem to last long after that.

 

[DebbieB]

Our cat was diagnosed with kidney disease in late 1999. We put her on a low protein diet (prescription K/D dry food & Friskies special diet wet food) and she held her own with her numbers only slightly elevated. Unfortuantely, last May her numbers suddenly went off the scale and we put her to sleep in June, she was 15 1/2. But she had over 3 1/2 good years after being diagnosed.

 

[Denine]

Thanks guys!

Shannon has had 3 doses of subcutaneous fluids since Friday which had hydrated her. We got her to eat some sardines, chicken, lunchmeat and some tuna. But after she had all those things once, she doesn't want anymore.
She mostly hides, doesn't want to bathe or eat. She is drinking.
The vet is supposed to call back today. The problem is, she already has heart problems. She has been on 2 heart meds for about a year, so this is really complicating everything.
Also, we leave on Saturday for WDW for 11 days.
I am afraid we will have to make a decision we do not want to make.
I lost a cat to FIP 3 years ago, I have another cat with asthma and a 14 month old daughter. I just don't have the time or energy to put into this that I would like.

 

[Pat_Elliott]

Denine,

While past performance is no promise of future success, I give you the following happy story.

Spike was diagnosed with CRF in January 2001. At that point, a month shy of age fifteen and way down in weight (7 lbs from 11 two months prior), the vet told us to love him and enjoy him. They assumed he had three months, tops. DW and I agreed if we thought him in any pain, as hard as it would be we'd put him down.

Spike has now lived with this disease for over 2.5 years. He'll celebrate his 18th birthday, with any luck, on February 1, 2004. Unforatuntely, he's just been diagnosed with thyroid disease (pretty common in cats this age), and the two diseases are fighting each other hard to make him not eat. The weight is probably going to get him before either disease.

We're sad at this time for fear of losing him. However, we've had almost three years of him enjoying life. We've given him a major run of the house and more love than he knows what to do with. Although I'll be sad when we lose him, I'll know he's been treated like a king for a while and knows how we feel. My suggestions: do your best to get him to eat; don't go bats every time he looks "down," because you'll drive yourself crazy; and spend time being happy you have him, not worrying about when you won't.

Any questions, feel free to PM me.

 

[Denine]

Thanks Pat.

Shannon just isn't happy. She wants nothing to do with any of her favorite activites, even lying in the sun. She is eating a little, but not much.
I am afraid something will happen to her while we are gone, and I couldn't live with that.
The vet is going to call again today.

 

[Robinrs]

Denine, pray for the best.

Pat, I know how you feel...

I had a cat with cancer and thyroid disease who lived three years longer than he was expected to, also.

I spent those three years enjoying every second that he was alive, knowing the day would come that I would lose him. We totally enjoyed him, he was the sweetest cat you could imagine, praying every day for just one more day.

I dedicated the song from Tarzan, You'll Be In My Heart to those days:

Come stop your crying
It will be all right
Just take my hand
Hold it tight

I will protect you
from all around you
I will be here
Don't you cry

For one so small,
you seem so strong
My arms will hold you,
keep you safe and warm
This bond between us
can't be broken
I will be here
Don't you cry

'Cause you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more
You'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You'll be here
in my heart always
Always

 

[Denine]

Shannon is going to live at Rainbow Bridge at 4 PM today. The vet said we are making the right decision.
Thanks for your support.

 

[Virgo10]

Originally posted by Denine
Shannon is going to live at Rainbow Bridge at 4 PM today. The vet said we are making the right decision.
Thanks for your support.

I'm so sorry. We lost the Old Cat to this disease when he was 15 years old. It was right around this time of the year and I still miss him.
I wrote this poem for him. I hope you will find some comfort from it.


The Old Cat
http://virgo10.tripod.com/oldcat.html

Roberta

 

[sammi]

I'm so sorry.

 

[Denine]

Thank you. Shannon is now gone from our home, but not from our hearts. The vet said she would have made the same decision.
It hurts terribly, but I know it will ease over time.

 

[Robinrs]

Oh, Denine... I am so sorry to hear this.

God bless you, honey. I know the pain of losing a pet, it is so hard. They love you so unconditionally, it makes them so important to who we are.

Like the song says, Shannon will always be in your heart, always.

I now have 4 little baby cats who are all a little bit of my Rambo. Each one fills the hole that was left in my heart when he left us. They have made me a happy person again.

Whatever way you choose to get back on your feet, do it. It will be hard but you'll be alright, believe me, I know.

Again, I am so sorry.....

God bless,

Robinrs

 

[disneygals]

So sorry for your loss...

Vivienne

 

[Cruisin]

It is so sad to lose such a special friend.
My Fluff was sick and on medication in august 2002. She had just been to the vet the day before and was to go back the next day. I let her in the backyard for a bit and watched her. I decided to make a slice of toast. When I turned back around she was gone. We never saw her again. It made me so sad that she just disappeared like that, I didn't like the thought of her having to die alone.
In Jan of this year we got our sweet little Mischief who just turned 1 year old 2 weeks ago. She is the joy of our house now. We never forget the ones that have gone before.

 

[mickey65]

I am sorry for your loss I know how very hard it is too.

{{{{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

 

[Denine]

Thank you everyone. My Ollie is lonely without his big sister. We are having our pet sitter come every day while we are in WDW. We leave in the morning.

 

[Pat_Elliott]

Denine,

I was so sorry to return from Thanksgiving and find Shannon was no longer with you, but happy to hear you made a tough, correct (IMO) decision. Here's hoping you were able to enjoy WDW.

We also came back to find our own cat has, unfortunately, taken a nasty turn for the worse with his thyroid, dropping half a pound in week from his already emaciated frame. After consulting with the vet and doing much research, we've determined the thyroid treatments, at his weight and age (5.9 lbs, three months shy of 18), would make him miserable and probably destroy the kidneys anyway. So we've decided to say enough is enough, comfort Spike, and let nature take its course. We figure the last Christmas gift we can give him is to not truck him back and forth to the vet and stick more pills down his throat.

You have my condolences. I know how you feel.