Early Stage Kidney Failure in Monty??

[jennielynn1970]

I just received an email from a woman who adopted my love bug Monty and said she just took him to the vet because he was drinking a lot of water and peeing excessively, and after tests were run, the vet diagnosed him with early stage kidney failure.

I know others have gone through this. This isn't a death sentence, is it??? Monty is such a sweet heart!! I wonder what causes this?? he was a stray for a while, and was in the shelter in Huntingdon, but he was such a good boy here with me. I always said he was mellow, and the vet said it's LETHARGY. Boy do I feel like a bad foster mom I thought he was ok after the UTI. He was laid back and mellow when I picked him up originally. I wouldn't have said lethargic. I just thought he was older what we were told.

Is there anything that can be done?? The woman who adopted him said they plan to keep him at home and happy, but that sounds like a death sentence. I don't see where this has to be envisioning the cat dying in a few months.... is it??? I feel so helpless and like I've totally let this poor boy down, not to mention the new owners. Monty is such a good boy. So polite and so sweet. He so doesn't deserve this.

Please, any suggestions will be appreciated, and any thoughts and prayers for him would be too.

[Freedom]

In many cases, kidney disease is hereditary. That is what the vet suspected with my Mr. Amber Cat. I think it was the prednisone.

I think that was one of the problems with the food recalls, so it can be caused by foods too.

No telling how rapidly or slowly it will progress. Sometimes a change in food can slow the progress and the cat will live happily for YEARS.

At some point, the cat may need sub q fluids. Amber started once every other day. Got to the point of 4 times per day when I said no, that is enough.

It is not a death sentence; it is more likely that the cat will die of kidney issues than of something else, now that this has shown up.

[jenluckenbach]

Kidney failure is not something I have dealt with, but I wish Monty ALL the best.

[kb2yjx]

I am so sorry to read about Monty. In our cat family over the years and presently, we have kidney cats. Raven was rescued on 8/6/2000, at the age of four. That November, she was diagnosised with kidney disease(she is a Persian). She was put on k/d canned and had her Bun and creatinine(indicates how the kidneys are getting rid of waste products)checked every six months. Raven is now 11 years old, still eats the canned k/d and gets sub q fluids twice a week. After looking at her recent bloodwork, our vet said that if she did not know that Raven was a kidney cat, she would NOT know from her bloodwork, it is that good!! Molly is 14 and has been a kidney cat for a few years. Gets sub q fluids three times a week, and REFUSES to eat the k/d. She does eat Royal Canin Renal 23(dry food) and Nine Lives!!!! I figure at 14, she can eat what she wants and still has a good quality of life.
Perhaps, in Monty's case, he was diagnosised early enough to work with his diet for now. You did not mention how old Monty is. You did a good job as his foster Mom and sounds like he is in good hands now!!! Prayers for Monty!!

[jennielynn1970]

In many cases, kidney disease is hereditary. That is what the vet suspected with my Mr. Amber Cat. I think it was the prednisone.

No telling how rapidly or slowly it will progress. Sometimes a change in food can slow the progress and the cat will live happily for YEARS.

At some point, the cat may need sub q fluids. Amber started once every other day. Got to the point of 4 times per day when I said no, that is enough.

It is not a death sentence; it is more likely that the cat will die of kidney issues than of something else, now that this has shown up.

I want to also reassure this woman who adopted Monty, because he is such a wonderful cat, just so full of love. I'm wondering if when he was peeing all over his first adopter's furniture if it was because of a kidney problem??? She refused to take him to the vet, so I took him there, and his bladder was empty, but she said it felt tender. We put him on Baytril, and he seemed much better.

I know your Amber was a kidney cat, and so was Georgia's Mitzi. How long did they live after being diagnosed?? I know Mitzi was a young boy, which was so sad. I'm not sure about the progress of your Amber however. How long from diagnosis to becoming really ill was it?? I feel bad asking, but if this woman gets really upset, I'll take Monty back in a heart beat and take care of him myself. He was such a good boy, never was mean or rude to any other cat, sat and waited patiently for goodies. Just a gentleman. I'm getting all teary now because I feel so bad that he is sick. What if I could have caught it here and I didn't? We didn't do any tests after the UTI at the vet and I just let him go to PetSmart when he seemed better. What if that made it worse?!! I feel so terrible for him!

Look at this sweet face...

[jennielynn1970]

Perhaps, in Monty's case, he was diagnosised early enough to work with his diet for now. You did not mention how old Monty is. You did a good job as his foster Mom and sounds like he is in good hands now!!! Prayers for Monty!!

The vet felt he was about 5yrs old. Too young.

I can email his new owner and mention the other food options as well. They said he didn't like what the vet gave them. Typical.

[kb2yjx]

Yes, 5 is too young, but Raven was only 4!!! Her kidney disease came about because of the HORRIBLE condition of her teeth!!!! She was rescued from a terrible home. You can read about her,Raven was COTD 12/9/04.

[Medusa]

If it's chronic renal failure, Monty could have lots of good, quality years left. Puddy has had CRF for over 5 years now and has even had one kidney removed and she doesn't even need subQ treatments any more. My RB Peeka had acute renal failure and that's totally different. It comes on fast and furious and usually by the time you see that something is wrong, it's too late. So...if it's chronic, then w/good vet care, proper diet (although Puddy has never eaten special food but then, that's Puddy) and maybe later down the line w/subQ treatments, there's no limit to how long Monty could live. Here's wishing Monty the best and lots of prayers going his way.

[jenluckenbach]

If it's chronic renal failure, Monty could have lots of good, quality years left. Puddy has had CRF for over 5 years now and has even had one kidney removed and she doesn't even need subQ treatments any more. My RB Peeka had acute renal failure and that's totally different. It comes on fast and furious and usually by the time you see that something is wrong, it's too late.

Does anyone know how they tell the difference??

[Medusa]

I noticed that Peeka had lost weight and she was always a chubbette. I watched her that night and noticed that she didn't move out of the spot where she had lain all day in the sun. So I called the vet, they took her right away and told me that they were almost positive it was renal failure. Peeka didn't respond to any treatment, none of it. She wouldn't eat, not even cooked chicken, her absolute favorite. She was on IV fluids and still could not get hydrated. Then her eyes and the inside of her ears turned yellow which meant jaundice and that meant her liver was shutting down, too. She stayed in the hospital for 5 straight days and didn't respond to any treatment whatsoever. When she cried every time I left after visiting and I asked if I brought her home, would it be painful for her to die naturally, I was told that it would be, so it broke my heart but I had her PTS. So I guess you can say that some of the signs are that a cat goes downhill rapidly and doesn't respond to treatment. I'm sure the vet tech who posts here (I think her screen ID is Catlady711 but I'm not sure) can give you more concrete things to look for.

[Freedom]

I purposely didn't mention that until someone else had posted with a good result. Thanks, Mary (Medusa).

Amber died 8 months after his initial diagnosis of kidney problems. It progressed VERY rapidly. He refused to eat ANY of the food the vet sent home. I could just hear him saying, "I KNOW you snuck meds in there somewhere and I'm NOT touching it!"

He peed all over the place from about 6 months before the diagnosis, right through to the end.

I wish Monty a long life!

[Catty1]

Found this online:

Treatment: Cats with severe chronic kidney failure will require hospitalization so that they may be treated with intravenous fluids, nutritional support, and medications. Less severe manifestations of the disease may be managed at home with medications and dietary changes.

The veterinarian may recommend certain commercial cat foods, available only through prescription, that are reduced in protein, phosphorus and sodium -- and should therefore reduce the work load for the kidneys. Other medications are prescribed to control symptoms of kidney failure such as nausea, inappetence, mineral and electrolyte imbalances, hormone deficiencies, and high blood pressure. It is important that fresh water be available at all times to cats with the disease.

The veterinarian may instruct the owner how to administer supplemental fluids under the skin, called subcutaneous fluid therapy. This method usually is recommended for cats with moderate to severe forms of chronic kidney failure. Re-examinations to monitor the disease are recommended on a regular basis. The number of visits will depend on the severity of the cat's disease and its response to treatment.

[krazyaboutkatz]

Jenn, I'm so sorry to hear about Monty. I sure hope that he'll be able to be treated at home and remain comfortable and that he'll live a long happy life. Lots of prayers and positive thoughts are being sent his way.

[Medusa]

I don't see it as a death sentence at all since the vet said Monty is in the "early stages" of kidney failure. To me, that indicates chronic renal failure and as I mentioned in a previous post, he could live for years. Acute means that it comes on suddenly, already in full progress, and not much can be done. Your vet can set you on the path to a proper diet, medication and probably subQ fluids down the line. Don't panic; PT prayers work miracles every day.

[jennielynn1970]

Mary, thanks for the advice. He's not my cat, he was my foster, and I just feel so badly now that he finally has a home and he is sick!!! I feel badly for the adopters too, because they are so sad about this, as they've gotten very attached to Monty. I have assured them that if the time comes that they feel that they can't care for him any longer, I'd be more than willing to take him back with me. He's just such a sweetie.