Update on Kelcee

**Tubby & Peanut's Mom** · 11-22-2004, 10:36 AM

I'm so sorry to hear about sweet Kelcee. Sounds just like what I'm going through with Tubby right now. The potassium supplement Tubby is on is the same Tumil K, but it's in pill form. And Tubby takes 1/2 of a Pepcid every day, but what are the other meds for? And just curious, did the vet not mention anything about the sub-q fluids? I know they are quite common in renal failure kitties and just curious why he wouldn't prescribe that also?

Either way, I sure hope she continues to eat and do well. I know exactly what you're going through because I'm now going through it too with Tubby.

{{{hugs}}} to you and good thoughts and prayers going out for Kelcee.

**tomkatzid** · 11-22-2004, 12:51 PM

Kelcee will have to have another blood test and blood pressure check soon to see how she is doing on all the meds.
The prednisone is to make her eat.
The Benazepril is for high blood pressure.
The pepsid had been shown to help the kidney.
The Tumil K is potassium replacement
The Derm Caps is fish oil stuff.
He wants to check her blood pressure again in 4 weeks. He also did say later we would have to do the fluids. Guess she is not there yet. That part scares me. You do it at home by yourself?? I'm not so sure Kelcee will stand for that. It doesn't seem like she is 'that' sick. After the prednisone and she got some weight back on she seemed fine. But that was pills twice a day and now she has lot some of that weight, but still looks better than she did. It really is hard for me to believe she is 'so' sick. I'm going to see if I can get pill for everything instead of gel on liquid. She hates those worse than the pills. The Tumil K is expensive $43. for a tube. I am going to check to see if the fish oil and potasium can be in human form, as it is a lot less money.
Thank you for all your prayers and good thoughts.

**tomkatzid** · 11-22-2004, 01:01 PM

**rg_girlca** · 11-22-2004, 01:03 PM

Poor sweet Kelcee and poor you.
Prayers on the way for the both of you.

Kisses and headbumpies for Kelcee and (((((HUGS))))) for you.

What a sweet picture of such a pretty girl.

**Tubby & Peanut's Mom** · 11-22-2004, 01:09 PM

Originally posted by tomkatzid
You do it at home by yourself?? I'm not so sure Kelcee will stand for that.

Yes, it's really no problem. As long as you can get her to lay still for 5 minutes, you will be able to do it. I put a picture of Tubby getting his fluids in the Salvage Yard thread. He acts as if he's just laying there and doesn't mind the needle at all. It's me that has to get used to sticking the needle in.

I got the Tumil K in pill form. I have no idea how many pills were in the bottle, but I'm thinking at least 30 or maybe even 60 (one months worth at 2 pills a day), but the bottle only cost $29.00. And Tubby also does not do the liquid well, so I'm glad the vet gave us pills first. You should be able to get it in pill form, no problem.

And I know what you mean about not believing she is so sick. I had no idea with Tubby - but boy can they go downhill fast, so it's best to keep up with the blood tests and such to keep on top of it. Tubby had only been to the vet 3 weeks ago and they said his levels were up a bit but he was fine, so when he started getting sick I didn't relate it to his kidneys at all. That was a big mistake because I would have taken him in a lot sooner if I thought it was kidney related.

Kelcee sure is a cutie pie. Smooches to her.

**tomkatzid** · 11-22-2004, 01:18 PM

Thanks for the info. I still am not too sure about Kelcee being still for 5 minutes. But by the time I need to do this maybe she will be feeling worse and will lay there, still. I'll go look at that thread now.
Well, I was sad to read that you too didn't know Tubby was so sick either. The poor babies. I thought maybe the vet was wrong in Kelcee's case, but it just doesn't seem that way. She still drinks a lot of water, now, but I guess that changes as the kidneys get worse. And thats why they need the fluids at home. How much does Tubby weigh? Kelcee is now around 8 pounds. So I'm wondering if that is why she has less of a dose than Tubby.
Again, thank you all so much. I will keep you posted on her condition.
Katz

**tomkatzid** · 11-22-2004, 01:44 PM

Originally posted by doolittleky
I don't know what food kelcee is on right now. have you ever tried the Science diet a/d? It is prescription food and that was the only thing shoo would eat when he got so sick.
Doo=^..^=

She was on Waltham low ph food for over a year, maybe two. At first they thought she had IBD so he put her on IVD duck and green peas food. Also have S/D IBD food. He wanted to change her protein. But then the blood test showed kidney trouble. She had stopped eating. Well I guess now that she is eating he doesn't want to mess with her diet. As she may not like the new food. And then loose weight again. It's all such a balancing act.

**Tubby & Peanut's Mom** · 11-22-2004, 02:26 PM

Originally posted by tomkatzid
She still drinks a lot of water, now, but I guess that changes as the kidneys get worse. And thats why they need the fluids at home. How much does Tubby weigh? Kelcee is now around 8 pounds. So I'm wondering if that is why she has less of a dose than Tubby.

From what I understand, they continue to drink a lot of water, it's just as the kidneys get worse and worse, they require more and more and the poor kitties can't keep up. Also, the vet tech last weekend was telling me that she had a kittY that would require fluids for a week or two, then she didn't need them. Then she'd need them again for a week or two, then didn't for awhile again. I don't know about that part yet because Tubby hasn't gotten that far yet.

Tubby weighs 13.5 lbs, so he does weigh more than Kelcee.

Here is a wonderful website all about chronic renal failure.

**ramanth** · 11-22-2004, 03:28 PM

Awwww Kelcee... I'm such a bad friend.

I didn't even know you were ill. You are such a beautiful girl.

Do I need to send more catnip?

**doolittleky** · 11-22-2004, 05:38 PM

tomkatzid,

Wow the liguid or gel form of the Tumil k is expensive! I know liquids are always more expensive than pills. I don't remember the pill form of TumilK costing that much, I was thinking it was pretty inexpensive. it has been a few years since I have bought it though so maybe the cost went up.

As far as the food, I agree if she is eating now don't change it! The a/d was just a suggestion for if she stops eating whatever your vet has her on now. It is a very high calorie food whihc would help her weight and also a consistency that it can be force fed in a syringe if a cat wouldn't eat it on it's own. A few of my cats have been diagnosed with IBD and my vet has told me to feed the the Science diet w/d which is high fiber and low fat whihc helps with the IBD.

About the fluids, although shoo and some of my others have had to have fluids, I never had to give them, always took them to the vet but from others I know it isn't that big of deal to give them. It is like when Shoo first became diabetic when he got the pancreatitis, I about died cause I didn't think I could give him a shot twice a day! LOl But you can do more than you think when it comes to the welfare of your babies! I am sure once you are taught, it won't be any big deal to you and you will feel more comfortable with it. I know when i finally did end up having to put Shoo to sleep that that was the one thing i was glad I didn't have to do anymore was to give shots, and now look at me now, I have 6 diabetic cats and give 11 shots a day! LOL

Kelcee is such a beautiful baby and so lucky to have a person like you to take care of her. She reminds me so much of my Tangee.
I will continue to say prayers for kelcee and you too.

Doo=^..^=