Please help--Smokey may not make it

[smokeymay]

Smokey survived DKA a little over a month ago. But she was making slow progress.... some days eating well, but would always have a spell where she didn't eat and also she was weak and took lots of naps. An ultrasound revealed an enlarged pancreas (suggesting pancreatitis). Her kidney values were slightly elevated, around 2 or so. She improved more than ever recently and then--wham. No eating, drinking, weak legs, labored breathing, stinky breath, and it didn't resolve. So I brought her in to the vet. Today the vet called and her kidney values were above 6. He doesn't have much hope that she can make it. She was on antibiotics after DKA but hasn't been in some time. I know an infection can cause skyrocketing values, but not sure that's the issue. She was never fully normal after her DKA. Does anyone have any advice? The vet is showing me how to do sub-q fluids, but basically is sending her home for as long as she lasts until we have to make a decision (at the rate she's going I'm lucky if she lasts a day, her legs are so weak she can't even walk). I'm devastated. Is there any hope for her? Anything I can do about the kidney values? (((( My heart is broken into bits. Smokey is my love, my baby.

 

[Blue]

Smokey survived DKA a little over a month ago. But she was making slow progress.... some days eating well, but would always have a spell where she didn't eat and also she was weak and took lots of naps. An ultrasound revealed an enlarged pancreas (suggesting pancreatitis). Her kidney values were slightly elevated, around 2 or so. She improved more than ever recently and then--wham. No eating, drinking, weak legs, labored breathing, stinky breath, and it didn't resolve. So I brought her in to the vet. Today the vet called and her kidney values were above 6. He doesn't have much hope that she can make it. She was on antibiotics after DKA but hasn't been in some time. I know an infection can cause skyrocketing values, but not sure that's the issue. She was never fully normal after her DKA. Does anyone have any advice? The vet is showing me how to do sub-q fluids, but basically is sending her home for as long as she lasts until we have to make a decision (at the rate she's going I'm lucky if she lasts a day, her legs are so weak she can't even walk). I'm devastated. Is there any hope for her? Anything I can do about the kidney values? (((( My heart is broken into bits. Smokey is my love, my baby.

I can't add much but the fluids are good, and get some pain meds plus talk to your vet about an appetite stimulant to make sure she eats a bit. Are you starting her on more ABs for any infection?
The fluids and pain meds are needed for pancreatitis, and maybe ask about nausea? Get some cerenia maybe?

 

[smokeymay]

Yeah, I've been bugging about anti nausea meds for awhile now, and the vet's techs said she didn't need them... I'm gonna push for them. She got sub Q fluids at the vet's every few days prior to this (before we knew what the issue was) and the vet will have me do this daily at home from now on (she was getting fluids daily at the vet's). She is not currently on A/B and I wanted to ask vet about that tomorrow as well. I wanted to try pain meds with her too and they tried at vet's in the past, but can't say it particularly helped her. Vet says I should brace myself for the worst. ((( I want her to get well so badly. Oh yes and also I had her on pepcid AC before this, but how much of it she took is anyoen's guess (she has a habit of not swallowing the pill and pushing it to the side of her mouth, to be discovered a full half day later.

 

[BJM]

If her breath smells like urine, its the renal disease that is important right now.

For the Pepcid, take 1/4 of a 10 mg tablet, place in an oral syringe, suck up a bit or water, shake or wait until dissolved, add a bit of mush canned food to mask the taste, shake well to mix,then give. You get both the med and a smidge of food in that way.