? 1/8 Pudge Sigh.. AMPS 114

kitten68

Member Since 2024
1/6/26 Prev Thread Pudgles

all of this is outrageous. (labs put in this AM on SS..)

the internist just proceeds to say he's end stage...... and in his opinion its just quality of life, and in these cases expectancy around 4 or so mos.. had an ultrasound done and they didn't see anything like tumor, etc. (his little stomach is shaved.. ❤️‍🩹 expensive too, wut a racket.. but wanted to) that kidneys don't regenerate, you're given a lot of kidney function because of that. and that once things start showing its advanced. he said there were signs in the bloodwork tho. (additionally, just because of his age, can anyone open their mouth and say watch his pressure, his little kidneys, etc?..)

he said it was nothing I did pretty much.. its age, the kidneys drop off, which is what he thinks, or possibly it was the hypertension that worsened things.. which I feel bad about I couldn't address or realize sooner. the Amlodipine is supposed to be safe for kidneys, but dehydration can happen.. I blamed myself for stopping cause if those values are right from last week to this week, they seemed to increase once off Amlodipine, but his values at home looked ok if the machine isn't a giant piece of garbage.. tested against vets and seemed close enough (that vet visit could have gone 100000 times better... a later appt. won't do that again..) he said that was ok; he would've done same to see if the Amlodipine was culprit..

to him, it's probably coincidence.. everything. happy he's eating, it's pretty much quality again and palliative care I guess?.. the tech was lovely. she's like we don't know time frame. could be long. he's doing ok, it's great.

so.. how many sets of eyes have to be paid to say or see something? he had 4. i swear, veterinarians are useless!!!! because they say he looks good, I don't know what I see. its really something. this went fast! I was pulling my hair out for months!!!! we could have been doing things or addressing this long ago!!!! where did this come from.. so quickly..

internist said sub q weren't needed rn cause he's ok w eating and doing ok, but to see how it goes. get an updated test next week. no Amlodipine for the next week also. I'm thinking to learn and give sub q anyway.. (?) I said I still wanted to do supplement (Kidney Gold Support), he said those just prolong but ok to give.. look forward to starting that. feel anxious as heck now w it waiting for it to come.. also got him a new fountain.. metal.. maybe might taste nicer.. im still there to pour water for him anytime. notice, too, he's peeing less frequently, tho amount can be a lot, and he'll stop drinking water now and again as opposed to before, just drinking drinking.. eh.

this is so stressful w trying to manage the FD now. we've worked hard.. and making so much progress.. and just in general cause kitties need to eat. cause of TR, numbers are taken quite down.. and its pins and needles seeing how his tummy does.. but he's doing so good. its just....... sigh.

any advice appreciated... 🥺🤡❤️‍🩹
any and all the good thoughts for my nugget... I'm not sure what to think. 😑❤️‍🩹.....
 
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Check if he has a heart murmur. If not, there's only good things about giving subq to a kidney cat. As I understand it, it helps flush the system as well as rehydrate them. My cancer kitty got dehydrated for a week when she was feeling bad and not wanting to eat. I had to give her between 70-100ml every other day just to help her through that for a week. But if they have a heart murmur, it makes the heart work harder, so can't give as much. I had a girl with kidney failure that had a murmur, and she got half the amount of fluids. But she still needed them regularly.
It wasn't necessarily anything you did or didn't do.
As it was explained to me, their kidneys are like our hearts. The most over worked organ in the body. For humans, if nothing else gets us, in the end our hearts will fail. Same for them and their kidneys.
I've had 4 kidney cats, and the only one to make a complete turn around was when I ignored all the vets and listened to advice given by those in charge of both Food Fur Life & Young Again. But the food I ended up giving my last boy that I tribute to the reversal is something a diabetic cat can't eat, due to high carbs.
I'm sorry you're having to go through this and hang in there. But yes, fluids are VERY important, and easy to give
 
I'm completely out of my depth here, but it sounds like an incredibly hard situation. Much love and support to you and Pudge. ❤️
 
1/6/26 Prev Thread Pudgles

all of this is outrageous. (labs put in this AM on SS..)

the internist just proceeds to say he's end stage...... and in his opinion its just quality of life, and in these cases expectancy around 4 or so mos.. had an ultrasound done and they didn't see anything like tumor, etc. (his little stomach is shaved.. ❤️‍🩹 expensive too, wut a racket.. but wanted to) that kidneys don't regenerate, you're given a lot of kidney function because of that. and that once things start showing its advanced. he said there were signs in the bloodwork tho. (additionally, just because of his age, can anyone open their mouth and say watch his pressure, his little kidneys, etc?..)

he said it was nothing I did pretty much.. its age, the kidneys drop off, which is what he thinks, or possibly it was the hypertension that worsened things.. which I feel bad about I couldn't address or realize sooner. the Amlodipine is supposed to be safe for kidneys, but dehydration can happen.. I blamed myself for stopping cause if those values are right from last week to this week, they seemed to increase once off Amlodipine, but his values at home looked ok if the machine isn't a giant piece of garbage.. tested against vets and seemed close enough (that vet visit could have gone 100000 times better... a later appt. won't do that again..) he said that was ok; he would've done same to see if the Amlodipine was culprit..

to him, it's probably coincidence.. everything. happy he's eating, it's pretty much quality again and palliative care I guess?.. the tech was lovely. she's like we don't know time frame. could be long. he's doing ok, it's great.

so.. how many sets of eyes have to be paid to say or see something? he had 4. i swear, veterinarians are useless!!!! because they say he looks good, I don't know what I see. its really something. this went fast! I was pulling my hair out for months!!!! we could have been doing things or addressing this long ago!!!! where did this come from.. so quickly..

internist said sub q weren't needed rn cause he's ok w eating and doing ok, but to see how it goes. get an updated test next week. no Amlodipine for the next week also. I'm thinking to learn and give sub q anyway.. (?) I said I still wanted to do supplement (Kidney Gold Support), he said those just prolong but ok to give.. look forward to starting that. feel anxious as heck now w it waiting for it to come.. also got him a new fountain.. metal.. maybe might taste nicer.. im still there to pour water for him anytime. notice, too, he's peeing less frequently, tho amount can be a lot, and he'll stop drinking water now and again as opposed to before, just drinking drinking.. eh.

this is so stressful w trying to manage the FD now. we've worked hard.. and making so much progress.. and just in general cause kitties need to eat. cause of TR, numbers are taken quite down.. and its pins and needles seeing how his tummy does.. but he's doing so good. its just....... sigh.

any advice appreciated... 🥺🤡❤️‍🩹
any and all the good thoughts for my nugget... I'm not sure what to think. 😑❤️‍🩹.....
I'm sorry for all of the conflicting information you've received. It makes it so hard to know what to do.
I agree it's good to know how to give fluids (in case you should need to do them). Maybe the great vet tech could show you how?
As long as his sweet little heart is ok to handle them.❤️‍🩹

I gave fluids to a sweet kitty I had for several years, she had CKD, about 20 years ago. She was the easiest cat ever (unlike Queen Ivy, the terror)
Once we had a routine down it became easy and fast.
I did cry many times in the beginning (just as I have over FD and hyperthyroid, etc) 😭

I hope the kidney gold supplement will help, I would think it can't hurt! And Pudge will love his new fountain.
He's such a good boy drinking when he needs to :bighug:

Sending you much love and support, hang in there, you're such an am amazing and dedicated cat parent!!
❤️‍🩹 🫂 💕
 
Were Pudge's phosphorus levels tested as well? I don't see the most recent value on his labs, and in December they were too high. High phosphorus can make them feel bad and cause the kidney disease to progress faster. Are you feeding low phosphorus wet food? I'm surprised the IM vet didn't say anything about that. There are phosphorus binders that can help. Maybe discuss with regular vert? More information here: Phosphorus Control – Tanya's Comprehensive Guide to Feline Chronic Kidney Disease

Be very careful about giving fluids without the heart being checked out. Fluids almost killed Neko, put her into congestive heart failure. Second kidney kitty also has heart issues. It's not an uncommon combination.
 
Check if he has a heart murmur. If not, there's only good things about giving subq to a kidney cat. As I understand it, it helps flush the system as well as rehydrate them. My cancer kitty got dehydrated for a week when she was feeling bad and not wanting to eat. I had to give her between 70-100ml every other day just to help her through that for a week. But if they have a heart murmur, it makes the heart work harder, so can't give as much. I had a girl with kidney failure that had a murmur, and she got half the amount of fluids. But she still needed them regularly.
It wasn't necessarily anything you did or didn't do.
As it was explained to me, their kidneys are like our hearts. The most over worked organ in the body. For humans, if nothing else gets us, in the end our hearts will fail. Same for them and their kidneys.
I've had 4 kidney cats, and the only one to make a complete turn around was when I ignored all the vets and listened to advice given by those in charge of both Food Fur Life & Young Again. But the food I ended up giving my last boy that I tribute to the reversal is something a diabetic cat can't eat, due to high carbs.
I'm sorry you're having to go through this and hang in there. But yes, fluids are VERY important, and easy to give
I really appreciate hearing this.. thank you!!!! 💖 and that's what u have to do sometimes.. treat yourself. if I had followed the first spiteful idiots advice, he'd have been dead. anyway, the main vet has said his heart was okay and I said I had heard he might have a murmur but he said he didn't hear that.. and didn't mention a heart problem and since he suggested fluids im assuming he did so knowing his hear is ok???? so? and even then, you say your kitty w the murmur still got some/half?..

im researching and reading and trying to learn everything rn.. ✨
 
I'm sorry for all of the conflicting information you've received. It makes it so hard to know what to do.
I agree it's good to know how to give fluids (in case you should need to do them). Maybe the great vet tech could show you how?
As long as his sweet little heart is ok to handle them.❤️‍🩹

I gave fluids to a sweet kitty I had for several years, she had CKD, about 20 years ago. She was the easiest cat ever (unlike Queen Ivy, the terror)
Once we had a routine down it became easy and fast.
I did cry many times in the beginning (just as I have over FD and hyperthyroid, etc) 😭

I hope the kidney gold supplement will help, I would think it can't hurt! And Pudge will love his new fountain.
He's such a good boy drinking when he needs to :bighug:

Sending you much love and support, hang in there, you're such an am amazing and dedicated cat parent!!
❤️‍🩹 🫂 💕
Staciiii they don't know nothin.. :arghh: or idk what. im going to confirm his heart is ok to take fluids.. and am researching anyway, right ~ in case.. YES. because its like.. they make it sound like they gonna die tmw. and its horrible... kidneys are vital. :( like many things tho I guess.. he wasn't even particularly warm about it, the internist. lol.. its a mystery to me. this went fast. I was reading on the kidney forum.. someone mentioned maybe an infection.. cause this was fast? but idk if they'll say that for us.. waiting to see what we hear.
also got the labs up.. wish I had sooner.. but I was told they looked good. should've known better and put them up here for more competent eyes to see.......... alas.

me too!!!!! the only thing is the blasted shipping.. idk when its coming, looks like next week sometimes. im upset. 😭 trying to think where else can buy it.. like a store.. but idk. and I hope he likes it too!!!! 💦

thank you!!! HUGS HUGS and same same.. not easy dealing w multiple things at once.. 🌸💘❤️‍🩹
 
Were Pudge's phosphorus levels tested as well? I don't see the most recent value on his labs, and in December they were too high. High phosphorus can make them feel bad and cause the kidney disease to progress faster. Are you feeding low phosphorus wet food? I'm surprised the IM vet didn't say anything about that. There are phosphorus binders that can help. Maybe discuss with regular vert? More information here: Phosphorus Control – Tanya's Comprehensive Guide to Feline Chronic Kidney Disease

Be very careful about giving fluids without the heart being checked out. Fluids almost killed Neko, put her into congestive heart failure. Second kidney kitty also has heart issues. It's not an uncommon combination.
💖 Wendyyyy..... cost me almost $130 and there's like only 8-10 values I see..... and no phosphorus. I definitely would have put it.. actually its hard to read some of it cause idk what the titles/periodic table forgotten mean but put what I could... it was like one sheet, looks like a fax almost haha... :/ he just did a small run to see how the kidneys were... but this is part of it right?...... of course. 🙃

and with his food sensitivities.. there's only so many things he can eat. 😰 we rely on Merrick Limited Turkey canned.. and the internist didn't give me ANYTHING to help with like.. making him more comfortable right now. like, cause he's ok food wise and things.. I hate having to refer the vets. just.. 😑. anyhow..... I did read about phosphorus binders! should we try? cause finding an actual food I don't think we can do.. and you just sprinkle on food I think? does it affect taste?

on his little heart, I just called to verify ~ I appreciate u and everyone mentioning.. I actually heard from the first vet she thought he had a murmur or something.. then our current one is like, I don't hear anything......... omg. so idk. I just called to make sure and verify.. @Tyleete said though that one of their kitties had a murmur, etc but just got like half or less. but still got some anyhow..? and it helps.

im so sorry to hear that about Neko!!!!!! poor Neko!! 😰 they gave her fluids without checking her heart or idk what happened?.. and right, the hypertension etc, too.. right. 😔
 
Were Pudge's phosphorus levels tested as well? I don't see the most recent value on his labs, and in December they were too high. High phosphorus can make them feel bad and cause the kidney disease to progress faster. Are you feeding low phosphorus wet food? I'm surprised the IM vet didn't say anything about that. There are phosphorus binders that can help. Maybe discuss with regular vert? More information here: Phosphorus Control – Tanya's Comprehensive Guide to Feline Chronic Kidney Disease

Be very careful about giving fluids without the heart being checked out. Fluids almost killed Neko, put her into congestive heart failure. Second kidney kitty also has heart issues. It's not an uncommon combination.
Also, might you know if there's a way for me to share his labs that I put in the SS here on the kidney forum? somehow? or do I have to do it over again because they have a certain way to do it? I did hear tho that there were numerous ways to share.. ✨
 
they gave her fluids without checking her heart
The vet recommended I give fluids for her kidneys. She had an echcardiogram by a cardiology vet 5 months before I started the fluids, so her heart had been recently checked. But apparently deteriorated quickly. She did get over the CHF episode with the right meds. I does mean I am always sensitive about heart and fluids.
 
The vet recommended I give fluids for her kidneys. She had an echcardiogram by a cardiology vet 5 months before I started the fluids, so her heart had been recently checked. But apparently deteriorated quickly. She did get over the CHF episode with the right meds. I does mean I am always sensitive about heart and fluids.
I would be too.. that must have been really scary. :( 💖 im reading on the phosphorus binders.. its sounding like aluminium hydroxide is the way?.. I guess? the best one? im confused how to dose it tho.. I'll be honest sometimes there is so much information to comb through, and I feel pressed for time.. its just 😵‍💫..... doing best.
 
:::Update:::
im really glad the CKD forum over there has helped a lot of people and I know its an invaluable resource, but personally so far I'm not hearing much.. I had someone answer and I was super glad, I don't fault them, but outside of that.. nothing. and because things may or may not be urgent, I need to know options and feel overwhelmed reading it all because it is massive.. trying to do my best. be nice if it could just be offered up.. but I know every place is different with how they do things.. so far, im not digging it.

so.. since im trying to figure this out at record speed.. I just feel scared and nervous all the time rn. he's eating so well and doing ok so far but im terrified one day he might not feel well and can't eat and his numbers will then be a problem to deal with.. now this might never happen, but part of me thinks, can we continue TR right now then?.. ugh.......... 😓

idk.. this has been very unexpected and disappointing. like, whattt. but I know also that we don't know what can happen, and things might go better as well. but.. its something im thinking about. :/ he got his shot tonite.. been ok and will be, but I really don't know forward..

❤️‍🩹.. @Wendy&Neko @Suzanne & Darcy @Bandit's Mom @tiffmaxee
 
I did TR with diabetes, stage 3/4 CKD, heart disease, and small cell lymphoma. It can be done. Just find out what you can do to help him feel as well as possible, and have nausea meds on hand in case you need them. It's great news that he's eating well, that's very important.
 
I did TR with diabetes, stage 3/4 CKD, heart disease, and small cell lymphoma. It can be done. Just find out what you can do to help him feel as well as possible, and have nausea meds on hand in case you need them. It's great news that he's eating well, that's very important.
💘😭 okay.. I'm trying to do that fast, juggling it all and just nervous I won't be prepared if it were to happen rn.. but he's eating well tho. yes.. ❤️‍🩹 ooh I have some Cerenia on hand, the vet gave us, that ones ok?..
 
I dealt with several diseases as well and did TR. There’s another smaller groupsio feline-CRF-Support Group if you can handle another. The mods taught me a lot.
 
I find Facebook pages tend to get more responses if you have questions and are looking for quick or multiple points of view. I can't name any, as I've been kicked off of the 2 I used to go to.😂 They didn't like that I went around saying a high meat protein can do great things for a kidney cat and told me to stop it I'd get banned.🙄
But if you don't threaten their ways, such things can provide help. Don't feel alone in not liking Tanya's. I listened to a lot of their comments to me and found out the painful way (with my 2nd kidney boy), the one thing worse in this world than no hope? Is false hope.:(
I'm sure they help plenty of people. I just want one of them. I shared my boys labs and everything about him, while they told me don't listen to my vet, there's still hope and rattled off all these tests. Which in turn I emailed my vet to ask about such tests. They said that tests and results could really help him.
My vet was so upset, she actually called me ash 11:30 at night to explain each test and say.... Yes, we could spend thousands doing all these. But these people haven't seen what I have. The progression, the scans I've done, the attempts we've done. They just set the black and white, and not the cat.
For just a short bit, they had convinced me he had a fighting chance, even though it was the end. And that's why I say false hope is worse than no hope. That crash coming back down to reality was super painful.
Now I'm sure plenty will come to defend them. If others had a good experience all the power to them. But not everyone does, and it's not just your.
As for your preparations? I always say... Plan for the worst, hope for the best. It's just like us getting the hypo toolkit together. You may never need it. But it's good to know what to do for the when.
3 things that have helped mine in the past, was having one of those high calorie gels on hand (for when they choose to not eat), baby food (meat stage 1 with no lemon juice), and large syringes for syringe feeding.
These are things to use if they stop eating. Many cats will eat the meat baby food, when they're not wanting anything else. The syringe has for those times they go too long without eating. Sometimes they only need a few days, to help them get over that hump & feel better and start eating on their own again. And the subq fluids of course.
And take turn in reading about the different problems. I recently had 1 day disinfectant with diabetes, and within a week another diagnosed with cancer. I would usually take 1 day to read about the diabetes, and the next to read about the cancer. Alternating helped me not get too overwhelmed. Maybe it can help you too. And right down things you think might be important.
Sorry you're both having to go through all this and at once.
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