Priscilla's failing kidneys

[Kalei]

[Oh no that is so sad. I have no idea what to do with a cat that has kidney failure, but I will definately pray for the poor kitty.

[phesina]

Dear everybody, thank you so much for the encouraging words. I'm so glad to learn that kidney-challenged cats can keep going for a long time.

She'd been getting KD and Eukanuba Multi-Stage Renal kibble and wet food for quite a while but doesn't much like either. Then about a month ago she lost all interest in eating and was really weak and thin. I took her to the vet's. They kept her there for 3 days. Then I brought her home and have been giving her sub-Q fluids twice a day.

We've tried different medications. Her BUN and Creatinine (lab indicators of kidney function) have come down a lot (though they're still too high), but she is anemic too and her hematocrit (red cell count?) is still way down.

Since that bad state, the idea is more to get her to eat SOMETHING and I should give her anything she'd like, so I keep trying different wet and dry cat foods. (The other cats, environmentally conscious as they are, are all very happy to clean up the food she doesn't like so it doesn't go to waste!) What she likes one meal she may turn up her nose at the next, so it's a constant trial and error.

Since several of you have mentioned Royal Canin Renal, I will try to find that. Is that a prescription food that I'd have to get from a vet?

Candace, RedHedd, Laura, Barbara, KAK, and Kalei, thank you so much for your prayers and good wishes and kind thoughts and positive energies!

Pat and Priscilla

[catmandu]

We are praying hard for Priscilla , that you can find a dier that she likes.
Mr Scrappy lived with bad kidneys for three years with Vet Care and Medical Prescription.
He went when he was 15, but I did have those extra years with him, worth every penny.

[Freedom]

My boy Amber (Mr. Amber Cat) had kidney failure; it followed hyperthyroidism and fused vertebrae in his back. Vet said he "had bad genes," as he should never have had all these things so young.

Amber refused any of the specialty foods.

I did the ub q fluids for bout 7 months, starting once every other day and pogressing to 4 times per day. (His kidneys declined VERy quickly.)

Keep up with the fluids, as that is important. Good luck with finding foods, it can be tricky. Priscilla is so lovely in those photos you included. And yes, cats CAN pick up and go on for several years with the fluid therapy. Best wishes for both of you.

Sandra

[phesina]

Gary and Sandra, thank you so much. Yes, Priscilla's worth every penny, whatever it takes to keep her going as long as she wants to keep going.

She seems kind of feeble tonight. Tomorrow it's another call, and probably trip, to the vet's office.

Pat

[Catty1]

Royal Canin is a vet food. I have seen some varieties in good pet stores, but compare the labels.

It seems that a number of cats prefer RC to other brands (not a plug, just an observation! )

[kb2yjx]

I am so sorry to read about your dear Priscilla!!! I have 3 kidney cats right now. Nicholas is controlled by diet(Hills k/d). The girls, Molly Meu is over 13yrs old, gets sq fluids, 100cc's twice a week. Molly is a diet nightmare!!! She absolutely REFUSES to eat the kidney diet and is eating Friskies(I shudder at the 11% protein!!). However, her labs are very good and at this point I think it is more important to keep her eating or else her liver will go. She has been a kidney cat for about 4 years. Raven is 10 and eats(with gusto)her k/d and gets the fluids twice a week. Raven developed kidney disease when she was only 4 years old!!! Her last labs look like those of a healthy cat!!!
Although this is a British site, I find the information that is there, very helpful and realistic. www.felinecrf.org Another good site is www.felinecrf.com They both have lots of information about diet!!! Good luck with Priscilla and please keep us posted!! Sandra