***Cosmo Has Kidney Disease ***

[Lizzie]

In your place, I would take Cosmo to one of the cat specialists for one assessment and conference with a true expert very soon. Ask your vet for Cosmo's record, especially his blood results, and tell him what you are doing. He should understand. I've done it with several of my cats for different things and my vet was completely understanding. Actually, the fact that you are seeking more expert opinion may jolt your vet out of his seeming lethargy. This visit will make you feel that you are doing everything you can for Cosmo, and will give you both reassurance and confidence to continue with his treatment. It's a very positive step which I know always makes me feel better.

Another poster mentioned kidney transplant and I remember wanting to do this very badly for both my Artful Dodger and Ted, but there was no way that I could afford it. I would have taken them to U.C. Davis, which is the closest veterinary transplant center to Seattle. There, they use cats from humane societies as donors, and the kidney recipient's guardian has to take the donor cat home with them, and take care of them for life. My vet told me that they do not remove the malfunctioning kidney from the cat but put the donor kidney in the chest cavity - that surprised me.

[Barbara]

Regarding Filou I think the fluids are not a lot of stress. And the life he is having is a fun life. Yesterday a moth came into our living room and he had a ball catching it (and eating it )
He is happy, cuddly, funny and sweet. I feel I'm doing the right thing for him. If you feel Cosmo doesn't enjoy his life- then you may question it. But on the other hand if he's happy- then he should get his fluids as long as they help him.

[elizabethann]

Well I gave Cosmo his fluids last night and about a 1/2 hour ago. Some of it ended up all over the rug because he would get mad & walk away. I close the door to the bedroom & do it in there. Maxie, my other cat scratches the door and wants to be let in. My dog Fenway just lays on the couch looking scared.

Cosmo has been peeing, but he still hasn't pooped. He eats very little. I've given him tuna and K/D moist. But he just nibbles at it. I wish he would eat more.

He sleeps in the corner of the living room and he when he's up he cries and cries. It's just so sad. For some reason he is very affectionate now. He NEVER was affectionate. He sits on my lap and when I go to bed, he lays down on the pillow next to me. He never sleeps on me or near me, he just lays there. And he just stares at me. It breaks my heart. I don't know if he's telling me that he's hurting and wants to go. Or if he just can't see that well anymore so he just stares at me wondering who I am.

The vet said to give him fluids for 2 days but I think I'm going to continue until Monday. Then I need to call the vet on Monday and ask about giving him fluids the rest of the week.

I'm supposed to be leaving for a 3 night trip on Thursday and I thought if I could get him on fluids, my sister won't be so worried to watch him. I'm still not sure if I'll be canceling my trip. I was really looking forward to it. But I'm not sure I would enjoy myself becuase I'll be worried about Cosmo. If I cancel, it will cost me big bucks - I'll lose a huge deposit. I wish I could bring Cosmo with me but I know he wouldn't like the car ride.

Thanks for the advice everybody. I'm sure this isn't the last you'll be hearing from me. Please keep Cosmo in your thoughts.

P.S. Quick question - when you give your cats fluids, is it normal for some of it to come out in the area where you stuck the needle?

[Lizzie]

It's normal for some fluid to leak out, there's sometimes a little blood in it also, especially when you give a large amount. It's hard to do when they want to rush away from you after the fluids, but putting a little pressure on the needle hole can help reduce the amount leaking back out.

I also found that my cats became more affectionate and I put it down to their realizing that they needed me, found comfort from me, and that the treatment, while they hated it, was a bond between us. If all goes according to plan, in about a month you will be glad that you did give Cosmo a chance to enjoy more years of life.

[elizabethann]

Cosmo pooped! I've never been so happy about seeing poop before! It was one little poop, but he pooped nontheless. He ate breakfast this morning too - very little. But at least he had something.

I bought some new kibble. It's called Innova Lite. It has 26% protein. I hope he likes it (Maxie too). I also bought some lite soft food - can't remember the name of it. But it has 8% protein. Cosmo hasn't been eating the K/D. I had a sample of Fromms and he ate that up. But it has 32% protein so I didn't think it would be good for him as his regular meal.

[Lizzie]

Congratulations on the poop! Isn't it a relief when you now their system if functioning as it should.

My vet has always told me that when a cat is very sick and not or barely eating, it's far more important to get them to eat than trying to give them what they should eat, that can be adjusted when they are enjoying their food again. I was really shocked when he told me that, but it's worked out for me.

[elizabethann]

Okay, so Cosmo doesn't like the Innova Light. He would rather eat the Fromms. I'll have to go & buy some. I also picked up some Fancy Feast. It's a new kind of Fancy Feast. And he ate it when I got home tonight (about 1 tablespoon). And he had some Fromms (about 5 pieces of kibble).

I bought a Fresh Flow water fountain for him too. You plug it in and the water goes through a filter and the water is fresher and more oxygenated. He seems to like it. And Maxie & Fenway do too.

I have to give him some fluids tonight as well as his pill. I don't want to disturb him. He's sleeping right now.