***Cosmo Has Kidney Disease ***

[elizabethann]

Cosmo has kidney disease. They did multiple tests on him & the 2 tests for kidney disease were off the chart. He is now on dialysis. They showed me how to administer it. I gave him 350 cc's at the vets. I have to drop him off tomorrow at 8am. I will leave him there & they will administer the dialysis and keep an eye on him & see how he is doing. Then they'll administer it again Wednesday night & I will pick him up. Then I have to do the same thing on Thursday & possibly on Friday.

I bought him some K/D kibble & canned food. When we got home from the vets he ate some food. I was so happy. But right now he is laying under the bed. Not sure if it's because it's hot out. I don't have the a/c on because I thought it might make him cold.

I feel awful. I feel like it's my fault. When I took my pets for their annual check-up last month, the vet suggested I put Cosmo on K/D but I just poo-poo'd it. Then the vet said that I may have stressed Cosmo out by being gone for 1.5 weeks. So I feel really guilty.

I will take each day at a time. If dialysis doesn't work, I will put him to sleep. The thing that kills me is that other than not eating, he really seems to be okay.

Cats can have kidney transplants but they cost about $10,000. Angel Memorial in Boston could perform it. I think about all those wealthy people in the world that have so much money they don't know what to do with it so they buy house after house & SUV after SUV. I would give anything to have $10,000 in my pocket to give Cosmo a new kidney.

I feel I let Cosmo down. I promised him so many things in life (like a house with a fenced in yard so he could run & enjoy the grass). But I was never able to give him that.

I'm so sorry Cosmo.

[Catty1]

Hey! It's not over yet.

Lots of people here have kidney kitties that do just fine on dialysis(Sub-Q fluids).

Sure, maybe you could have started him earlier on the food, but you didn't. No big deal. He ate a bit now, and that is a sign of hope.

Let the vets get him rehydrated and take it from there.

HUGS

[GreyhoundGirl]

Get well soon, Cosmo !

((( HUGS )))

[Lizzie]

Don't worry too much, the results often look dreadful at first but can be brought down to reasonable levels with sufficient sub-q therapy. I had three cats with kidney disease that were brought back to decent levels, and they were so sick initially that they had to be force fed for a week or two. They all lived for 2+ years after the initial diagnosis and all had other health issues.

Good luck with Cosmo.

[Miss Z]

Kidney disease is very common in cats and when it is first diagnosed, I know how much worry and torment is administered to you. But do not worry, because it is easily managed, through the diet and just general routine, do not give up on him yet! Along with his diet, make sure he has plenty of water available at all times, as he's likely to drink more which helps flush out his kidneys. Cats can live with kidney disease for many years, my RB cat Brando lived with it for 8 years, living a perfectly happy life until his last month. ((hugs)) to you and Cosmo and I hope everything works out for the best.

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Kidney disease in cats is not a death sentence. Barbara's Filou has been on fluids for at least a year now, if not longer. Jazzcat's Ripley was very close to death at one point, and fluids and loving care brought him back and he's doing quite well these days. Fluids and potassium supplements made a HUGE difference in Tubby. Unfortunately it was the failing of the rest of Tubby's body that finally did him in, not his kidneys. Catsnclay's Fluffy is currently being administered fluids on a regular basis.

I'm sure there are many more here on PT that have either experienced this in the past or are experiencing it right now, so hang in there. There's a very good chance Cosmo will still be around for many years to come.