1/21 Mao amps 429 kidney failure, help

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miaomi

Member Since 2013
Sunday: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=112207

I feel so bad. The vet just told me about Mao's blood test result that she has kidney failure, I am going to the clinic to learn how to give the fluid and get some food there at three o'clock. It's very bad news for me to take it, please if you know anything about kidney failure, any information is needed. I don't want to give up on her, please help me. Thank you!
 
Please get a copy of Mao's labs. Marje has a great deal of experience in dealing with kidney issues, as do other here and it will help to know the actual lab values.

Also, there's a wonderful website for cats with kidney disease -- Tanya's site. It's a true resource.

You're not alone with this. There's lots of people who can help. Also, see Marje's video on giving fluids.
 
Hi there:) Many of us on here have kitties with kidney failure, including my Chyna. I see Sienne has given you the link to Tanyas site. It's pretty overwhelming with information but it's really awesome. The bloodwork labs are great too so other members here can read them and give you advice on what you may be need to focus on with Maos care, Marje really helped me. Hugs to you! :YMHUG:
 
Don't despair. There are many things you can do to help Mao. Tanya's site (Sienne gave you the link to it, above) is indeed excellent. And it is now also available in book form (details available on the online site).

Sending you lots of :YMHUG: s and scritches for Mao,

Ella & Rusty
 
{{{Julie}}}:

Of course you're scared. That is a very frightening diagnosis. But all is not lost. Let the people here help you through this. If you have never given sub-q fluids before, I highly recommend you watch Marje's video. It is wonderful. There's another one that I found helpful, too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5dnpvvlqtM..

Sending lots of healing vines, prayers and hugs. :YMHUG: :YMHUG: :YMHUG:
 
it isn't that unusual for older cats to have kidney disease, Tess is another one. Like diabetes there are a number of thing you can do to control the progress of the disease. So far we have had good results by just adjusting her diet. Posting the numbers will help advice givers to see just how Mao is doing. I hope Mao is in early stages, they can live a long time when given the proper care.

As far as foods, the Rx diets primarily are reduced phosphorus. Like the FD diets most lats don't like them much. There are a number of good quality foods that are low carb and low phosphorus (under 250mg phos /100kcal, we try to stay under 200). I have a tab on Tess's SS that lists the foods from Dr. Lisa's list that are low in both.

Just like ear pricks and giving insulin, you will soon get the hang of giving fluids.
 
Julie

It is a scary diagnosis. I've had three cats dx with chronic kidney disease and one with polycystic kidney disease (which is particularly nasty and genetic) which presents as CKD. He was the only one that passed away from kidney disease. Our Gussie (from the video) just crossed (due to intestinal issues...likely lymphoma) but four years after his CKD diagnosis, he was still extremely stable.

If you can post the labs, I can tell you what I think about where Mao is with CKD and what you can do. There are a lot of things that can be done to keep them stable.

If you look at Gracie's SS, you'll see I've added a tab for her labs. That is the best way for me to be able to see Mao's labs but if you don't have time, you can scan and attach them here.

Please let me know how I can help you. :YMHUG: :YMHUG: :YMHUG:
 
Thank you guys. Marje, I got the lab result, and i have no idea how to post it. I will figure it out later. I know I am gonna watch your video again. Right now I need to buy some food for her, I can feed her those high protein food. I got a few cans of K/D from the vet. Could you recommend me some any other food?
 
Take a look at Tess' SS. Ann has compiled a list of low phosphorous/low carb foods. (If the tab with the foods doesn't come up, the tabs are across the top of Tess' SS.)

As for the labs, take a look at Gabby's SS. My tabs are across the bottom but hopefully, the link to the tab with her labs is the one that's linked. Keeping the labs in your SS is a great way to have everything in one place. You need to simply copy things from the lab report the vet gave you being careful to make sure you're copying the correct line. Having the reference range values also helps.
 
Julia, I know how scared you are but you are in the exact place you need to be to get the help you and Mao need to help her have the most healthy life she can have. I'm kind of in the same boat you are although I've been told that Tommy and Belle don't need sub q fluids yet. I use Friskies Special Diet Turkey and Giblets and so do some others. There are more choices and the list that Ann told you about is awesome.
I too would like to learn how to add tabs at the top so I can post their labs as well. Prayers and Hugs to you and Mao :YMHUG:
 
If you don't know how to add a tab (sorry - it didn't occur to me that you might not know), open your SS. Somewhere, either on the bottom or top, you'll see a + sign. If you click on it, it will add a sheet. I think it asks what you want to name the sheet or you need to right click to name it. And that's it! FWIW, I use a Mac so it may be a little different on a PC.
 
If it's easier for now - just post the values in this condo and you can put the reference range in parentheses. For example:

Creatinine - 1.8 (0.8 - 2.3)​

You can then put the info into your SS when you have the time.
 
Yup! The labs are there.

You might want to delete the empty columns on the left but it's no big deal. If you insert a row at the top, you can include the date of this set of labs above the Results column. That way, when you get new labs, you can compare the values.
 
Julie

Great job of putting the labs on a tab on your SS. Also some good news for you...yes, Mao appears to have chronic kidney disease but you've caught it at a time that there is a lot you can do to ensure she has a good QOL for a long time.

What I've found to be the priorities in treating CKD are (and not in order of priority as they are all important)
1. Hydration
2. Phosphorus control
3. Anemia control
4. Eating
5. Potassium control

Her BUN and creatinine are elevated indicating the CKD and some dehydration. Usually it is recommended to start daily fluids when the creat is 3.5 so I think you are basically there. Be sure you are taking I to account how much she drinks or you add to her food. It's always best for a cat to get hydration from drinking water or from water you add to food. You should discuss with your vet how much to give but you might want to start with 50-75 mls daily if she weighs less than 10 lbs and 75-100 mls daily if she weighs more than 10 lbs. Again....your vet should guide you but cats do better with less fluids every day than more fluids every other day (which is what some vets recommend). Usually Lactated ringers solution is the best for CKD kitties, in general, but I understand there is a shortage so talk to your vet what he feels is the best. Also....be sure Mao does not have any heart issues. Giving daily fluids to a cat with heart problems can overwhelm the circulatory system and result in congestive heart failure.

Phosphorus control is critical to the way Mao will feel. The renal diets are the best for this but they lack in nutrition. Hi Tor Neo is a little more palatable and it is 9% calories from carbs. The only low P diets are the kidney diets but many low carb diets are better quality and have lower (not low) P. If you don't feed a kidney diet, you want to stick to a canned diet with less than 100 mgP/100 kcal or that is less than 1% P. If she won't eat those foods, you can see about using a binder but the best solution is to try the low or lower phosphorus diets first.

Controlling the anemia is also important. I would start now while she is not anemic. You can give her 1/2 of a Vita Cost methylB12 500 mcg capsule twice/day (bid). She should also have 1/10th of a Jarrows B Right multi B capsule sid. I bought size 3, clear and empty capsules (www.thrivingpets.com) and made my own capsules .

Number one rule of thumb...she must eat. The Rpyal Canin and Prescritopn Diets are really high in carbs so if you want to use those, you'll have to increase the insulin.

Maos potassium is perfect right now. If that number creeps down, let me know and we will talk about it in your condo.

I have to get to bed...I have to work tomorrow and I was up all night with Gracie. But that's some info for you to start with and I'll post more tomorrow.

The bottom line is...it's not bad and you have the opportunity to try and slow it down. :YMHUG:
 
Marje, I am sorry that I wasn't able to respond quickly, and thank you so much for taking time to write down the detailed information for me, your guide is very important, I will follow every suggestion you have provided. The vet told me to give fluid 200ml every other day, I am going to ask if I can give her less fluid daily. I always add water to her food, but how much is 75 mls ( 5 tablespoons )? The hard part right now is to find right food for her, specially if it is less than 100 mg P or 1% P. I bought few cans of Friskies Special Diet Turkey and Giblts, and Natural Variety Instinct Duck which she has been eaten for a while, but they are not really low P food. She ate a whole lot if she had fluid, it's more difficult for her to have nice BG readings. She has a good appetite, and is very hungry.
BTW, I am working with a different vet in the clinic, she thought that Mao had inflammatory bowl disease regarding her poo problem, and gave her Flagyl ( antibiotics ), Mao is doing well with the medication; I think she is going to gain some weights back.
 
200 mL is a lot in one sitting. It's better to give less but do it more frequently, as you surmised.
My max was ~150 mL twice a day.

MJ
 
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