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Post by ellaandlouisforever on Jan 17, 2014 8:52:31 GMT
It's me again! :S Some of you may know that my Ella (my british short-hair kitty) was a bit off a few weeks ago. Well, we took her to the vets and he immediately said it's kidney failure, and because she wasn't eating and she hadn't been diagnosed she had to stay in overnight straight away to have an IV drip put in for a few days. We visited her every day (vets is luckily down the road) and every two days the vet did a blood check and at first all her levels were extremely high (some even off the scale) so we were really worried. About a week ago he said it was okay for her to come home, so she did and I had to learn how to give her sub Q fluids. Unfortunately she had to go back again because she was still refusing to eat but two days ago we brought her home and she's eating small amounts a few times a day, as well as being 'force fed'. So I wanted to make this thread to see if any of you guys have/had cats with kidney failure, and if you have any thing to say about the whole process because to be honest I'm terrified. Giving her sub fluids was okay at first as she didn't struggle too much, but today she didn't want it at all and for a usually very calm cat she was growling and giving warning bites and we had to take it out early. Does any one have any tips? I've been looking around on the internet and found some useful websites but I'd like to hear your guys' opinions. Thank you  |
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Post by lotsofcats on Jan 17, 2014 9:30:07 GMT
Hi
So sorry to hear that your cat Ella has kidney failure. Unfortunately a lot of cats end up with kidney failure in their old age - sorry, don't know if your cat is old? I have had several cats that ended up with kidney failure and it is my opinion that there is not a lot a vet can do for them. When I have had a cat diagnosed with it I have taken them home, spoilt them rotten and when I feel that they have had enough (usually when they get very thin and can't eat)I have had them pts. Sounds a bit harsh but I have learnt from experience and from talking to other cat owners too. It is very sad when you are trying to do your best for your cat and to make them better. When one of my cats was diagnosed the vet actually told me not to waste my money and that there's not a lot they can do for the cat, just make it more comfortable and they can't stop the disease. Ask your vet to be honest and tell you if what they are doing is best for Ella.
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Post by ellaandlouisforever on Jan 17, 2014 10:27:41 GMT
lotsofcats Ella is ten but a pedigree. (they apparently don't live as long?)Our vet also said a similar thing, he said that we'll just have to keep her on the sub Q fluids, get her eating again and just keep her comfortable as it is not stage 4. Her blood levels are completely back to normal too, so as you said it is just going to have to be just to keep her well until it's her time. Sorry to hear about your cats though, I didn't actually comprehend that it was so common.
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Post by tonib on Jan 17, 2014 13:20:18 GMT
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Post by cia on Jan 17, 2014 17:32:08 GMT
Sorry to hear about Ellas diagnosis.
It must a shock for you.
I hope shes comfortable and the vets can assist where possible. As Jenny sayes - enjoy your time with her - it maybe more than you think - we just never know.
Hugs to Ella and Louis.
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Post by ellaandlouisforever on Jan 18, 2014 2:00:38 GMT
Thank you for the kind comments cia it really was a shock. tonib sorry I never ended up replying to your last post! She has to have 150ml fluids twice a day which she does not like. She didn't struggle too much today, hopefully she'll realise that it is what makes her feel better. The problem is now getting her to eat consistently... she didn't seem to want to eat yesterday. Thank you for the food brands I'll look into them! |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2014 11:25:37 GMT
My girl Suzi had kidney failure in June 2013 BUT, very important point, she was also suffering from Feline Leukaemia Virus  We knew this when we took her on and had nine wonderful months with her and she only started to go downhill four days before we had to have her pts. She had tumours on both kidneys which was causing them to shut down and my vet gave me some Nellio tablets for her which are for cats with kidney disease. Her appetite was very poor and the vet said it was probably because she was feeling a touch nauseus/yucky because her kidneys weren't filtering out the waste. The evening before we lost her she was curled up on our bed and just not interested in her food, tho' still purring when I lay next to her and said my goodbyes. The next morning she was sat on our bedroom window lethargically looking out at the birds and I knew we'd made the right decision to let her go. We were at the vets as soon as they opened at 8.30am and by 8.45 my brave wee girl was fit and well at Rainbow Bridge with all our other precious oldies  The vet DID offer us the option of keeping Suzi in over the weekend on a drip to flush out the toxins but I said no: she was FeLV+ which is incurable and as she was a foster cat the charity (PARRT) paid the vet bills and this one would have been a waste of money as the end would have been the same  As lotsofcats has said, kidney disease can be common but it IS treatable to a certain extent with pills and special food. You have to look at the QUALITY of life your girl has and make a decision based on that. Perhaps if you and your vet can get the medication & diet sorted she may live a few years yet (((HUGS))) Good luck with your gorgeous girl. Perhaps try some strong smelling sardines or some of the Hills A/D from the vets which is designed to stimulate appetites. |
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Post by ellaandlouisforever on Jan 21, 2014 1:08:55 GMT
Thank you so much @gillycat she is finally eating more now so hopefully she'll get back on her feet and its a matter of looking after and waiting for her time :S
Sorry to hear about Suzi, I'm sure she's looking down from the Rainbow Bridge. xx
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2014 11:33:29 GMT
I've got a whole troop of them up there.....Rosie, Molly, Suzi #1, Domino, Simon the stray, Thomas, Lily #1, Nina, Misty, George and Suzi #2 All wonderful characters who came to stay at our retirement home  They'll be fit and well up at The Bridge  Glad Ella is starting to eat now (((HUGS))) No reason why, once you get her medication & diet sorted out that you won't have her for a long time yet With Suzi it was her FeLV which made it so bad as she had tumours on both kidneys which was causing them to shut down That's why I emphasized it was different as I didn't want you panicking unduly  We always knew we were on borrowed time with George & Suzi because of that horrible virus  Unfortunately both turned out to be two of the softest, funniest, most characterful cats we've ever known which made it even MORE painful when we lost them |
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Post by tonib on Jan 21, 2014 23:34:43 GMT
Glad to hear Ella is eating better now, hope she continues to improve |
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Post by cia on Jan 22, 2014 9:02:04 GMT
Best wishes to Ella - shes a good girl isnt she! |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2014 12:19:52 GMT
She's a beautiful brave girl I've always liked British Shorthairs |
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Post by chantel on Jan 22, 2014 16:13:23 GMT
So sorry to hear about that:-(i'v never experienced kidney failure in any of my cats) but my late dog was diagnoised with that amongst other health issues too. it is always sad when we recieve that news but i do know that their is medication that can prolong things but obviousley unable to cure, so that may be something you could try although it does depend on how bad the kidney failure is, i my late dog's failure was too far gone plus she was blind and also she went deaf within 1 week which was a real shock to us, we were told by the vet that all her organs were shutting down but she was nearly 14 bless her.
but like i said their maybe treatment to help with the symptoms.
i know u must be feeling devestated at the moment but make the most of every day you have together, i wasted the time we had because i was just thinking all the time i didn't know what i would do when she was no longer with me, so cherish every moment.
keep us informed x
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Post by spider on Jan 27, 2014 23:48:51 GMT
our old boy at 17 had kidney falure and like that was off his food we found hills k/d helped i will ask a friend what she was feeding her cat i just cant rem the name but tomorrow i will ask her and when i do i will post it also this is a problem for cats i been told and they are so good at not showing how sick they are we dont see it for a long time good to hear ella is eating a bit better thats got to help build her up
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Post by vonnie on Jan 30, 2014 17:36:15 GMT
Kidey failure is nasty and there's differant levels and thus ways of treating.
How are you giving the s/c fluids?If it's by syringe and needle it can hurt a bit hence why no animal likes it! A way that seems to be more acceptable is using a fluid IV line to give roughly the amount every day. You will need to be shown how to do this by a nurse and also how to keep everything sterile which is very important but you may find she accepts the fluids better that way. We have done it in cases such as yours where I work and it really does help. Once the owner is happy they do it at home and just get a new bag of fluids/ giving set and needles as needed.
Hope all goes well.
x x
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We knew this when we took her on and had nine wonderful months with her and she only started to go downhill four days before we had to have her pts. She had tumours on both kidneys which was causing them to shut down and my vet gave me some Nellio tablets for her which are for cats with kidney disease. Her appetite was very poor and the vet said it was probably because she was feeling a touch nauseus/yucky because her kidneys weren't filtering out the waste. The evening before we lost her she was curled up on our bed and just not interested in her food, tho' still purring when I lay next to her and said my goodbyes. The next morning she was sat on our bedroom window lethargically looking out at the birds and I knew we'd made the right decision to let her go. We were at the vets as soon as they opened at 8.30am and by 8.45 my brave wee girl was fit and well at Rainbow Bridge with all our other precious oldies 
The vet DID offer us the option of keeping Suzi in over the weekend on a drip to flush out the toxins but I said no: she was FeLV+ which is incurable and as she was a foster cat the charity (PARRT) paid the vet bills and this one would have been a waste of money as the end would have been the same 
They'll be fit and well up at The Bridge 
We always knew we were on borrowed time with George & Suzi because of that horrible virus 
Unfortunately both turned out to be two of the softest, funniest, most characterful cats we've ever known which made it even MORE painful when we lost them 
