I've only scanned through the responses because I only have access to PT at work now so have very, very little time to read or post, so my posting may have been covered already. Did your vet check Ripley's mouth for mouth/tongue ulcers? I didn't know this until last year when I had a foster with severe renal failure but CRF does cause mouth ulcers in the late stages. She also wanted to lap very wet food for a while and then wouldn't even touch water. It's very, very hard watching them go through this and I am sorry for both of you.