Blood pressure cuff, additional food suggestions,

Hello,

Kidney Disease/Blood Pressure
I am in the market for a blood pressure cuff for Zot. He was diagnosed with Kidney disease, and my budget is about $120 USD. Before I buy, I was hoping to get some recommendations on cuffs. I see many different kinds on Amazon and other websites, some are listed for 60, others are more expensive, hitting 140. Does anyone have a favorite or any suggestions? I'm new to monitoring kidney disease, and any further help, tips or tricks is always appreciated.
Additionally, I'm seeking a nice running-water-fountain to further encourage hydration, and if there are better food suggestions than what he is currently being fed for a kitty who is and also has kidney disease are welcome.

Gastritis/Pancreatitis
A recent development in the last month or so has been some vomiting and the rare hairball. Last night, I was out of the house for a couple of hours, and when I returned, Zot was a bit lethargic and had thrown up on the floor. I thought it might have been like the previous couple of times, so I checked his BG (148) and monitored him until about 4:30 when his ears were flattened to the side, muzzle was tense, mouth slightly opened, hunched over, standing in place and not moving, heaved a couple of times, and threw up two more times. I took him into the ER and they sent him home with some painkillers and anti-nausea. They said it is most likely gastritis or pancreatitis and that he seems very healthy despite all of this for his age. I'm following up with my usual vet today. He is feeling a lot better now and seems like himself entirely again. I am very relieved. Any advice or thoughts for this are also very welcome.

I just saw this one in Amazon.com $14.99

Info - A Primer On Pancreatitis

It's common for diabetic cats to also have pancreatitis occasionally. Treatment is mostly anti nausea meds, anti vomiting meds, appetite stimulant if needed, pain medicine if needed, IV fluids if needed. Ask for the specific fPLI test the next time you bring your cat to the vet for a suspected pancreatitis episode. Some vets have a quick test they can do in the office. Others send out the blood sample to be tested.

Ask your vet if you can have a small supply of medicines on hand to give to your cat for future pancreatitis episodes. Cerenia, odansetron, Mirataz, fluids and a IV set up, gabapentin, bupe if your vet will allow you to have that.

There was a blood pressure machine offered in the Supply Closet forum a few weeks ago. You can message the person to see if it's still available or not.

It's probably easiest to just add water to canned food to increase water intake. Not all cats are interested in a fountain and some fountains are a pain to clean.

squeem3 said:

Info - A Primer On Pancreatitis

It's common for diabetic cats to also have pancreatitis occasionally. Treatment is mostly anti nausea meds, anti vomiting meds, appetite stimulant if needed, pain medicine if needed, IV fluids if needed. Ask for the specific fPLI test the next time you bring your cat to the vet for a suspected pancreatitis episode. Some vets have a quick test they can do in the office. Others send out the blood sample to be tested.

Ask your vet if you can have a small supply of medicines on hand to give to your cat for future pancreatitis episodes. Cerenia, odansetron, Mirataz, fluids and a IV set up, gabapentin, bupe if your vet will allow you to have that.

There was a blood pressure machine offered in the Supply Closet forum a few weeks ago. You can message the person to see if it's still available or not.

It's probably easiest to just add water to canned food to increase water intake. Not all cats are interested in a fountain and some fountains are a pain to clean.

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This is very informative, thank you so much. I sent an email to my vet this morning and had the papers faxed over from the ER visit. He just started Bupe for the time being. They gave him an anti-nausea injection at the ER, as well as some subq fluids.

He started rejecting his food if there was water in it around the time he started getting picky and trying to starve himself. So I was thinking that maybe a filtered fountain could be worth a shot.

CORKY said:

I just saw this one in Amazon.com $14.99

Click to expand...

Thank you so much.