Need help reading labs!

[tiffmaxee]

I've been reading everything on Tanya's website- she's amassed quite a bit of quality information. Just a lot to read and understand.

The vet said the injections would be far more expensive and dangerous than the transfusion, and the more I research, the more I see conflicting information that contradicts the vet's information.

The injections aren’t dangerous and are less expensive than transfusions from what I’ve seen. Aranesp has a much lower chance of cats building antibodies and if it happens you can transfuse. Walmart Soecialty Pharmacy was the go to place to buy it when my cat was anemic. She was on epogen for 9 months and didn’t build antibodies. I’m not sure why your vet prefers transfusions. You only give a tiny injection. Epogen was three times a week but I think Aranesp is just once. You aren’t at the point of needing to start but could be if the B vitamins don’t help. I’d go see your grandma if I were you. Maybe a tech from the vet will come and give injections while you are gone. I know how hard it can be. My mom was losing her fight with heart disease the whole time Tiffany and Max needed me, in and out of the hospital but lived close by. ​

 

[Noah & me (GA)]

All hail Ana!

She is wise

 

[Noah & me (GA)]

I know I am not selfish

Oh Kathryn, sorry I didn't see this. I'm not the councilor here but isn't Nugget part of a package deal? Big BIG hugs.

 

[Veronica & Babu-chiri]

Ordered some from Amazon, won't get here until Friday.

Good hopefully they will help, I started noticing some improvement (better appetite, mobility ) with my cyvie about one week after I started giving it to her it has helped her a lot, she's stage 2-3 of CKD

 

[Larry and Kitties]

What I do not see is a value for phosphorus. Typically CKD cause phosphorous to be high and that results in the cat feeling bad and not eating much. Sometimes a low-phosphorous food is sufficient but sometimes a phosphorous binder like aluminium hydroxide added to the food is required./

 

[Kathryn & Nugget]

Oh Kathryn, sorry I didn't see this. I'm not the councilor here but isn't Nugget part of a package deal? Big BIG hugs.

She definitely is... and some days I don't know if he keeps me around because he can't take care of the cat, or because he doesn't actually want to get rid of me.

I suppose no matter what the decision ends up being on his end, she is my Nugget and since I take care of her, I make the decisions.

 

[Kathryn & Nugget]

What I do not see is a value for phosphorus. Typically CKD cause phosphorous to be high and that results in the cat feeling bad and not eating much. Sometimes a low-phosphorous food is sufficient but sometimes a phosphorous binder like aluminium hydroxide added to the food is required./

Hi Larry, the labs that were sent out (I think called CBC) tested phosphorus and it was very high- 20.3
The vet at the hospital told me not to change her diet because her appetite isn't great and its better for her to eat the diabetic dry food and regular wet food than it is for her to not eat at all.

 

[Kathryn & Nugget]

The injections aren’t dangerous and are less expensive than transfusions from what I’ve seen. Aranesp has a much lower chance of cats building antibodies and if it happens you can transfuse. Walmart Soecialty Pharmacy was the go to place to buy it when my cat was anemic. She was on epogen for 9 months and didn’t build antibodies. I’m not sure why your vet prefers transfusions. You only give a tiny injection. Epogen was three times a week but I think Aranesp is just once. You aren’t at the point of needing to start but could be if the B vitamins don’t help. I’d go see your grandma if I were you. Maybe a tech from the vet will come and give injections while you are gone. I know how hard it can be. My mom was losing her fight with heart disease the whole time Tiffany and Max needed me, in and out of the hospital but lived close by. ​

I can definitely give an injection once a week if that is what will help. I am just concerned now about finding a vet who is knowledgeable and helpful. It is expensive to go to the hospital- and they won't see me regularly, just as a re-check this past week. To find a vet, explain everything that is going on, and ask about B vitamin shots, or giving it at home, plus the Aranesp or Epogen- a new vet is not going to know how much I know no matter how much I explain it.

I want to see my grandma, I miss her so much, and she keeps telling my mom how excited she is that I am coming to visit her. I'm also prepared to give up basically all of my social life to be home to take care of her. That means no more visiting late at night with friends, no more happy hour on Fridays during the school year with my girlfriends, no more work parties, no more vacations... I am willing to give all of that up- but I need to have this upcoming week to spend time with my family.

I am hoping my SO can pull it together to give fluids every other day- better than none, and it would mean he only has to do it 3 times. I

 

[Larry and Kitties]

Hi Larry, the labs that were sent out (I think called CBC) tested phosphorus and it was very high- 20.3
The vet at the hospital told me not to change her diet because her appetite isn't great and its better for her to eat the diabetic dry food and regular wet food than it is for her to not eat at all.

The problem is that with a high phosphorous the cat wants to little if any. I would try a phosphorous binder. What I have done in the past was to mxi a little food with all the binder and then syringe feed that right after my cat all all they could. Also, be aware the a binder like aluminium hydroxide cause constipation and thus I add generic Mirlax to the syringe fed food.

 

[Kathryn & Nugget]

The problem is that with a high phosphorous the cat wants to little if any. I would try a phosphorous binder. What I have done in the past was to mxi a little food with all the binder and then syringe feed that right after my cat all all they could. Also, be aware the a binder like aluminium hydroxide cause constipation and thus I add generic Mirlax to the syringe fed food.

Yikes constipation... she is already constipated. I am scared to syringe feed. I had to help my mom do that with her cat a few months ago and it was terrible. She fought us at every turn- she likely had kidney issues too.. unfortunately little Grey cat passed away shortly after. So just the sheer memory of it makes me nervous. The vet never mentioned anything about the phosphorus either. Just prescribed cerenia and mirtazapine to help with the appetite. I'm try to avoid giving those to her unless she needs it. Didn't give it last night, hoping to not have to give it tonight either. Right now we are sitting on the porch outside- been here for about 1.5 hours. It is hot, but not nearly as humid as the last few days. She sleeps mostly, but gets up every so often for water and a snack.

 

[Kathryn & Nugget]

I am trying to stay outside with her. I am afraid to let her onto the furniture because she's already been incontinent three times on the couch. I also think its chilly in the house (thank goodness for central air), but I think the anemia is making her feel colder. When we are outside her nose is very pink, when we are inside its white!

 

[Noah & me (GA)]

Sorry for going out of bounds last night Kathryn. I just take it for granted CJ and I see the world the same way.

her nose is very pink

I was told a pink/pinker nose is a sign of increased blood flow. Sometimes that's stress but maybe Nugget perks up outside, just happy to be with you in the sun and grass.

 

[Kathryn & Nugget]

Sorry for going out of bounds last night Kathryn. I just take it for granted CJ and I see the world the same way.

You were not out of bounds!!! Believe me... I need all the advice and help I can get lately.

I was told a pink/pinker nose is a sign of increased blood flow. Sometimes that's stress but maybe Nugget perks up outside, just happy to be with you in the sun and grass.

She never used to want to be outside.. I used to literally drag her out lol. Now she waits by the door like a little duck. She is in her room right now- I can't keep both eyes on her at the moment and I'm afraid she will pee on the couch again (even though it is draped in plastic and two sheets and three towels folded in quarters to make 12 layers). I am a little hungry and need to make a quick snack, so hopefully she eats her snack and takes a nap because I do have to go out and run some errands.

 

[Veronica & Babu-chiri]

Hi Larry, the labs that were sent out (I think called CBC) tested phosphorus and it was very high- 20.3
The vet at the hospital told me not to change her diet because her appetite isn't great and its better for her to eat the diabetic dry food and regular wet food than it is for her to not eat at all.

With phosphorus that high he needs a phosphorus binder probably even if you changed his diet ( this is probably one of the main reasons why he won't eat ) which could be a bad idea or not, funny how sometimes they tend to associate the food they were eating with the nausea so when you change it for a new one they get right into it.

You can try and mix some phosphorus binder with his food, the one a lot of people use is aluminium hydroxide, which is for what I heard the most effective one, I use calcium carbonate but that is because there's no aluminium hydroxide available where I live

I'm not sure if they have already given you the link to Tanya's web page, but is a great source of information for everything related with kidneys, there you can find some suggestions on how to use phosphorus binders, where to buy it and doses, what can you do to help with constipation (is quite common in CKD cats )and a lot of other things that will probably help you (http://www.felinecrf.org/how_bad_is_it.htm)

For mild constipation I use Slippery Elm bark (In Tanya's web page you can find information on this one too)

Still one thing is true she has to eat somehow, because not eating is very dangerous and as bad as it may seem syringe feeding is not that bad past the first couple of times you just have to find the right consistency on the food you are using for it not to be to liquid so that you don't get a big mess or too solid that it won't pass through the syringe and try and give him just a little bit at a time ( about 2-3 ml) also try and syringe some water to her (just not at the same time)