Update on Puddy; she's gone*9/29* see post #421

[nepeta]

There is a good article on Epogen use for cats in renal failure at


http://www.felinecrf.org/anaemia.htm

[Medusa]

There is a good article on Epogen use for cats in renal failure at


http://www.felinecrf.org/anaemia.htm

Thank you so much for this article. I haven't read the entire site because it's quite lengthy, however, I did read much that pertains to Puddy and I'm leaning towards not giving her the Epogen. Dr. Lee had indicated to me several months ago that she had possibly a year left and giving her these injections may help her feel a little better but, seeing that she has only one kidney, the risks appear to outweigh the benefits. I will still talk to him again tomorrow, though.

[Medusa]

Puddy is still behaving strangely. She purrs a lot which, as you may know, doesn't necessarily mean contentment. Cats also purr when they're comforting themselves and it's also a symptom of anemia. Puddy hisses and she hasn't done much of that lately at all. It's Puddy's hiss that tells me she's herself. When I first began her subQ treatments a couple of years ago, she really put up a fuss, partly due to my lack of confidence and fear of hurting her and also because who likes to have a needle jabbed into them every day? However, after I got the hang of it, she accepted it w/grace, sat there calmly during the treatment and scampered off afterwards. Now she cries during the entire subQ treatment and she quivers. I fear that 3 more injections of Epogen a week will just be too much for her body and even for her strong spirit. I've contemplated iron injections but they're intramuscular and painful and I will not put her through that. She had one during her last vet visit a few days ago and that's enough. I will talk to Dr. Lee about the possibility of giving her iron supplements, though, perhaps in liquid form. I've had to accept that Puddy's care from here on may be palliative. I've also emailed Nancy Efrusy to see if she could schedule me for a reading. Her insight couldn't hurt.

Something else to consider is that Dr. Lee told me that most vet clinics do not stock Epogen; it has to be special ordered. He has it in stock but he's a 45 minute drive each way, so I'd have to put Puddy through the stress of the drive plus the injection and I'd have to figure out how I would take time off from my work schedule to do that. So until I talk to Dr. Lee tomorrow and get a reading w/Nancy, I'm just not going to rush into a decision. It isn't the money. I've decided that I'll do whatever it takes to get the money. It's Puddy's quality of life that is my main concern. She's my "heart kitty" and has been my loyal friend and companion for 14 years and it's my obligation and pleasure to make her as comfortable as possible during whatever time she has left.

[emily_the_spoiled]

Epogen is a drug used in humans, so you can order it on-line through a specialty pharmacy and they will deliver it to you door (that will save you the drive to see Dr. Lee).

There is a liquid form of iron supplements used for babies called Fer-In-Sol, you can also pick that up at your local pharmacy.

[Medusa]

Epogen is a drug used in humans, so you can order it on-line through a specialty pharmacy and they will deliver it to you door (that will save you the drive to see Dr. Lee).

There is a liquid form of iron supplements used for babies called Fer-In-Sol, you can also pick that up at your local pharmacy.

Thank you for the info about Epogen. I wondered also if perhaps Pet Meds would deliver it. As for the iron supplements, thanx again. I will definitely ask Dr. Lee how much I should give Puddy. I love Pet Talk!

[Grace]

FYI - if you start Puddy on any sort of iron supplement, you'll have to watch for constipation. That's one big problem with iron supplements.

There are iron preparations for humans that include a stool softener. Maybe something similar for animals?

[Barbara]

Mary I agree fully with you- for a cat at the end of her life you really have to decide through how much therapy you want to put her. As we know renal failure cannot be cured and I know that Filou would not like a life that gets him to the vet daily. He is now fine with going one time per week but you should see how he always jumps in the carrier from the table when he thinks it's time to go back.....
Let's hope you can get Puddy to be in hissing mode for some time with the iron.
Hugs....