Priscilla's failing kidneys

[ShylanHal]

That's so sad!! My dad's dog just recently died of kidney failure, we had to put him down the day before christmas eve, because he was declining so rapidly. He'd gotten into some antifreeze without us knowing and once he started showing signs of it, it was too late.
Reading this just sort of reminded me of him. I hope that your little Priscilla pulls through to live a few more happy years with you! She looks like such a sweet cat.
Now we have this big can of Royal Canin dog food to get rid of, and (I dont' think this is bad, is it?) I've been giving little bits of it to Clover and Echo as treats and christmas dinner to get rid of it. We also still have a big box of IV fluids and such that we're needing to return to the vet.
Do you know how her kidneys failed? Was is just a random event? Or did something happen that would make them fail suddenly like that?
But yeah, I hope she pulls through to spend more years with her loving and caring meowmie, and I bet with your love and care she has a good chance of it!

[krazyaboutkatz]

I hope that the new food and meds will help Priscilla. Lots more prayers and positive thoughts are being sent her way.

[kb2yjx]

Please check your pm's!!!

[phesina]

Well, this afternoon I called the vet's office and was told the Epogen had come in. I should bring Priscilla in so they can show me what to do, so off we went. She weighed 5.1 pounds, up maybe 1/10 pound from yesterday.

Dr. Lewis (the vet) said she had been going over Priscilla's record more thoroughly today and noticed that she had a hematocrit of 11 the last time she'd been tested, about 2 weeks earlier, so it seems to have leveled out (for now anyway) rather than just dropped from 14 in a short time.

She'd been on the phone today with Michigan State and also with a kidney specialist named Dr. Eli. He advised before starting Epogen to thoroughly rule out any other possible underlying causes such as bartonella and something else I don't remember the name of (by mycoplasma test) and to do a CBC. So she took some more blood to send off for these tests, and until we get the results of these (some time next week) we'll hold off on deciding to start the Epogen. Right there that feels like a kind of reprieve!

Meanwhile, another medication that had been on order for Priscilla, Calcitriol, also came in today. Her calcium level is also very low, and this is to help build that back up. Dr. Lewis said to start that, one per day, and keep on with the fluids and the MaxCal syringe meals and the Blood and Energy..

So we came back home, and I gave her her mid-day 6 cc of Max Cal, and her Calcitriol capsule, and her subQ fluids, and her Blood and Energy two quarter-tabs. Then I got out from the refrigerator a can of leftover 9 Lives Liver & Bacon I'd tried to tempt her with a few days ago but she had no interest in, and I divided it between the four other cats. I left a little in the can with some of the juice with it and set that before her. What did she do but start eating it!

So I got out another earlier-reject, 9 Lives Ocean Whitefish, and gave her a spoonful of that. And she ate it right up!

This is the first time in about a week that she has eaten food voluntarily on her own!

I gave her another 3 cc of the MaxCal, just to make sure she had plenty of calories on board.

She's more alert and more interested in the world around her.

I have to say I think all the Pet Talk prayers and good wishes and kindnesses .. not to mention the work of the Pet Angel Search And Rescue Squad ... must be having an effect!

Thank you so much, all you wonderful people and critters and angels, and please keep the goodness coming..

Barbara, you're right, that they should eat anything rather than lose weight. Maybe she's going to start putting some back on now! Thanks for your good wishes.

ShylanHal, I'm so sorry about your dad's dog, especially with this happening the day before Christmas. Antifreeze, that's deadly, that's so horrible for animals to get into. Please give him my sympathy.

Thanks for your good wishes too. There doesn't seem to be anything in particular that we've been able to determine that triggered Priscilla's kidney failure now. It seems just to have happened, a lot earlier than we ever would have expected. I asked Dr. Lewis if there was anything I could or should have done that would have prevented this. She said I did nothing wrong, and "I'm going to get you one of those bumper stickers that says.." [whispers] "..SHIT HAPPENS."

Thanks again for your good energies again, KAK. And Raven's Mom, I checked, and I'm gonna give it a try!

Thanks so much, everyone!

Priscilla and Pat

[ShylanHal]

I sent him your sympathies, and he sends you some of his own, and we both are praying that you'll have some good years with your baby.
And if your vet doesn't give you that bumper sticker, I sure will! how truthful is that! But even with all this shit in the world, we always seem to pull through. Talk about resiliance!

[Catty1]

YAY Cilla! Start eating like a little piggy! Get better soon, sweetie!

Very good news so far!

[kb2yjx]

The fact that Priscilla is eating on her own is wonderful news!!!! Another thing to have handy is chicken baby food, that is the BRIBE food that I use! Continued prayers!!!! YEA!!!!!

[krazyaboutkatz]

Thanks for the update. I'm so glad to hear that Priscilla is starting to eat on her own again. I hope that her health will continue to improve and that she'll also start gaining some weight. Lots more prayers and positive thoughts are being sent her way.

[AbbyMom]

So glad she's eating better now...let's hope it lasts. Like many others, I, too, had a sub-q furbaby who didn't like to eat. You do what you can to make them comfortable.

Have you tried canned salmon? The stink stimulates their appetite.

Prayers on the way for you and Priscilla.

[catmandu]

The Found Cats Wish That They Could Send Priscilla A Case Of Fancy Feast To Help Her Get Better!
They Are Praying That Thier Friend Continues To Recover , And Is 100 % Very Soon.

[phesina]

Thank you good friends and kitties. Priscilla has been eating today too. When I was about to get up, she jumped up on the table by my bed to let me know she's WAITING for her breakfast.. First time in a while she'd left her resting quarters let alone jumped up on something.. She ate some more Eukanuba Renal kibble and more Fancy Feast kibble.. got her fluids and her Blood and Energy and her Calcitriol and her MaxCal syringes..

I got home this afternoon and found a message from Dr. Lewis saying she'd heard back from the guy at Michigan State.. he thinks we should get a urine sample and do some tests on that.. also maybe do something else medically. I tried calling her back, but she'd just left, so she'll get back to me tomorrow. I also made an appointment to drop Priscilla off at the vet's next Tuesday (first day anything can be done what with weekend and holiday) so they can get a urine specimen.

Thanks, ShylanHal and your dad for the sympathy and good wishes (and the bumper sticker thought), Candace for the cheers, Raven's Mom for the food suggestions (we already keep chicken baby food on hand! sometimes she loves it, sometimes has no interest), KAK for the encouragement, AbbyMom for the canned salmon suggestion (good idea about the smell! I'll get some!),and Gary for the Fancy Feast idea (usually we have that around but not right now, so I'll pick some of that up too). Thanks to all of you for your prayers and support and kind positive thoughts and encouragement.. Priscilla and I both love you all! (Peony and Sydney and Poppy and Elmer think you're pretty swell too. )

Pat and Priscilla

[kt_luvs_kitties]

I am glad to hear she is eating on her own! YAY PRISCILLA!! I will continue prayers for your special girl. I hope the news continues to be good! Katie and kitties

[rg_girlca]

What wonderful news that Priscilla is eating and starting to feel better.
Wait a go Priscilla.

Prayers on the way that she continues to do well.

{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}} Pat.

[Anikaca77]

I'm sending along my prays and I know that Priscilla is very grateful for what you are doing for her.

[phesina]

Thank you, Katie and kitties (I kiss cats on the lips too!), Lorraine, and Anikaca77 for all the prayers and good wishes!

Priscilla just had her lunchtime syringe-feeding of MaxCal plus a few tuna-flavored Feline Greenies she ate on her own.

Love and purrs,
Priscilla and Pat