C1993-

In humans, it usually takes many tests, some invasive, to tell definitively what kind of kidney disease a person has, and whether or not it is chronic. Many times it is obvious- especially acute - severe dehydration will almost always cause acute kidney failure, so after a bout of dehydration, it is a pretty sure bet that kidney failure would be due to the dehydration. But without xrays, pyelograms, biopsies, etc, it is very often only a very informed guess. In my case, only a biopsy would tell my doctor what caused my chronic kidney failure - it could either be from the insulin-dependent diabetes I've had for twenty years, or it could be from a bout of acute kidney failure I had ten years ago, or it could be a synergistic effect from both. But both me and my doctor feel a biopsy would really not change the outcome, so we have decided not to do one. It is clinically clear that I have chronic progressive kidney failure - the reason doesn't matter at this point.

The short story of what I'm trying to say is this: your cat may have had acute kidney failure. In fact, I have been so tempted to post back for a long time, becuase if your cat had chronic kidney failure with very high numbers it would be extremely unlikely he would be put on IV's. It sounds to me like he has acute kidney failure due to dehydration caused by an infection, that would be when IV's are indicated, and that would explain the simultaneous antibiotic administration. The dehydration alone would make his numbers high. This can sometimes cause such severe damage that it becomes chronic, and maybe your vet was in fear of that. If his failure is acute, he will more than likely eventually get better. I didn't want to say anything before since I don't know his history, since I am not an expert, and since I always fear looking like a know-it-all. But I certainly don't want you to think you have to put your cat to sleep!! Even if he is chronic and progressive, he may still have years ahead of him! I hope all my blabbing is making sense.