Elvis purrs in sympathy and hopes Shae is better soon.
Thank you everyone!!!
Kathy, Rico, and Shae (Duffy and Pearl…our other cat people)
Thank you Dazzling White Diamonds for the info.
Rico says he won’t be able to do it, but will help me. I’m feeling kinda scared not wanting to hurt her.
One of my previous furbabies had Feline Urological Syndrome so I learned to do a lot of things I never would have thought I could have.
Another one had epilepsy so I learned more with her. Now it’s time to learn more.
I needed to hear you have done it and something about it Dazzling White Diamonds.
Pictures are available. If you want to see all the furbabies
This is the place to go if you want to just see the picture of Shae Rico took tonight.
hugs back to ya’ll They sure are appreciated right now!!!
If the above links do not work, this one will.
Shae.
Zazou and Littl’un send their good wishes.
I hope things go well with you. I have a kitty whose kidneys have been slowly failing since he was 14. I take him in for blood tests twice a year, give him potassium supplements, and feed him the special low-protein food. We haven’t had to resort to subcutaneous fluids yet, but I know that’s something that might be coming. However, he’s 17 now, almost 18, and he’s had some good years with us despite his illness. I hope you and Shae can also get as much quality time together as possible.
cadolphin, I know exactly how upset and scared you are right now… I’m the friend Scotticher mentioned above whose kitty has CRF. I can give you LOTS of pointers that will hopefully make this easier on all of you!
First of all, how comfortable are you with your vet? I ask because I thought I had the greatest vet in the world when Mewkitty was first diagnosed. However, I learned the hard way that I was sadly mistaken. The first thing he did when he diagnosed her was put her on appetite stimulants and Potassium. (She’d lost a lot of weight in a matter of 2 days – that’s how I discovered she was sick). To make a long story short, I stormed out of the clinic when he was there, in his office in the back, but refused to answer a few simple questions I had.
It was very lucky I did that, as the next vet I went to changed 2 things immediately. First of all, Mew hated the appetite stimulants – and I hated them, too. She roamed around the house just wailing and crying! Vet #2 explained to me that as the kidney function decreases, the liver takes over some of the duties of cleaning the system. As a result, more acid builds up in the stomach – that is what causes them to lose their appetite! Instead of narcotics, she prescribed 1/4 Pepcid AC, twice a day to reduce the acid. Guess what – no more loss of appetite and no more wailing – YAY!
The other thing she told me was that Potassium supplementation isn’t always necessary – it depends on what their levels are. Well Mew’s potassium tested on the high side of normal, so she didn’t need it afterall (one less thing to have to shove down her throat!)!
So the bottom line is, do some homework and ask lots and lots of questions! I found a lot of very valuable information felinecrf.com.
Additionally, while you may need to “lure” her back to eating with some yummy baby food, it is not nutritionally designed for cats – especially cats with CRF. One of the important things to do with regard to their diet is to reduce their Protein intake (as well as Sodium and Phosphates). I did a lot of research (even going so far as phoning the cat food manufacturers when nutrition info couldn’t be found on the cans, bags or their websites) and created a food chart to help guide me when I was at the store. (More on this later.) After trying out several different brands and flavors (some of which she seemed to like for extended periods, then later quit eating, requiring trying new foods – the reason I keep the chart handy!), we’ve settled on Science Diet Senior dry (a mixture of sensitive stomach and hairball remedy) and canned foods.
In addition to the Pepcid and the modified diet, we also give her a teaspoon of Nutri-Cal daily, to add calories and fat to her diet, which has helped keep her weight up nicely.
Lastly, there is of course the fluid therapy. Your vet may start your cat at 100ML every day or every other day. We tried various intervals until we settled on every 36 hours. Well either way, it can be really hard to remember from day to day whether you juiced your cat up the day before or not. So I created a calendar in Excel that I keep taped up on the cabinet right where I give her her fluids, so I can mark it off each time, making it much less likely I’ll forget.
With regard to the fluids, your vet will get you started with your first bag, needles and line. However, even though the Lactated Ringer’s Solution is prescription only, you don’t have to buy it from your vet. There’s an online veterinary supply house called Valley Vet that will accept your vet’s prescription via fax or phone and fill your order and ship it to you – and it’s dirt cheap! Vet #2 (I’ve since again switched) was charging $35.00 for 2 bags, 20 needles and 1 line (you reuse each line only once). My current vet wanted $35.00 for EACH bag, 10 needles (needles were 60 cents a piece) and 1 line – OUTRAGEOUS! And completely cost prohibitive.
Valley Vet charges (are you sitting?) $3.49 per bag, 15 cents per needle and $3.15 per IV tube! And shipping is always free (there’s a modest $5.00 handling fee if your order is under $50.00). So I can get six months worth of fluid for what my vet charges for ONE!
Gosh, there are so many other little things…
Go to the drug store and buy a pill cutter – it makes chopping up the Pepcid’s way easier.
Pick a spot to administer the fluids that can be made comfortable for your kitty – preferably where there are some high cabinets that you can hang the fluid bag from. I use my kitchen counter and I’ve uploaded some images so you can see how I have everything set up. I used a wire coat hanger and bent it to hang the bags from, which you’ll see.
Also, get either an old bottled water bottle or a coffee can to store the used needles in. Ask your vet if they’ll let you bring your full cans to them to dispose of with their bio waste (mine will).
Some vets will recommend that you put a fresh needle on the line after you administer a dose of fluids so it’s ready to go the next time. I found that didn’t work for me, as I couldn’t remember consistently whether the needle that was hanging there was new or used. So instead, I remove the needle, cap it off and put it in the water bottle, then cap off the line with the cap that comes with it. Then when I’m ready to give her another dose, I put a fresh needle on right then. No mistakes that way!
Make sure you keep lots and lots of fresh water available, as your kitty’s drinking will increase substantially. You’ll have to change her litter box way more often, too, so be prepared for that.
Here’s the website I put the pictures on. I also uploaded the cat food nutrition guide I created, as well as a sample of my cat’s schedule of pills, fluids and goo (as we call it :)).
When Miss Mew was diagnosed in February of 2001, my vet said the same thing yours did – I could have her for a week, a month, a few months or as long as 2 years at the outside, it’s hard to tell. Well, she just hit the 2 year mark and you’d never know she was an old, sick cat (she’ll be 19 in 2 months)! She still plays like a kitten! There are also a few pictures on the above-linked page that were taken within the last few weeks, of her playing with Thomas (Spiny Norman). And not only that, some of her kidney values have actually improved over the years, rather than deteriorating!
I imagine that there’s a lot of stuff I’ve forgotten, so if you have any questions, please feel free to ask. I’ll be happy to help however I can.
Hugs to you and your kitty from all of us at Mew’s house!
I don’t know how to thank you Shayna. All the information and all the work you put into it. Thank you so very much!!!
I had discovered felinecrf.com along with a number of other sites but found that to be the most helpful.
My mind is on overload right now. I read all the sites you posted and may I just say, **Mewkitty ** is a sweetie!
The vet has put Shae on Feline KD. I didn’t see that on your nutrition guide. Did I overlook it, or is that one you didn’t research? I’ve seen it mentioned in several sites I’ve looked at in the last few weeks.
So far her appetite is still good and she likes her new food. The dr. put her on it right away so she’s already been on it 3 weeks. She’s drinking plenty but one of the things I got from researching what was going on or what might be going on with her over the last weeks, I discovered that the very beginning things were to make sure plenty fresh water was available, keep the litterbox clean, and keep her on the diet. So far so good in those respects.
I’ll come right to you if I come up with questions once my head stops spinning so much. Thank you very much for offering.
We’re looking forward to meeting you and Spiny Norman at the LaDope.
Hugs
Kathy
Update:
cadolphin’s drained. We just got back from the vet where we learned how to sub-Q the solution - and it turns out the vet is charging us less for the supplies than the online internet place would!
Shae’s going in next week for another blood test. Thank you everyone for the good thoughts.
Shae did very good. Mommy’s the one who almost passed out!
Crossing my fingers for y’all & Shae!
Oh dear. Sorry to hear about Shae’s condition. She looks like a sweet kitty. I know how upset I would be if it were one of my dogs. Please take it easy on yourself and get some rest.
Tugger, Macy and I are sending our good wishes.
Yay - I’m so glad to hear that things went well at the doctor’s today. And that rocks that they’ll sell you the fluids and supplies cheaper than Valley Vet. Why on earth are the vets out here in the South Bay so freaking expensive??!!
Kathy, I didn’t put the KD on my list because it was the first food we tried when she was diagnosed and before I did any research. And she HATED it. Absolutely refused to eat it – which defeated the purpose. So there was really no reason to look up the contents. But if Miss Shae is eating it, that’s awesome! The one veterinary food that Mew did like – at least for a while – was the Select Care Modified Diet. So if Shae gets finicky, you might try that one next. It was just too expensive for my budget.
Take it easy and don’t stress out. I have a good feeling Shae’s going to do just great (how could she not – she’s got a mommy and daddy who love her to pieces!).
I hope things go well with the SubQ fluids. It’s a stressful time for you, but it sounds like you are both great kitty-parents. And what a beautiful cat! Cat lovers are the best people in the world
(IMHO)!
Azrael, Astarte and I offer our best wishes and our kindest thoughts to you
Thank you everyone for your support!
I think all the stress caught up with me today.
When Rico got home from work tonight he had to turn right back around and go to his Elk’s meeting so we didn’t have time to do our first unsupervised sub Q. I’m not looking forward to it. I hated it last night and the dr was right there. But we’ll do it when he gets home in a couple hours or so.
Shae continues to eat well and curl up with her teddybears or her brother on the bed…and Mommy when I lay down on the bed. She goes to the kitchen to eat but otherwise chooses to stay in the bedroom. There is a bathroom right there she has a litterbox in there and she’s always preferred to drink from the toilet… ewwwwww
I wanted to thank ya’ll and let ya know we’re ok. We’re stressed and we’ll figure out the bills some how. The important thing is my baby girl’s health. I sure wish we could get her on the transplant list but there’s no way we would ever be able to pay for that. So, please keep those prayers, good wishes, vibes, etc. coming.
Hugs to ya’ll
Kathy
Our first night of sub Q could best be described as a comedy of errors.
She pulled the needle out twice.
When we hung the bag we didn’t think about turning it so we could see the numbers so we would know when it was time to stop.
By the third time of putting the needle back in, Rico was saying she’s had 1/2 of what she was supposed to have… That’s enough for today. I was saying get a pillowcase.
We’ll use one of my old techniques that works really well with pill giving. The problem with that was accessing a part of her to put the needle in.
She finally got all the fluid. We checked her out and we didn’t appear to do any serious damage to her. Rico and I had our share of scratches though.
I was relieved to know that the only blood on the towel was mine… I jabbed my thumb with the needle when I was taking the used one off and putting the new one on for tonight.
I can’t wait until tonight :smack:
Kathy
I’m glad to hear you’ve got some treatment for her, and I’ll continue sending get well wishes Shae’s way. And you’re right, bills will solve themselves - what’s important is the health of your baby.
Ava
(and Isabelle, Hurricane, Rugby, Oscar, and Emmy)
I hope everything works out for Shae. I am glad that you are taking such good care of her and that you are good parents. Good wishes to everyone in the family!
Lothos
Shae has seemed to be stable and then crashed yesterday.
yesterday the dr said he didn’t give her much chance of surviving 24 hrs. he said hospital but that there wasn’t much he could do for her there then we couldn’t do for her here.
we brought her home so she’s comfortable. This is the first time i’ve left her alone but she’s sleeping and i haven’t given Pearl any attention so i came out here for a few minutes.
she sure needs lots of prayers, positive energy, etc. she’s so very very weak, hasn’t eatten since night before last, and is getting her fluids from sub Q and an eye dropper. please pray for our little girl!