Posted on 11/25/2010 8:54:14 AM PST by NoGrayZone
For the last couple of months, I thought my elder kitty was just going senile. She turned 19 this summer and has the usual "old cat" look....frail back and hind legs, loss of muscle and weight and just looks "old". She also started tinkling and pooping outside her liter box and seemed obsessed with her water bowl (hovering over it for hours).
She has hip dysplasia and "old cat back", which cortisone shots took care of 2-3 years ago, then they stopped working. I found Syn-Flex for pets online and she made a miraculous recovery.
The vets did all kinds of tests, etc last time I bought her in and nothing came back. I started seeing weird symptoms for the past month, but just assumed she was getting senile.
I looked up her symptoms and found CRF, which is common at her age. There is no cure, it only gets worse. I do not want to bring her to the vets. Last time she was there (my original vet is now elder and seemed to have lost some of his mind, perhaps senility is creeping in. I heard that in the vets office). I don't like the other vets there, nor trust them from my last experience.
There is also no cure for it.....just things to do to ease any symptoms to make them more comfortable.
I found, online, Tinkle Tonic, which seems to ease a lot of symptoms for this disease.
I was just wondering if any FReepers had to or are dealing with this and perhaps can give me some helpful advice.
Sad ping.
I have lost two young cats that were 4 and 5 years old to this disease. It is fatal and irreversible. See your vet who can give you good guidance on this. I am so sorry.
I have been through this a number of years ago and found a web site www.felinecrf.com that has much useful and comforting information. Look under Caregiver Information and Managing CRF especially.
Here is a solution:
http://www.alysion.org/euthanasia/
I have a male cat, and males are notorious for urethra blockages because of mineral build-ups. He got that, and peed little drops of blood and urine on everything.
I removed the minerals from his water by using reverse osmosis water to water the catz for a few weeks.
There is a down-side. RO water will kill anyone that uses it as a sole source, long term. It actually leaches minerals from the body.
When Sky starts the pee-pee dance, we go on RO water for a few days, until the problem clears up.
Don't know if that will help with your situation, but you have my prayers for comfort during a difficult time.
/johnny
I believe we have a responsibility to our pets to make the judgment for them when it comes to the end. We need to do the right thing and cry or mourn for our lost pet after.
I can’t do that. I know it is very selfish of me but I’m just not ready to let her go.
Call a farming friend or cousin ... They’ll take your kittie in and be lovingly with them till the end.
Get your vet to prescribe Hills Prescription diet, k/d Feline Renal Health, with chicken. It comes in wet and dry. Our 16-year old cat has been diagnosed with renal failure and has been on this diet for over a year and has gained weight.
Wow, that is the website I found a few days ago. She has most of the symptoms listed there.
She doesn’t seem like she’s in pain, more uncomfortable and confused.
I ordered the Tinkle Tonic and am praying that relieves some of her discomfort.
I also layed down some old towels which she seems more comfortable relieving herself, instead of the liter box.
I’m more upset than she is.
I purchase a litre of Lactated Ringers approx. every three weeks from the vet. They showed me how to administer subcutaneously. Initially, I was giving him 100 milliliters every day. I did this for 5 days. Now I give him 75 milliliters every other day.
It requires you to monitor his activity level and to increase the dosage as necessary.
Eventually, I know I will have to do the right thing for him and euthanize. It wont be easy, but I have to do what his best for him.
Thanks. I’ve spoken to the vets office, but what they suggest I simply cannot afford, and I feel like crap because of it. They also won’t keep her overnight because she hasn’t had her rabbi shot and I won’t allow them to give it to her. My 3 cats are strictly indoors and have no need for them.
Nor do they have ANY will to go outside (they run for cover when the front door opens, lol).
I wish I had the thousands to spend, but I don’t. It’s very upsetting. =(
Last year my mother's beloved kitty cat (just two years old) began suffering from a faulty metabolism that caused everything he ate to turn into sand in his bladder. She had him cleaned out, even paid for a very expensive operation to reroute his "plumbing" (an operation that works in most cases). But it didn't work for him. His metabolism simply quit on him, and nothing could help. Even after the operation his bladder filled up till it lost its elasticity. He'd probably have required periodic surgery just to stay alive (which she couldn't have afforded). But she never had to make that decision because he died on the operating table. I can't tell you how hurt she was or how it hurt me to see her suffer and grieve so.
These are things you simply don't get over. We know that for people there is a World to Come. I don't know if there is one for our beloved pets or not, which makes losing them so traumatizing (I'd like to think they'll be there, but I must defer this decision to our beloved Creator).
I am so sorry for what you are going through. This isn't going to help any, but I just want you to know that this happens to everyone who has an animal friend. It's inevitable. You are not alone in your pain.
May G-d comfort you.
Thanks Johnny. She was my first family member since I moved out of my house (I was 19 and got her when I was 21).
Your words do bring comfort and I thank you for that (((hug))).
My dog lived for two years with CRF with daily fluid administration (at home—it took us awhile, but it became routine and non-stressful for us and our dog), home-cooked diet that is very low in phosphorus (not low in protein) and something called azodyl (supposed to absorb toxins). Kidney values returned to almost normal and our dog died from cancer, not renal failure. Our dog was 15 when diagnosed and lived a quality life with renal failure until the end when cancer affected both liver and kidneys.
My neighbor’s 15 year old cat lived for another year with daily fluids and modified diet. Sometimes a struggle finding foods that appeal to animals with kidney disease, but it was worth it to us. The feline CRF website is excellent and there are yahoo groups for people whose animals have been diagnosed with CRF. Best wishes.
I did everything I could to keep him alive. Wound up giving him IV's at home but it was no use. It only prolonged everyone's agony for about a month.
We finally had to .... well, you know.
First of all, my sympathy(more aptly, empathy) is with you.
I have quite a bit of experience dealing with feline CRF, unfortunately. My last kitty, a Persian, was diagnosed with CRF when he was 9 years old; his was attributed to polycystic kidney disease, which is fairly common in that breed, and incurable.
First of all, if your cat is in kidney failure, this will be evident in kidney function tests. Kitties will have either some or all of the following: elevated BUN/urea,creatinine, phosphorus, calcium, or potassium. There are other elevations that can be found in a regular blood panel.
If kidney failure is evident, you have several options: the use of subcutaneous fluids and phosphorus binders(if needed), special diet and other home treatments. Some cats don’t respond at all and, ultimately, need to be euthanized. I have known people with elderly cats who got good results, so there could be some hope for your kttty. The goal is to make your pet as comfortable as possible by giving him or her the best quality life attainable.
I’m enclosing a link for you that you will find helpful. It’s a site for those dealing with feline kidney disease, and it’s not only very informative(I used it frequently when dealing with my sick ones), but supportive:
www.felinecrf.org
Had it not been for this site, I don’t think my last cat would have experienced 4 more years of high quality life. He was on daily subcutaneous fluids(not all CRF cats need fluids) and several other medications, but you would have never known he was sick by looking at him. My husband and I made this commitment to him and, although, it was a little expensive, it was worth it.
Have a look at the website I included. Even if you opt for no treatment you will find a lot of encouragement and support as you go through this process of letting go. The woman who owns this site, and others who contribute, have been through it all.
My heart goes out to you——I know how hard this is. Hugs to you and your kitty.
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