Looks like Fatass has Chornic Renal Failure

wrote:
Background, 16 year cat, was my mom's until she passed away last year -
has been drinking a lot and eating litter.

Eating litter is often a sign of anemia, which is often a symtpom/side
effect of CRF. If needed - determined by a PCV test (quickly done
in-house at the vet's) when the PCV falls below a certain number (18 -
20%, IIRC??), it's possible that Procrit/epogen injections may work
well. My late cat Debbie had CRF, became anemic (she was eating
litter) & responded well to Procrit. The injections are very easy to
give at home - much easier than sub-Q fluids, since the needle is tiny
in comparison; slip right in.


We went to the vet today - she is dehydrated and the blood test
revelaved elevated kidney values and a high calcium level. She also
has a heart murmur. (which I did not know about.)

Anyway, they gave her an IV of NaCL for the dehydration, and I will do
this fluid therapy at home going forward. It involves administering an
IV with an 18g needle. It takes less than 10 minutes for the fluids to
go in.

This is a good plan - to do the fluids at home. Less stress for the
cat, therefore less stress on you, plus less expensive.

I also picked up some Science diet k/d and IVD modified dry and canned.
I guess as long as she eats, she is doing ok, but when she stops
eating, there won't be much that can be done. I am also going to pick
up some nutri-gel or vita-gel to supplement her nurtition.

If she'll eat the k/d, good. I not, there are some other apppropriate
renal failure foods out there. If she doens't like any of them, feed
her whatever she'll eat. If she needs it, you can ask the vet about
Periactin/cyproheptadine - it often works well as an appetite stimulant
for cats, although it's an antihistamine for humans.

The whole deal, food, blood work, exam, and the fluid IV ran me a cool
$257.25...

She eats a bit, plays, purrs, and generally is her usual self - I can't
beleive she only has months to live.

It may be months, or it may be years...


Here is Fatty chillin' on the window sill with her cool look:

http://www.freepixhosting.com/upload...ture%20306.jpg

She's looking good, to me, for a cat in CRF - coat doens't look
seriously "staring", dehydration, for ex.

Any input from the experienced is appreciated.

Some others already provided the CRF website - it's really very, very
good. The person who wrote it had 2 CRF cats, & learned a *lot* about
the disease, its treatments, etc.

Good luck!

Cathy



Bluesman

Phil P. wrote:
A low protein renal diet (k/d or g/d) will also help lower the BUN. If your
cat won't eat a renal diet, choose a low-phosphorus diet --- *low phosphorus
takes precedence over low protein*. Some good low-phosphorus
non-prescription diets are Wysong, PetGuard and Innova Lite (in that order).


Phil,
My look at Wysong shows the lowest phos food at 0.6% with foods up
to 1.4%, Innova Lite canned is 0.636%. That's a considerable increase
~30%, from Feline k/d which ranges from 0.34 (can) to 0.49% (dry). I
found no data on PetGuard on their website so have no clue.
Released at ACVIM this week was the early findings of a Grade 1
clinical trial in naturally ocurring feline renal failure. The results
are very clear. Even at the earliest stages of renal failure detection,
feeding a renal diet with low phos levels, high Omega 3 levels, low
sodium levels etc. made a significant differernce in life span,
delayed onset of uremic crisis, and to the severity of uremic crisis.

"Steve Crane" wrote in message
oups.com...


Phil P. wrote:
A low protein renal diet (k/d or g/d) will also help lower the BUN. If
your
cat won't eat a renal diet, choose a low-phosphorus diet --- *low
phosphorus
takes precedence over low protein*. Some good low-phosphorus
non-prescription diets are Wysong, PetGuard and Innova Lite (in that
order).


Phil,
My look at Wysong shows the lowest phos food at 0.6% with foods up
to 1.4%, Innova Lite canned is 0.636%. That's a considerable increase
~30%, from Feline k/d which ranges from 0.34 (can) to 0.49% (dry).

Yes, I know, Steve. I recommended these diets as an alternative *only* if
the cat won't eat Hill's k/d-g/d, Waltham Low Phosphorus, Purina NF, Abbott
Clinicare RF and Iams Multistage Renal prescription renal diets.

It doesn't matter how perfectly formulated a renal diet is if the cat won't
eat it.

Wysong Chicken Gourmet, Liver Gourmet and Seafood Gourmet contain 0.60%
phosphorus DMB. Wysong Chicken Au Jus- at 0.20% DMB(which needs to be
supplemented).


I
found no data on PetGuard on their website so have no clue.

PetGuard Turkey & Rice P = 0.23% DMB, Rabbit P = 0.21% DMB, Venison P = 0.20
DMB contain about lowest phosphorus of *non prescription* diets, and even
less phosphorus than k/d and g/d.

Phil

Phil P. wrote:
"Steve Crane" wrote in message
oups.com...

It doesn't matter how perfectly formulated a renal diet is if the cat won't
eat it.

I agree with that, however it is critical and it does make a
significant difference, enough that pet owners shouldn't simply give it
the old thirty second try and go off with a non renal food too easily.

PetGuard Turkey & Rice P = 0.23% DMB, Rabbit P = 0.21% DMB, Venison P = 0.20
DMB contain about lowest phosphorus of *non prescription* diets, and even
less phosphorus than k/d and g/d.

I suspect those are As Fed - even if Pet Guard tells you they are
DMB's. My experience with PetGuard over the years is that the people on
the phone don't know the difference. I'd want to see some lab analysis
before I would buy those values.




Phil