My kitty just diagnosed w/ CRF - need advice & prayers

[Ladybug70]

Thanks for the responses. I'm going to take Blackie into the vet this morning to get fluids... gives us all a break from the "trauma" and hopefully he'll be ready to cooperate on Friday at home. He's not angry or violent - just strong, wriggly, and uncooperative.... my little ADHD cat. I will try your suggestions but want the kitty "straightjacket" to be the last resort... I fear he may get hostile with it on. Looking on the bright side, at least he's got lots of energy and spunk to break free! He must be feeling better.

Thanks again. Any other tips welcomed.

Purrs,
Lisa

[kb2yjx]

Do not be discouraged!!! Spunky was my fighter!!!! Be sure to warm up the fluids, so it is not such a shock to Blackie when it goes in. Quiet music, Mozart or Bach. Boo would sit up, too, whenI gave her fluids, like Mary said, it is a bit more difficult to get the needle in, but if that is the way the cat wants it, OK. When I had to get the needle in Spunky, a WONDERFUL therapy cat/ horrible sub q cat, I would give him warmed chicken baby food with some cut up cheese. As soon as he was eating the mix, in with the needle, and wide open the IV control. Maybe you could give 100cc's instead of 200. It would go in much faster, and maybe Blackie would do better with that....GOOD LUCK!!! HANG IN THERE, all the sub q people have had problems, too! You will be able to do it!!! Sandra

[Killer Kitten]

You can also try using a cat bag. You can purchase them online, for your cat I'd recommend the large size. Just fasten the velcro around his neck, then tuck him into the bag and zip it up. Then just unzip at the spot you want to pop the fluids in. Generally even the most uncooperative cats give up once they're in the bag, they know they're good and caught. Lots of petting and praise while he's in the bag and offer his favorite treat.

If you can't find a proper cat bag you can improvise with a pillow case. And switch to 18g needles if you're not already using them, the fluids fly in much faster. Good luck with him.

Kimm

[Ladybug70]

Thanks again for the additional responses and encouragement. Good stuff! We are warming up the fluids beforehand. Also using 18-gauge needles. Thought we might need 20-gauge (to make it easier for us to push in)... but aren't having any problems with the 18-gauge and Blackie doesn't even flinch when needle is inserted. He just doesn't want to sit still long enough. Blackie loves the chicken baby food too. A friend of mine at work suggested using a soft cat carrier (with zipper top) as a "friendlier" version of the cat bag. Gives him some confinement without binding his legs.... but the cat bag may just do the trick for our feisty Blackie. As I'm sitting her typing this, he's going NUTS with the laser toy... and tackling his brother. Yep, he's definitely feeling better.

Thanks again.

Purrs,
Lisa

[kb2yjx]

Blackie wants you to work it out and figure out what will be best for HIM!!! Keep the faith, you will be just fine!!! The 18 gauge needle has a larger bore, and the fluid will go in faster. At one time, I had a very petite girl, Molly Meu. The vet gave me 23 gauge needles and it took FOREVER for the 100cc's to go in. Molly, who had a great deal of patience, got impatient with the fluids that session. Next day, we were back to the 18 gauge needle!!
This is a photo of our Molly. She left for the Bridge 2/18/08. Her kidney disease was doing well, liver cancer was why she died....she ADORED my husband and was rescued from the VA hospital where I worked in 1994....such a special little girl....

[Ladybug70]

What a precious picture of Molly!

Well, David and I tried the sub-Qs at home again yesterday. We actually role-played first (without the cat) so we knew exactly what each of us was going to do. We also tried a slightly different set-up with the table, etc. Blackie could still sense something was up (it's hard to fake out a cat when you're stressed)... but we managed to do much better than last Tuesday's fiasco. We got him on the table but he just wouldn't lie down. He was sitting still, so I inserted the needle anyway but it meant the drip was slower than normal. We only got through 100 cc's before Blackie was D-O-N-E. Lots of growling and struggling, but David did a great job holding him down and "trying" to keep him calm. I think if the drip was running at normal rate, we would have gotten the 200 cc's in during the 3-4 minutes we had Blackie. I'm hopeful that next time we'll get him in a better position and can get the full dose in. WHEW - small victory... but we'll take it!

Purrs,
Lisa

[Barbara]

I know what you are talking about. Filou gets his fluids at the vet's only- for 4,5 years now every week. He is a very energetic wiggle worm but at the vet's he is a little bit intimidated which helps.
But even there once in a while he insists on pulling the syringe out.
He is good these days- active and naughty. So it's all worth while.
Good luck for Blacky- that he may be a fighter and survivor like Filou.