1/10 Trixie AMBG 161 "+3.5" 103 - Anyone use Azodyl for CKD?

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Amy&TrixieCat

Amy&TrixieCat

Member Since 2011
Yesterday

A nice start for Trix...decent numbers, happy appy, snuggles, and the gelcap went down very smoothly on the first try.

I am still very shell-shocked at the news that her kidneys have worsened so significantly...she's back at Stage 4. We're already doing everything you'd do for a cat at this stage, but we are increasing her daily fluids a tad, working up from 100mls a day to 150mls a day. And we're increasing her phos binder a little bit. I wouldn't have been surprised if her values went up a little, but they really jumped. Aside from her BUN and Creat, everything else is good. Given how she seems to feel, I am, once again stunned.

I am trying to focus on the cat and not the numbers, and I'll get there once the shock wears off. It just feels like a big deja vu....last year was the same exact scenario, and right after we found out her kidneys weren't great totally out of the blue (Stage 4 with no symptoms), everything else around me started spiraling out of control, too. So anxiety hit me a little hard last night.

Does anyone here use Azodyl? That was another thing my vetty suggested, although it sounded like she doesn't have a whole lot of experience with it. It seems to get good reviews online....any thoughts would be appreciated!

Anyway....it's a work day, so I have to get moving. Have a great day, L*&LL!

Amy
 
J.D. was on Azodyl once a day from December of 2012 on. Check out his labs. I thought it held his creatinine and BUN in check. Originally, he was to get two capsules a day, but he started throwing up, so I called the company that makes them and right away they said to cut the dose to once a day, and that's what we stayed with. I always thought it helped him.
 
Amy, I am sorry to hear that Trixie's kidneys have worsened, especially since you have been doing everything possible to keep her at the same level. I think increasing the fluids slightly is a good idea. With Cleo, we did fluids 2x/day so she didn't have to have so much at one time because she needed more than 100 ml./day. Of course, it was so overwhelming at times because you start to feel like your whole life revolves around meds and fluids (and I guess it really does :() Oh dear, I don't think I am helping by saying that!

Trixie is still feeling good and doing well with your loving care, so that is the most important thing to focus on. Big hugs to you, DH, Trixie and the rest of your furbabies.
 
I was reading that post earlier today...I'm a little iffy on Azodyl but also skeptical of SkeptVet! I'm kind of leaning towards trying it, because it doesn't seem like it could hurt.

Vetty is going to culture urine and we're going to go from there. This is her preferred method to look for kidney infection - basically, if an infection shows in the urine, given her kidney values, we'll assume it is coming from the kidneys and treat accordingly. Additionally, if infection does show up, THEN we might ultrasound to see if there is a stone or something along those lines. She doesn't feel U/S of the kidneys alone is accurate in diagnosing a kidney infection and in fact if she feels a U/S shows an infection, she then confirms with a culture.
 
I wish I could remember where I read the most info on azodyl but I can't. I do remember that it can't hurt, might result in better numbers but they didn't seem to make a difference in QOL. They are big pills I know. Since no harm can be caused I'm with you on why not try it. I would wait to see if an infection is the reason because if so the umbers likely will come down since you are catching it early. JMHO. So sorry about this complication and sending vines that it is something easily corrected.:bighug:
 
I was thinking the same thing....I'll wait till the culture is back. What I was reading in reviews was kind of the opposite...people felt their cats felt and acted better, but it didn't really help the numbers. It's odd since Trix doesn't act like she feels ill, but her numbers are off the chart. Azodyl now comes in a "small capsule" which is supposed to be the same strength as the original, but is a good size for cats.
 
I may be wrong, but I think Azodyl is like a probiotic, as I remember from an email I had on Tanya's site I wrote that I was giving Azodyl and a probiotic and they asked me why I was giving two probiotics. I never knew Azodyl as a probiotic. Maybe it's not, that's just the response I received. I think it helps to cleanse something before it gets to the kidneys so the kidneys don't have to work as hard.
I used it, just in case it helped.
J.D.'s creatinine and BUN were numbers 2.2 and 50 when we started, and back to normal ranges of 1.8 and 33 two years later.
They now make smaller capsules which are 90 capsules per bottle, as opposed to the original bigger ones that were 60 capsules per bottle.
 
That's what I've seen, too, Dyana....it's a probiotic that works best when given as a whole capsule. It's a good thing Trix and I have this pilling thing down, should we go that route. It's great to hear your experience ini waht it did with J.D.'s numbers.
 
Hi Amy.

I've been giving Harvey Azodyl for a couple of months, and his kidney values have stabilized since starting it. I can't swear that's what did it, but I won't stop giving it, just in case. It is a probiotic, and the IM at UCD said it was fine to continue, but to watch that it didn't affect his appetite. I don't think it has - he has had three meals so far today and is still asking for more!! Hmmm - maybe she meant it would make him eat more? :joyful:

I know you are scared and worried, but as others, including you, have said, try to concentrate on how well Trixie is acting and seems to be feeling. That really is the most important thing. Many healing vines and hugs to you both. :bighug:
 
Amy,
I am so sorry to hear that Trixie's kidney values worsened.
I tried Azodyl with Lucy, but my experience doesn't really count because I ran out of time to see the results, but I thought I'd share anyway.
In around May last year, after a B/W, the vet suggested Azodyl. Lucy's kidney values weren't that horrible, maybe higher end of stage 2, but she wasn't feeling good at all around that time.
I think about it now, and it was obviously because of cancer but we didn't know that then.
When I read the label on the bottle at home, I found it said not to use for animal with diabetes, so I posted about that here.
It seemed only Canadian bottles have such caution, and Marje was kind enough to call Vetoquinol (the company who manufacturers Azodyl), and she spoke with one of their vets.
Here is the note from the conversation Marje had with their vets. I'm sure she won't mind and I'm sure she'd be happy I'm sharing this with you.

He said there is no reason you can't give her the Azodyl. The Canadian govt requires that annotation on the bottles and as a contraindication because Azodyl has pysllium husks in it and there is potential that it could cause the BG to go up or down (most likely up). But he said if you are home testing and monitoring, you can always adjust the insulin. He said that he has seen a lot of FDs in the U.S. get the Azodyl and has not seen any reports that it caused a problem for the BG but just monitor to make sure because...ECID!

He also said that some cats will see a good decrease in the creat/BUN with Azodyl but the typical result that CGs find is that there might be only a slight improvement in creat/BUN but the cat eats better and seems to overall feel MUCH better. He said it is best to get the small caps and give it to her in the capsule. If you absolutely cannot get the cap down her, he said you could put it in some very high fat food like full up yogurt (a very small amount). It works best if given in the capsule because the enteric coating keeps it intact through the stomach and it opens in the intestine which is the target organ. He said it MUST be given on an empty stomach either one hour before a meal or two hours after. I told him that could be difficult for a FD and he agreed.
Click to expand...

I also remember that Marje said she had tried Azodyl with one of her kitties and didn't see any improvement, but she thought it was worth trying.
Lucy's mood and appetite did improve, so I was happy with this product for a while.
But then the cancer overpowered, and she passed a couple of months later, so I didn't have a chance to actually see what it did to her creatinine/BUN values.

As I mentioned, my experience was somewhat positive, and I'll try it again if Ginger's kidney values declines in future.
The hardest part was to make sure to give it on an empty stomach. I have had to get up at 4am every morning, and leave work early to give another dose at 4pm every evening.
That's all I have to share about this.

Prayers and vines.
And big hugs to you!
 
Because Azodyl needs to be kept refrigerated, I always just bought it from my vet's office where I knew they probably got it shipped properly and they kept it in the refrigerator. I never wanted to try to save a little money and buy it online where after paying for overnight shipping it would probably cost more anyway.
I always gave it to J.D. before his dinner, but I didn't have the luxury of waiting two hours to feed him as I got home from work right at PMPS time.
 
My vet doesn't seem to carry it - I'm guessing that, since she wasn't too terribly familiar with it. I would probably order from Drs Foster and Smith - they do require the ice packed overnight shipping and it's costly, but it would be the right way to do it.

Timewise I don't think I can give it on an empty stomach, either...and I remember when I used to try to give Mario his Denamarin on an empty stomach, he'd often barf it back up. I think Trix needs food in her belly to help keep it settled. I can give it to her on a not-so-full stomach, though.
 
Hi, ((Amy)), I'm sorry to hear about Trixie's kidney values.
It looks like you've received a lot of great info regarding Azodyl.
I didn't use it on Ripley ~ I just want to pop in and send some :bighug::bighug::bighug: your way.
I'm glad your girl is feeling good!! :cat:
 
Hi Amy,
I missed the latter part of your thread yesterday, so only now am reading about Trixie's elevated values. I have no experience with Azodyl, but it looks like there is lots of experience and opinion here. So we are just sending vines and prayers that you will get results from whatever meds you decide to try. Trixie is looking good and feeling good, and that is what is most important.

:bighug::bighug::bighug:

Ella & Rusty
 
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