Max & Lori
Member Since 2021
This is another update on my sweet boy Max. A lot more happened since last week. Max’s vet wanted to start him on Varenzin to stimulate RBC’s trying to help his anemia, so we tried it for three days and then I stopped it. It had listed some scary side effects but the main side effect was vomiting. Max was already having some inappetence and being very picky with food. He did not have vomiting, but it made his inappetence worse, so I stopped it and he seemed to feel a little better. We then had our follow up appointment at NCSU internal medicine yesterday. I’ve listed what happened there.
1. Max had his labs repeated and a renal ultrasound. I decided not to put him through a biopsy of the spleen as recommended from his last abdominal ultrasound. I didn’t see the point because of his late stage CKD. The renal ultrasound still showed mild pelviectasis of one of his kidneys so the vet finally decided to treat empirically for a kidney infection despite a negative urine culture. It may be too little too late but I am hoping and praying it helps. So Max is on Veraflox for that.
2. I don’t have a copy of his labs yet. They will email them to me, but I was told his creatinine was “slightly better” at 5.8 or something like that. His BUN was still 100. His phosphorus decreased back to 4.4. The vet has switched our phosphorus binder to Naraquin because it contains iron. I don’t know how I feel about that because the aluminum hydroxide worked so well bringing down his phosphorus level. Since he couldn’t tolerate the Varenzin she wanted to try Naraquin for iron and phosphorus binding. I’ve read that maybe Naraquin doesn’t work as well as aluminum hydroxide and it can cause hypercalcemia. We will get his labs rechecked in a week. I am wondering if I can still use aluminum hydroxide too, but just not at the same time? She said there are other anemia treatments. Max is already on B complex. I’m trying to figure out which B-12 to get. I asked the vet and she didn’t think it would help. Which B-12 did you use in addition to the B complex @Marje and Gracie ?
3. Max’s blood pressure was 140 at NCSU. The vet said she was concerned that it was going too low at home since it was only 140 there, so she stopped the Telmisartan. So now he’s on no blood pressure medicine. He also had 2+ protein in his urine so I thought the Telmisartan was for that too, but now he’s on nothing. That concerns me too.
4. Max lost less than a pound of weight. I thought it was more. He really has a lot of muscle wasting appearance to him now and his coat doesn’t look vibrant as it always has. It makes me so sad, but I’m trying to stay strong for my boy right now and I’m trying everything I can to keep him happy. I haven’t given up and I hope nobody else does either. I think that’s all. My mind is in a million places so I’m quite scatter brained. Thought I’d update for those who are still interested in Max and also to see if anyone can answer my questions or give any additional advice. Thanks in advance.
Previous https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/2-28-max-update.287183/#post-3157397
1. Max had his labs repeated and a renal ultrasound. I decided not to put him through a biopsy of the spleen as recommended from his last abdominal ultrasound. I didn’t see the point because of his late stage CKD. The renal ultrasound still showed mild pelviectasis of one of his kidneys so the vet finally decided to treat empirically for a kidney infection despite a negative urine culture. It may be too little too late but I am hoping and praying it helps. So Max is on Veraflox for that.
2. I don’t have a copy of his labs yet. They will email them to me, but I was told his creatinine was “slightly better” at 5.8 or something like that. His BUN was still 100. His phosphorus decreased back to 4.4. The vet has switched our phosphorus binder to Naraquin because it contains iron. I don’t know how I feel about that because the aluminum hydroxide worked so well bringing down his phosphorus level. Since he couldn’t tolerate the Varenzin she wanted to try Naraquin for iron and phosphorus binding. I’ve read that maybe Naraquin doesn’t work as well as aluminum hydroxide and it can cause hypercalcemia. We will get his labs rechecked in a week. I am wondering if I can still use aluminum hydroxide too, but just not at the same time? She said there are other anemia treatments. Max is already on B complex. I’m trying to figure out which B-12 to get. I asked the vet and she didn’t think it would help. Which B-12 did you use in addition to the B complex @Marje and Gracie ?
3. Max’s blood pressure was 140 at NCSU. The vet said she was concerned that it was going too low at home since it was only 140 there, so she stopped the Telmisartan. So now he’s on no blood pressure medicine. He also had 2+ protein in his urine so I thought the Telmisartan was for that too, but now he’s on nothing. That concerns me too.
4. Max lost less than a pound of weight. I thought it was more. He really has a lot of muscle wasting appearance to him now and his coat doesn’t look vibrant as it always has. It makes me so sad, but I’m trying to stay strong for my boy right now and I’m trying everything I can to keep him happy. I haven’t given up and I hope nobody else does either. I think that’s all. My mind is in a million places so I’m quite scatter brained. Thought I’d update for those who are still interested in Max and also to see if anyone can answer my questions or give any additional advice. Thanks in advance.
Previous https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/2-28-max-update.287183/#post-3157397
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I remember reading about a drug like Varenzin-CA1 back when my Tiger was diagnosed with CKD but it was not available, only Epogen and that too, had scary side effects and it was very,very expensive. You are doing a phenomenal job managing this, I continue to send my strongest vines for strength and calming for you and Max, prayers too, if that is okay. I have heard many people say that with feline diabetes, the caregiver has to be proactive as the vets don't learn too much in school, other than how to push their prescription foods. It sounds like your IM and vet are on the ball. Max is blessed to have you and your team. Will wait to see the labs and please keep us updated. You are a super hero!! 