neck problems

"Phil P." wrote

Hi everyone! I have a cat that is 14 years old and we noticed last night
that
she walking funny and her head was hanging down looking at the floor the
whole time.

Could be cervical ventroflexion which is often a result of potassium
depletion and can occur as a result chronic renal failure. When you see
your
vet tomorrow, ask him to run a full blood workup (complete blood count &
serum chemistry) and urinalysis. If her serum potassium level is in the
lower half of the normal range ask him to prescribe a potassium
supplement.
Even if she's not in renal failure, the potassium supplement will help
delay
the onset.

THats the other possible, but my one experience with this was a slower
onset. I'm hoping I'm right and she gets to the vet in time and it's a
simpler situation.

cshenk wrote:
"Phil P." wrote

Hi everyone! I have a cat that is 14 years old and we noticed last night
that
she walking funny and her head was hanging down looking at the floor the
whole time.
Could be cervical ventroflexion which is often a result of potassium
depletion and can occur as a result chronic renal failure. When you see
your
vet tomorrow, ask him to run a full blood workup (complete blood count &
serum chemistry) and urinalysis. If her serum potassium level is in the
lower half of the normal range ask him to prescribe a potassium
supplement.
Even if she's not in renal failure, the potassium supplement will help
delay
the onset.

THats the other possible, but my one experience with this was a slower
onset. I'm hoping I'm right and she gets to the vet in time and it's a
simpler situation.

We had sudden onset of this in a 14 yr old cat. It was potassium
deficiency, we supplemented him 2x a day and he lived 2 more years.

Nancy

"Nancy" wrote
We had sudden onset of this in a 14 yr old cat. It was potassium
deficiency, we supplemented him 2x a day and he lived 2 more years.


This is good to know! Do you know what causes potassium deficiency?

The main way that I know about is renal insufficiency. I don't know if
there are other reasons why a cat can suffer from potassium deficiency.

S.

"cybercat" wrote in message
...

"Nancy" wrote
We had sudden onset of this in a 14 yr old cat. It was potassium
deficiency, we supplemented him 2x a day and he lived 2 more years.


This is good to know! Do you know what causes potassium deficiency?

"blkcatgal" wrote in message
. ..
The main way that I know about is renal insufficiency. I don't know if
there are other reasons why a cat can suffer from potassium deficiency.

Same here on knowledge base. Probably are other things but I don't know
what they are.

I wish our lady with the sick cat would update us on how it's gone!

"cshenk" wrote in message
...

"blkcatgal" wrote in message
. ..
The main way that I know about is renal insufficiency. I don't know if
there are other reasons why a cat can suffer from potassium deficiency.

Same here on knowledge base. Probably are other things but I don't know
what they are.

I wish our lady with the sick cat would update us on how it's gone!


Me too.

"cybercat" wrote in message
...

"Nancy" wrote
We had sudden onset of this in a 14 yr old cat. It was potassium
deficiency, we supplemented him 2x a day and he lived 2 more years.


This is good to know! Do you know what causes potassium deficiency?



CRF is probably the most common cause of potassium depletion and hypokalemia
in cats- and its a vicious, self-perpetuating cycle.

Rapid urine formation- from any cause (CRF, diabetes, hyperthyroidism,
diuretics, sub-q fluids)- is another.

Acidified diets that don't contain enough potassium.

Severe/chronic vomiting and/or diarrhea.

Adrenal tumors.

Potassium depletion and hypokalemia aren't exactly the same. Serum
potassium levels aren't a good indicator of total body stores of potassium
because most (95%) of the body stores of potassium are contained in tissue-
not in the blood. Ergo- a cat with normal serum potassium levels can have a
deficit in her total body stores of potassium which can lead to declining
renal function--- which leads to further potassium losses-- which leads to
a further decline in renal function and the cycle goes on and on.

Signs of mild or subclinical hypokalemia are often dismissed as signs of
aging- like reduced appetite, reduced activity, subtle weight loss, poor
coat. If your cats are over 7 or 8, a potassium supplement will probably
make them feel a lot better and would probably delay the onset of CRF. All
my older cats get a potassium and omega 3 supplement. I highly recommend
them for all middle-age and older cats.

Phil

"Phil P." wrote:

. All
my older cats get a potassium and omega 3 supplement. I highly recommend
them for all middle-age and older cats.

Hi Phil, what form do those supplements come in and what dosage do you
give daily?

-mhd

"Phil P." wrote in message
news:_v_Fj.3224$7y3.2659@trndny02...

"cybercat" wrote in message
...

"Nancy" wrote
We had sudden onset of this in a 14 yr old cat. It was potassium
deficiency, we supplemented him 2x a day and he lived 2 more years.


This is good to know! Do you know what causes potassium deficiency?



CRF is probably the most common cause of potassium depletion and
hypokalemia
in cats- and its a vicious, self-perpetuating cycle.

Rapid urine formation- from any cause (CRF, diabetes, hyperthyroidism,
diuretics, sub-q fluids)- is another.

Acidified diets that don't contain enough potassium.

Severe/chronic vomiting and/or diarrhea.

Adrenal tumors.

Potassium depletion and hypokalemia aren't exactly the same. Serum
potassium levels aren't a good indicator of total body stores of potassium
because most (95%) of the body stores of potassium are contained in
tissue-
not in the blood. Ergo- a cat with normal serum potassium levels can have
a
deficit in her total body stores of potassium which can lead to declining
renal function--- which leads to further potassium losses-- which leads
to
a further decline in renal function and the cycle goes on and on.

Signs of mild or subclinical hypokalemia are often dismissed as signs of
aging- like reduced appetite, reduced activity, subtle weight loss, poor
coat. If your cats are over 7 or 8, a potassium supplement will probably
make them feel a lot better and would probably delay the onset of CRF. All
my older cats get a potassium and omega 3 supplement. I highly recommend
them for all middle-age and older cats.


Thanks, Phil, you are such a great resource.

"Phil P." wrote in message
news:_v_Fj.3224$7y3.2659@trndny02...

"cybercat" wrote in message
...

"Nancy" wrote
We had sudden onset of this in a 14 yr old cat. It was potassium
deficiency, we supplemented him 2x a day and he lived 2 more years.


This is good to know! Do you know what causes potassium deficiency?



CRF is probably the most common cause of potassium depletion and
hypokalemia
in cats- and its a vicious, self-perpetuating cycle.

Rapid urine formation- from any cause (CRF, diabetes, hyperthyroidism,
diuretics, sub-q fluids)- is another.

Acidified diets that don't contain enough potassium.

Severe/chronic vomiting and/or diarrhea.

Adrenal tumors.

Potassium depletion and hypokalemia aren't exactly the same. Serum
potassium levels aren't a good indicator of total body stores of potassium
because most (95%) of the body stores of potassium are contained in
tissue-
not in the blood. Ergo- a cat with normal serum potassium levels can have
a
deficit in her total body stores of potassium which can lead to declining
renal function--- which leads to further potassium losses-- which leads
to
a further decline in renal function and the cycle goes on and on.

Signs of mild or subclinical hypokalemia are often dismissed as signs of
aging- like reduced appetite, reduced activity, subtle weight loss, poor
coat. If your cats are over 7 or 8, a potassium supplement will probably
make them feel a lot better and would probably delay the onset of CRF. All
my older cats get a potassium and omega 3 supplement. I highly recommend
them for all middle-age and older cats.

Phil

Where do you get the potassium and omega 2 supplement? What brand? How
much to you give them? If I can't isolate the dose to just my 9 and 10 year
olds will it hurt to give it to them all (2 almost a year and one 4 year
old)? They're already getting 500mg/day/each of L-Lysine to prevent
outbreaks of FHV/Rhinovirus - do you think this would interfere with the
potassium and omega 3 supplements?

Hugs,

CatNipped