Kidney Failure support needed

[Aly & Sparky]

Hi FDMB. I found this site almost 11 years ago when my cat, Sparky, was diagnosed with diabetes. This site, and the people on it, were the single best thing that ever came into my cat's life. I was given information, direction and with the help of the amazing support network I found here, Sparky honeymooned twice and is now at the ripe age of 18.

I believe Sparky is in kidney failure unfortunately, and I am now looking to connect with people who have gone through this with any advice or insight as to how I can keep him as comfortable as possible. His last vet visit (June 2015) was indicative of the beginning stages of kidney failure. We immediately started subQ fluids. He continued to lose a considerable amount of weight. He began to urinate in our hallway. He continued to get dehydrated, though we would then give him his fluids and it would really perk him right up.

The last day or two he has greatly deteriorated. He is painfully thin and now is having trouble walking and moving around. I'm not 100% sure if this is just dehydration and that I need to increase his fluids, or if this is CKD and I need to just keep him comfortable and help him get around. He's not eating much and it seems he tries to urinate but only dribbles. My gut says to up the fluids- or even bring him to a vet for IV fluids- my DH says he looks like he's not in pain and he hates getting fluids and maybe it's time to let him go.

It does appear to be his time, however, I'm thinking withholding fluids would be uncomfortable for him. DH feels that euthanasia is unnecessary as he seems so far gone, and he's been cuddling up to us a lot and it would be okay to let him pass here with his family. I'm sure alot of this is just opinion- but to keep forcing fluids or not?

 

[Larry and Kitties]

From the information your provided, euthanasia may be the right choice art this time. I myself would never purposely let a cat pass away at at home. I had one cat, a foster. pass away while syringe feeding. I have two of my cats found dead. One when I cam home from work and the other the neighbor found him dead when they were came to feed my cats. I was at a friends hose recovering from a fractured jaw.
It is always hard to make that final decision

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

Those are such tough questions and there are no easy answers. Have you read the page on Tanya's CKD site about Saying Goodbye? There's lots of other great pages on her site to help with the tough questions too

QOL is the most important thing to consider. Here's another link "Making the decision: Help to know when and how" to read

My general feelings are if the majority of his days are pain free, he's able to maintain the "dignity" we all know our kitties want, then it's worth it to give him more time as long as what you're doing to buy him that time isn't horrible for him. (I'd think if he'd been tolerating fluids this long, it's not THAT hard on him)

When he's obviously having more bad days than good ones, or what we're having to do to keep them with us is too much for them to take, it's time to let them go.

As for the IV fluid treatment... How does he react when going to the vet? If vet trips are awful for him, it's probably not fair to make him do it, but if he doesn't mind, well, it's worth a try to see if it'll help. Would your vet be willing to let you do IV treatment at home?

Hoping for the best for you and your dear Sparky

 

[BJM]

Is there a vet who could come to the home?

 

[Melanie and Smokey]

It is my understanding that kidney disease is not necessarily painful, but kidney failure is not only painful for the cat, it is horrible for the person to watch. If you feel he is too sick and it is his time to go, it is kinder to help him go. If you decide not to, keep up with the fluids so he is at least comfortable until the end.

Depending on the amount of fluids you are giving, additions SubQ or IV could help. If toxins aren't getting flushed enough it can make them feel like crap.

 

[Aly & Sparky]

So I took him in to the vet with the intention of putting him to sleep yesterday afternoon. He was very weak. The vet assumed me he wasn't currently in any pain, and that it would make sense to euthanize him or keep him home in a "hospice" manner. After much discussion, I decided to take him home to be in the comfort of his bed and with his family.

While he was very weak, he did seem comfortable, and we spend the evening and this morning together, him squinting his "I love you" eyes at me. This afternoon he passed very peacefully. I know it could have gone either way, and I took a chance. I'm ultimately glad that he was on his soft blankets, warm, and with those he loved.

Thank you to everyone who commented and made me feel less alone during this time.

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

So sorry it was Sparky's time to leave, but I'm really happy to hear he passed quietly, peacefully and in the home he loved with you with him.

Sounds like he knew he was going, and spent the day saying "Thank you for loving me mom....I love you too"

Fly free sweet Sparky and land softly....there are many at the bridge to welcome you until the one you love most comes to be with you forever

 

[BJM]

Requiem aeternum, Sparky.
{{hugs}}

 

[Melanie and Smokey]

Sorry it was time for Sparky to go. Glad you had some good quality time with him and then he was able to go peacefully. Fly free Sparky.